This book grabbed me with the hint of the mystery at the very beginning and it didn’t let up. The characters were all well written and the story was told in a very honest and compelling way. The back story of alcoholism , family trauma and infertility were folded into the overall theme of the story very well. Towards the end I gasped when a surprise was brought to light. Really enjoyed this debut !

We Don't Talk About Carol is a haunting debut novel that explores trauma, mental health struggles, fertility, and the cases of missing black girls and women that are too-often ignored and overlooked. This is not a typical thriller and I absolutely loved that about the book. Sydney is a fantastic character - tenacious, brave, and vulnerable. The novel is a little slow to start - but as family secrets start to come to the surface and Sydney digs deeper into the cold cases of the young black girls disappearing in the 1960s from Raleigh - you really get drawn in and I couldn't put it down. Definitely recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read this novel.

We Don’t Talk About Carol is a haunting debut that blends family drama with mystery. After her grandmother’s death, Sydney uncovers a photo of her missing aunt—one of six Black girls who vanished in the 1960s.

As Sydney searches for answers, long-buried truths resurface, challenging everything she thought she knew.

This story explores generational trauma, mental health, fertility, and the silence surrounding missing Black girls. It’s a slow start—but worth it. The second half completely hooked me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristen L. Berry, and Ballantine for the ARC.

I loved this book! It combined a generational family story with a cold case mystery - two of my favorites! One of my favorite reads of the year!

This was a very good book. It was well-written. I would highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

We don’t talk about carol is a literary social thriller relevant to this moment of time. Sydney is an investigative journalist who uncovers dark secrets in her family when she discovers her aunt carol went missing in the 1960s and her aunts disappearance got buried amongst the family. This is all too familiar for Sydney, as her search for a missing girl when she was working the crime beat caused her to have a psychotic break years before. Determined to give a voice to her aunt and all the other colors of color who went missing that summer and were never found, Sydney goes on a crusade to find the truth. However, it might lead her to emotional ruin again.

Not a typical thriller, as it pulls the reader in with an emotional arc and family dynamics. This book covers the under represented missing girls of color, family trauma, mental health, and more. Well written and complex characters will draw you in!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen Berry completely pulled me in! I was hooked on Sydney’s emotional journey as she unravels a family secret that’s been buried for decades. The mix of grief and generational trauma is so powerful. I loved how it explored motherhood and identity, especially through Sydney’s struggles with fertility and feeling disconnected from her own family. It deals with some heavy topics, but it’s beautifully written and very character driven. Highly recommend!

This one was interesting although I must confess that I felt like it moved a lot slower than I wanted it to. I kept wanting discoveries to happen faster, and while I realize that the methodical rollout of information was most likely intentional and in keeping with the nature of what she was trying to accomplish, I did find Sydney's investigation a bit slow-going...

An aunt that was never spoken about until after their Grammy's death, piques Sydney's interest and decides to investigate why. The investigation takes a turn as she discovers not only her aunt went missing in the 60s, but five other young black girls. Sydney brings to light the disproportionate exposure of missing blacks compared to whites. The story has a nice twist you don't expect, family drama, family bonds, and forgiveness. Even though the story started at a slow pace for me, it flowed nicely and kept me interested.

*Thank you to Netgalley for this complimentary ebook. The opinion expressed is my own.

It took me quite a bit to get into this novel. I wasn't really connecting with the MC- she seemed a little pretentious and unapproachable. I did however think that the booked ended in a tidy manner. Overall, a 3.75 from me.

What happens when you learn you have an aunt who disappeared decades ago? Why doesn't anyone talk about her, and why is no one looking for her? We Don't Talk About Carol is Kristen Berry's debut novel and it was fantastic. My favorite genre is historical mystery and this one was suspenseful, informative, and definitely left the reader thinking about our nation's past and present. Carol and five other teenage girls go missing over a two year period during the 60s in Raleigh, North Carolina. At the time, the police didn't fully investigate and the cases went cold. Enter Sydney Singleton, a former investigative reporter, who starts asking questions about her aunt's disappearance. And as she turns over old secrets, her life might be in danger too.
Great read!

We don’t talk about Carol was a very well written book. I enjoyed the suspense, the family emotional relationships. It was a book that I’ll think about for a long time. The ending was a big surprise to me. I loved it. Thank you, you Netgalley and publisher for providing this book to me.

This was "meh." I didn't care for the MC. There is nothing about this book that will stick with me now that I have turned the final page. I was expecting more mystery, and this was mostly family drama.

kinda hated the MC for a hot second bc of the way she treats her sister but I get it. the ending was satisfying and realistic I enjoyed it

4.5 stars!

