The author wrote this book comprising of all the letters he wrote his three daughters during an entire year, dating from January 3, 2020 through December 24, 2020, which he states was one year after his own mother had died. He wrote each letter with a different title with a lot of heart-felt emotions, and some with pain.

John wrote a total of 33 letters, in which he made a point to say all the things that you may not have the chance to speak later.

This book is somewhat emotional, but it is a good idea to do just as he had done. It is kind of a legacy, if the unexpected happens and you lose a love one. You will have no regrets.

John writes letters to his three daughters kind of based on topics: gratitude, love and home, wonder, bravery, seeds, time, friendships, boundaries, etc. John does share some things worth pondering over, but with the letters (chapters) being written specifically to his daughters, often mentioning people they know and their own relational dynamics, I frequently felt a disconnect. It just felt a little too personal reading words specifically directed at his young daughters. He does include questions for the reader at the very end of the book relating to each of the letters/chapters, though I think it would have been better for the reader if they were directly with the correlating portion of the book than at the back.

Maybe it has to do with where my head space is right at this moment of reading it, but I wasn’t all that invested in it, sadly. I felt the idea, really just the title, of this book is one to take to heart, but I just had a hard time connecting with it overall. I guess I had also expected it to be more about being intentional with our time and words with others, not so much of life advice and encouragement from a parent to their child. It’ll likely mean a lot to John’s daughters when they read this but as a reader who does not know any of them, it just felt odd. Rating 2.5 rounded to 3.

I enjoyed this book because of it's writing style, unique topic, and the fact that it really provided a thought-provoking experience. Recommended for readers who want to read slowly so as to take time to process.

Say All the Unspoken Things: A Book of Letters is a compilation of letters the author wrote to his three young daughters over the course of a year. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the author began the book a year following the death of his mother.

The writings cover a wide variety of topics in which the dad passes along his parental wisdom, cautions, hopes for, and encouragement to his daughters. Being a religious man, each topic also is heavily peppered with his religious views. He also includes a personal lettter to each of his daughters.

The book is an easy read and the messages come across as heartfelt and sincere. I strongly agree that all of us should be sure the important people in our lives know how much they mean to us, and that there is worth in recording your values for your children and loved ones in some way, so that they can reference the material in years to come.

So why didn't I rate this book higher? There's just something about it that bothers me a bit, but it hasn't quite worked itself through to the point of clarity yet. Perhaps it's that the title promises a broader perspective than strictly parenting wisdom; or that as worthwhile for his children I felt the book to be, I never really felt personally connected to the book. I realize I'm swimming against the current on this one, and yes, I definitely do have a heart. This was just a so-so read for me.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson who permitted me access to an e-ARC of the book via NetGalley. The book is scheduled to be published on 2/1/22. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

Say All the Unspoken things was a touching book of letters from a father to his daughters. As a relatively new father to a daughter myself, this book encouraged me to focus on what really matters in life and to look for the teachable moments for my daughter and any future children. Not just to be able to teach for teaching's sake, but to be able to share the wisdom God has revealed to me, to my kids, so that their journey can be a little bit lighter.

The book is structured into 33 letters from John to his three daughters, but it is certainly a far cry from saying all he "unspoken things." Instead of feeling personal, it often comes across as general parenting advice. Great premise, disappointing manuscript.

If you're an avid reader, then you will immediately recognize the structure with which John A. Sowers approaches "Say All the Unspoken Things: A Book of Letters."

Perhaps done most successfully by National Book Award-winner Ta-Nehisi Coates, the structure is presented entirely as a series of letters to the author's child/children. In this case, Sowers addresses the entirety of "Say All the Unspoken Things" to his three daughters - Dass, Evangeline, and Rosie.

The framework for these letters is presented as a gentle calling forth of saying all the unspoken things that we often hold back in our lives with those whom we love the most. Sowers, it is put forth, is encouraging us to release the stranded and exiled words we have in our hearts so that there are no doubts in our relationships nor regrets in our lives.

I struggled mightily with "Say All the Unspoken Things," a book with which I expected to deeply resonate yet a book that time and again left me feeling disconnected from its messages and disenchanted with its lofty aspirations.

First, and foremost, it is worth mentioning that rather than being a book about saying all the unspoken things to those with whom we are in relationships the book, is in fact, solely framed around Sowers's role as a father to his three daughters. While there will undeniably be those who connect with these messages, or letters, those expecting a broader framework will be disappointed by the narrower approach.

There was never really a moment in this otherwise inspirational book where I felt like these were "unspoken" things. Instead, It seems like Sowers took the major areas of life and simply tapped into broad, inspirational parenting messages. "Say All the Unspoken Things" actually comes closest to succeeding toward the book's end when Sowers does, finally, write individually to each of his daughters with letters that feel personal, intimate, and based upon genuine relationship.

I just wish that Sowers had taken the same approach during the previous 200 pages.

The letters, at least until the end, reveal occasional personal stories but very little about Sowers's daughters. I found it difficult to connect with "Say All the Unspoken Things" because these people felt like broad strokes rather than living, breathing souls. This is especially troubling because they are actually living, breathing souls and not fictionalized characters.

The letters, with only a handful of exceptions, never truly feel like actual letters. Instead, they feel like inspirational parenting messages with a strong evangelical foundation. This became especially true when Sowers began writing about love and romance. Instead of "unspoken things," we get gender stereotypes and "aw shucks" advice.

I kept hoping that at some point I would find a way to connect with "Say All the Unspoken Things," but it simply never happened. Instead, I grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of connection I felt to these people and these letters. Ultimately, I felt like by the end of "Say All the Unspoken Things" that an awful lot remained unsaid.

Most likely to appeal to those who will resonate with its faith-based roots and inspirations, "Say All the Unspoken Things" simply never truly worked for this writer/minister/activist. While I do have an appreciation for its inspiring messages and for Sowers's obvious love for his daughters, "Say All the Unspoken Things: A Book of Letters" is a definite miss for me.