I really enjoyed this family drama. I thought it opened on an engaging moment that could easily hook the reader and made it easy to explore how this situation would have an effect on the whole family.

As we got to know all of the characters, I thought Cat Shook did a really great job of encapsulating a bunch of personalities and tough topics. Reading some of the other reviews, I can see the point about focusing on just a few so we really get to know them, but I also liked having this omnipresent view of the whole family.

There was something weirdly comforting about this family? Maybe it was seeing all the imperfections and messiness, but how they came together anyway? The exploration of grief and forgiveness was interesting to me and made me reflect on my own life, which I always appreciate in a book.

Thank you Celadon Books for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Williams family suffers a monumental loss when the patriarch, Gerry, dies suddenly. As the entire family gathers to mourn, they have no idea how much change will happen to them. At Gerry's funeral, news is shared that surprises the entire family. Each child and grandchild reacts to this news differently and it prompts each person to re-evaluate their lives.

There is generally some drama for those who have been to a family funeral. Whether it is brought to the surface because of the raw emotions from grieving or because being together brings out the best/worst of us, it is unclear. The Williams family intends to help each other through this devastating time often taking missteps along the way. This generational story does a good job of illustrating the various manners of handling loss. It is messy, it is confusing and no one has a clear path.

Cat Shook has a plethora of characters and her main characters are well-developed, feeling as though they are friends that you know. The message of this book is forgiveness. Mistakes happen and when those we love need it, we forgive.

A play on words, i.e., the title, may be appropriate for this review of If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook. In this novel, the Williams family experiences the shock of a lifetime when the patriarch Gerry dies and a family friend reveals a secret during Gerry's funeral. The book chronicles the week between the funeral and a wedding, and we meet and get to know other members of the extended family, their significant others, and various other characters.

So, honestly, I didn't love the book. I was excited for it because I love family dramedies ala Jonathan Tropper's This is Where I Leave You, and this one reminds me of it, but it delivers too much. One thing that I can imagine must be hard in any ensemble book is juggling multiple characters and storylines. I've read this in other reviews and can concur, it was so difficult to keep track of the characters. I'm not sure if it would have been better if the characters' stories were depicted in separate chapters or if the author reduced the face time for some of them. The week felt endless in regard to tracking all the characters and their storylines.

Then again, I think the writing was very strong, and, organized a different way or if given a family tree, I may have liked the book better. Since this is a debut, I would not give up on Cat Shook. There's a ton of potential in this book that will lead to stronger novels in the future. There are funny stories and I can honestly say that there were times I really enjoyed it.

One other issue were the characters. Some of them were completely insufferable like Jennifer and Carol Anne. They were so obnoxious and spoiled. I believe some of the stories with Carol Anne were meant to be humorous, but she just wasn't likeable. And Jennifer just seemed bitter. Also, some of the romantic relationships didn't woo me. I didn't find any chemistry between one of the main couples in the book. And I wanted to hear more about the one character's stint on The Bachelorette. This could have been developed more.

While I didn't love the book, I will reiterate that the author may be one to watch. I feel like she has a definite future writing books.

I wanted to love this! But, the opening of this book set a weird tone for the rest of the story. Way too many characters were introduced in the first few chapters. And if I feel like I need to break out the sticky notes in order to keep people straight, I'm probably in over my head. Though, Fred's eulogy got me and I kept reading. I think this was generally fine. It does a lot of telling versus showing. And for a character driven novel I felt it lacked a little depth and I didn't feel connected to anyone.
This book is going to find it's audience. Maybe a book club of moms in their 40s would get a kick out of it. But ultimately it's not one I will come back to.

As this wonderful story opens, the Williams family, prominent citizens of Eulalia, Georgia, have just lost their perfect, beloved patriarch. His widow tries to hold things together, but this is a very complicated family, and it seems that just about every one of them has a secret/drama/catastrophe to deal with, which makes for terrific reading. A great family saga I look forward to recommending.

⁉️: What are some of the difficult themes that authors should explore?

I think it is the topic of grief and its aftermath. When I first read the blurb on bookishfirst, I was drawn to it and could relate with at almost every level.

In 2016, I lost my mom to cancer, and what I was not prepared for was the aftermath, and the feeling of helplessness and grief. Things happened so fast, and there was a mix of emotions as events unfolded day after the next. During those moments, emotions run high and often words are difficult to articulate.