This is one of those rare gems that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the last page. You’ll find yourself pondering its themes and characters even as you dive into your next read. The writing is superb, with a seamless flow that makes it nearly impossible to put down.

"We Don’t Talk About Carol" is a debut novel that follows journalist Sydney Singleton as she uncovers a disturbing family secret after her grandmother's death. She finds a photograph of her aunt, Carol, one of six Black girls who went missing in North Carolina in the 1960s. With no one discussing Carol's disappearance for decades, Sydney becomes determined to solve the mystery, especially as she is contemplating starting her own family. However, her previous obsession with another missing girl led to a psychological breakdown, and as she explores Carol's fate, she confronts her unresolved issues and the fraught dynamics within her family.

Sydney, the protagonist, is an expertly crafted character. She embodies the complexities of motherhood, navigating its challenges with a cleverness and determination that make her both relatable and inspiring. You can’t help but root for her as she faces life’s ups and downs. The authenticity of her character brings the story to life, making it feel like you’re reading about someone who could easily exist in the real world. The situations she encounters are refreshingly realistic, avoiding the pitfalls of exaggeration that can plague many narratives.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster that provokes deep thought. It sheds light on family secrets, multigenerational dynamics, and diverse perspectives. I enjoyed the ending, and I didn't predict anything along the way. As someone who rarely reads blurbs—because who doesn’t love a good surprise? —I was initially drawn in by the captivating cover.

If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt mystery thriller that delves into themes of family, motherhood, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth, then this is the perfect summer companion! Trust me, I devoured it in one glorious afternoon, and I hope it captures your heart just as it did mine!

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Within the very first chapter of Kristen L Berry's debut, we are drawn into Sydney's life - complicated relationships, family secrets, and six missing girls.

On the surface, We Don't Talk About Carol is suspense. Yes, the twists got me, but underneath there's so much more!

I appreciate the author's take on how harmful family secrets can be and how she highlighted breaking generational trauma.

And Malik and Sydney's relationship! It was so good! I loved their journey. I loved how they were always trying to be in tune with each other.

In We Don't Talk About Carol, I admire Berry for tackling some tough issues and bringing awareness to the disproportionate number of Black people who go missing each year. This would be a great pick for book clubs!

Read if you like books with:
• Mystery
• Therapy rep
• Infertility rep
• Family secrets
• True crime vibes
• Thought-provoking topics

A huge thanks to NetGalley, Kristen L. Berry, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC.
This was a truly powerful and engaging read. The author masterfully brings to light the heartbreaking and infuriating reality of the disproportionate attention missing people of color receive. I was captivated by the numerous twists throughout the story, and the ending left me absolutely stunned! This is an absolute must-read.

This book was so dang good!!!! The emotions, the suspense, the twists, the turns!!!! The amount of suspicious characters and the whole time just wanting to know why we don’t talk about carol!!!! I cannot recommend this book enough!!!!

This one was delightfully weird in all the best ways. It mixes dark humor with family drama, and somehow makes you laugh and feel slightly creeped out at the same time. Carol is the kind of character you can’t stop thinking about—even when the book’s over, you’re still like, “Wait...what was her deal?”

I liked that the story didn’t take itself too seriously, but still had a surprising amount of emotional depth. The writing is snappy, the dialogue’s sharp, and it’s just the right mix of strange and heartwarming.

Family secrets lie at the middle of this amazing storyline. While cleaning out her grandmother’s home after her death Sydney finds a photograph buried in a drawer that bears a striking resemblance to her. She asks around and learns that it is a photo of her Aunt Carol who she had never heard of. She then learns that Carol mysteriously disappeared, along with five other young black girls sixty years ago. Sydney is a journalist and the revelations draw her in as she pursues trying to draw attention to the missing girls that have long been ignored. Her efforts pay off as she pursues whatever leads she gets, putting herself in danger along the way.
Sydney is a very vulnerable woman currently going through her own struggles with determining if she wants a family of her own. Her persistence and inquisitive mind were certainly a force to be reckoned with as she relentlessly pursues the truth putting her marriage on the line. As more is learned about the backgrounds of the missing women, as well as Sydney, I found myself unable to do anything else until I finished learning all the secrets buried in the past. The perfect blend of a compelling story, with a very relevant connection to the plight of missing persons who just happen to be black.
Many many thanks to Kristen L. Berry, Bantam, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this very engaging book. I highly recommend this read.