Shook’s novel, too, begins when Gerry, the beloved Williams patriarch, unexpectedly passes away and his grand children reunite from across the country to Eulalia, Georgia. Things change when Gerry’s best friend takes over to deliver his eulogy. His speech sends shockwaves to The Williams as he reveals that that Gerry and him were not just best friends, but also lovers. And, this secret causes the family members to be in a shock trying to make sense of the grand father they had imagined in their minds. Ellen, Gerry’s widow, tries her best to hold composure at this time.

Everyone is left confused and focused on dealing with grief and their own private struggles. Delia refuses to shut up about her ex while her sister, Alice, is hiding an explosive secret. Grant is still glowing on his recent appearance on the show, The Bachlerotte.

Although the novel deals with a difficult topic, if you are into family dramas and reality shows, then I would add this one to your TBR. It’s hard not to get close to this family, and also, witness how families often make sense of issues that are often silenced and seen as uncomfortable.

Ultimately, Shook explores how a larger family tries to build an understanding and acceptance when two of its members, Gerry and Red, come out to them. She also reminds her through her novel that we are rooted in our families who shape us, and often who are related to us without our choice. I wouldn’t call them conservative or liberal in any case, but say that families are complex entities - and often seeking acceptance from them is like climbing Mount Everest - it’s a treacherous ordeal, challenging, but worth it at the end. I enjoyed reading this novel, which is out now!

Thank you @celandonbooks, @catshook_33, and @bookishfirst for the gifted copy and ebook of the book.
#IfWereBeingHonest #CeladonReads #CeladonbooksReader #CatShook

If I'm being honest...

I recommend a pass on this one. 2.3
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I didn't hate reading this. But, it was a bit of a chore. There were so many characters and the perspective changed mid-page, that they ran together. While doing so it wasn't even clearly defined who was now thinking their thoughts. I'd find myself running back up the page to see when we'd switched perspectives and who was now in the driver's seat of the narrative. I found myself confused and annoyed by a good portion of the characters and wondering why we were supposed to care about them? Why were they angry? When were we now in the story timeline?

It starts great. I mean, having a massive bomb dropped at Grandpa Gerry's funeral seems like it would be great. I expect some good humor and some soul-searching and probably some tears.
But, mostly, the funeral was like the highlight of a good Southern bout of craziness and the rest just petered out. One of my favorite parts though was the unexpected mention of Alice's flatulence. Idk why that stuck out. Maybe because no one else mentions that. But, it was like, yeah, okay, that fits.

If We’re Being Honest follows the Williams family in the aftermath of Gerry’s, the patriarch’s, death. Family dramas aren’t usually what I choose to read but after what happened at Gerry’s funeral, I thought this would be a much more interesting read.

However, this ultimately was not for me. I felt like nothing really happened. There were so many characters, it became hard to keep track of them all. I felt like we never truly got to know any of the characters.

Entertaining.

Cat Shook writes a coming of age, and family-packed tale with If We're Being Honest. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. I enjoyed it so much, that I have now followed the author and look for more books to read. The reader is introduced to Gerry, who dies suddenly. He is the patriarch of the William's family, and hearing about his death, family from across the country hurry to get back home, in Georgia. It was a remarkable story, and a very interesting family, and how the grief process, and the urge to get things out in the open is stemmed from the loss. It's emotional, poignant, and sometimes, kind of humorous. It's one of those funerals that if you attended, you'd sit in the back and just watch. It's a wonderfully told story of a dysfunctional family that many readers can relate to, and enjoy the story. The author weaves a tangled web of story, and captures the reader. Family dynamics and drama are always entertaining when reading about them, but this takes it to a whole new level of uniqueness and grand storytelling. Whatever this author writes, I want to read. It's an emotional rollercoaster. This book captures the reader's attention at chapter 1. A wonderous trail of words. A genuine character driven story! If We're Being Honest is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.

Reminiscent of Tropper’s This is where I leave you with slither Christians instead of suburban ny Jews. Could have used a family tree to track who is who…. And maybe a few fewer characters so that we’d get more depth and development. But for those who like family drama/comedy, this is a good one… as we follow 3 generations deal with personal problems while grieving the loss of their patriarch.
Note: thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Celadon Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the e-galley of this book. I think the first sentence of Chapter 1 says it all: "Gerry William's funeral was a shit show." An apt description of life, this opening met its' promise. There were many laugh out loud moments, as well as many contemplative ones. This is a book about family--the good, bad, and ugly. The characters were memorable as we learned about each family member and their reunion due to their father's funeral. A very enjoyable read that also makes you think a little too.


#IfWe'reBeingHonest, #NetGalley, #CeladonReads

This book was an easy and at time humorous read. Gerry Williams the patriarch of the family suddenly dies. All the kids and family come home for the funeral and stay a few days. Lots of family drama and issues are uncovered. Family can break your heart but also help you put your life back together again. This book will make a great book club discussion.

The book starts with the whole Williams clan attending the funeral of the patriarch of the family, Gerry. But during the eulogy, a secret is revealed in a surprising, bizarre, and completely hilarious way. We follow the family throughout the next week, as they encounter major life changes and revelations. The family dynamic is dysfunctional but the support they provide for each other is full of compassion and makes for a very heartwarming story. They each have their individual quirks and insecurities but they value their family above all else. The book was surprisingly funny throughout, even with serious topics being addressed, and I came to love and become attached to all the characters (except maybe Carol Anne).

This is a charming and absorbing family saga, a great read all around.

This book was well written. Mostly likable characters.
The author brought this one together very nicely with just the right amount of grief and humor. Yes a bit of humor is always good.
Kind of a two weddings and a funeral thing only it's one wedding and a funeral.
Family drama and love.
A nice laugh out loud type of book.

The bad part is there was way to many characters to keep up with. You get a bit lost in the "crowd."
Different POVs is usually a plus but sometimes it's just a bit much.

This is a first novel for this author.

Thank you #NetGalley, #CatShook, and #Celadon for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Three stars for me.

Through grief, ad a blockbusting announcement at a funeral, a family comes together and sometimes breaks apart. Three generations of the Williams family gather for the funeral of their patriarch, and for the wedding of a close friend and neighbor. They are faced with their past, and must decide a course for their future during the week they share the old family home.
An entertaining look at family dynamics and the bonds that are never broken.

I really enjoyed this family drama a lot. But... I think it could've used some editing down overall.

The characterization of each family member was really strong out of the gate, and the opening familiarizes you with the characters in a unique way. Following this family during this exact week was fun and moving and worth the read.

Pub date: 4/18/23
Genre: family drama
Quick summary: Gerry's grandchildren come back home for his funeral - but when Gerry's biggest secret is revealed by his best friend, it's just the tip of the iceberg for this secret-filled, dysfunctional family.

I love family dramas, and the setup for this one sounded so fun. I gasped at the beginning as Gerry's funeral quickly turned disastrous. However, the rest of the story didn't quite have the same magic for me. There were just so many characters, and the quick perspective shifts made it really hard to connect with or care about them. I think readers who like their family dramas heavy on the dramatics might like this one more than I did!

Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for providing an e-ARC and ALC.

. . . 𝓷/𝓪
Ooh I tried. I couldn’t finish this one. I must have picked this up seven, maybe eight times, but I just could not get into it. If I’m being honest ( pun intended ), I do think it was at least a 50% case of “it’s not you, it’s me”, but overall this one didn’t grab me as I had hoped.

The synopsis sounded right up my alley - multiple characters, some heavy family dynamics, a balance between heartwarming and quirky, and just an all-around good story.
But almost immediately, I found myself struggling a bit with the who’s who of the characters and how they were ( quite literally ) related - I think this was largely due to the fact that they were introduced all at the same time. While it completely made sense as to why - it’s how the story begins - I felt a little overwhelmed by getting all the family and their drama all at once.

And once I lost my footing on the characters, I felt like I was trying to catch up with the storyline but couldn’t quite make it there. In turn, it wasn’t able to hold my attention for the same reason - I wasn’t invested because I couldn’t get a good grasp of the characters.

But as I said, it was probably mostly me. The problem with being a mood reader, is that sometimes, you don’t know that you’re in ( or not in ) the mood for a book until you’re already reading it - so it could be doomed from the start.

This is all to say: maybe it’s me? Don’t avoid it, it’s probably me. The plot sounds completely worth it, and there’s something to be said for the ‘right book at the right time’ motto; this one may just need a different time.

~👩🏻‍🦰

I was honored to receive a copy of this one and was hooked immediately by the opening scene -- the drama! The description! I felt like I was at the funeral service. But after the first 20% — which was explosive and I flew right through — I had trouble getting engaged with each character's individual storyline. It felt like the pace slowed way down, and I wasn't able to pick it up like I did. Ultimately, this was a DNF for me.

This is the story of a family reuniting after the death of a family member. The family does not get along very well and everyone has secrets, even the dead.

I enjoyed the book but it was not my favorite. I found some of the family drama to be overblown. The characters are very well written.