I have been thinking what to say about All The Things We Never Knew by Sophie Ranald. It is difficult to know what to address as it is such a comprehensive story filled with emotional experiences that tear at your heart and make you wonder: what would I do in this situation? I am happy to declare that the author has handled some very tough topics with the utmost grace and respect. I was pulled into the plot from the start and became completely enveloped in the world of Anna and her husband, and the woman who stole his heart.

We are given three perspectives, Anna, Laurel and a kind neighbour who zero in on one man. Gray is seriously damaged by his mother. His infidelity is upsetting, of course, but his love for his family is real. Yet his actions are confusing and he harbours some heavy secrets. A nurse named Laurel falls for him and his happiness with her seems authentic. But her journey reveals many hidden truths: the feelings she has for Gray are lasting but she has concerns for his wife and family. These ‘good’ emotions carry her through some trying and controversial times. I liked how she realised many important things that freed her to begin a new chapter that better suited her.

There is a theme of redemption in this novel, for many of the main characters. Even for Gray and his once disturbed mother. Anna, also, makes peace with herself and her relationship with her husband. Her journey leads her to make many discoveries about Gray’s past life that give her another perspective on him. Her responses are realistic, too, in such difficult circumstances and at times she has to dig deep but her actions are admirable: given what she has to endure. Yes, her anger and self-pity have their moments but who would not also react the same?

The ending was exceptional as all the issues merge into a solid note of hope and phoenix resurrection. I was deeply moved by this novel on so many levels. It is expertly delivered and would have been a difficult story to write. Many cheers to the author for having the courage to explore such challenging circumstances and offering an intriguing variety of outcomes and possibilities. The characters are memorable, appear real and are multi-dimensional. We see the good and the bad in them so their virtues and foibles are believable. One message that rings clear is that even the best person can make mistakes. But the story does not leave us wondering how to work out solutions for it offers some positive answers. That includes the ingredients of forgiveness and understanding. Which lead to healing and new directions. Lots of growth and self-discovery happen in the characters which left me uplifted and inspired. 5 Stars definitely for this one…and I am motivated to check out the author’s earlier works now! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a Review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

Wow what a great book! I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The characters are great. I even enjoyed the secondary characters. The writing style was great and this really was an easy read. It had meek hooked from page one. I don't always have a hard time putting books down but this one had me..lol. I highly recommend this book if you are in a reading slump. This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last.

Great book! How much are you willing to sacrifice for love and family? When do you and your feelings take precedent? Can you reconcile and/or find peace with his affair, his lover? What would you do??

Oh my what a story . Told by 3 different people .Anna was a better person than me. A story of Gray whose life was defined by his mother . It was sad and happy . I know it was a story but an affair with a married man is just no no no. The hospice was kind. It’s hard to review but it was very moving and I read it in a night.. Read it. You will not be able to put it down. The ending was neat .

Anna and her husband Gray have been together along time. They have two teenage children. Gray received some news that changes everything. Anna received some news that changes everything. I liked this book. It made me think about how I would react in a similar to and how complex human relationships can be.

2.5⭐️

Al leer la sinopsis sabía que habría infidelidad, pero esperaba que el libro tratara sobre el camino de Anna hacia la sanación. Sin embargo, no fue así.

Grayson y Anna llevaban casi dos décadas juntos, pero el último año él la estuvo engañando con Laurel, una enfermera que conoció cerca de la casa familiar. El tipejo estaba tan metido en su aventura que incluso anteponía las reuniones con su amante a pasar tiempo con sus hijas.

Cuando se entera de que está muriendo, no le queda de otra que confesarle su aventura a Anna, y aún tiene la desfachatez de amenazarla para que Laurel pudiera visitarlo todos los días en su propia casa, donde vivían sus hijas. Como la amante iba por las mañanas, las niñas estaban en la escuela y nunca se enteraron de la falta de respeto de su padre a su madre. Mientras que Anna tuvo que aguantarse, darle la bienvenida, ofrecerle algo de tomar y llevarla a la habitación que compartió toda su vida con su esposo. Tuvo que soportar saber que esa mujer se acostaba en su cama, que pasaban horas platicando sobre cómo habría sido su vida si él no se hubiera enfermado, cómo estarían juntos y tendrían un hijo, o cómo sería todo si se hubieran conocido veinte años atrás y hubieran formado su propia familia. Mientras tanto, Anna debía soportar los desplantes de su esposo cuando se sentía mal, y simplemente aceptar todo lo que ese ser tan egoísta le arrojaba.

Mi enojo fue que Anna nunca pudo reclamarle nada: ni cómo la descuidó a ella y a sus hijas, ni su infidelidad, ni tantas otras cosas. No entiendo por qué no decirle sus verdades a esa basura. Algo que odio en los libros y en la vida real es que cuando alguien malo está muriendo, de pronto se le perdona todo el daño simplemente por el hecho de estar enfermo. Y la verdad, me parece una tontería, porque eso no borra el dolor que causaron.

Al final, el tipo se muere y es Laurel quien se queda con él en su último respiro, no Anna, quien a pesar de todo lo seguía amando. Y claro, él quiso dar su último aliento con la amante… vaya descaro. Todo esto ocurre alrededor del 55% del libro, y lo que resta se centra en Anna y Laurel intentando encontrar a la persona a quien Grayson le donó un órgano. Lo “mejor” es que Laurel se vuelve amiga de una de las hijas, al punto que la niña crea un chat en el que están las cuatro. La pobre Anna tuvo que quedarse callada y aceptar, porque no podía decirle a su hija por qué necesitaba alejarse de esa mujer y manchar la memoria de Grayson. Pero casi al final resulta que la hija sí sabía de la aventura. Eso lo sentí como una traición, porque ¿cómo demonios, sabiendo todo, hizo que metieran a la amante en sus vidas?

Vemos a Anna intentando estar entera por sus hijas y siempre priorizando su bienestar, mientras que en los POVs de Laurel (porque lamentablemente es un dual POV) ella sufer y sufre y sufre, se queja de como no pudo pasar mas timepo con su amor, pero luego de unos meses conoce a alguien más y de pronto se sincera, admitiendo que sabía que Grayson no era una buena persona y que, siendo honesta no creía que su relación funcionaría si él se hubiera divorciado, porque no confiaría en que no le haría lo mismo que a Anna.

Ah, y dentro de la búsqueda de la persona que recibió el órgano, descubren que la infancia de Grayson fue difícil, y con eso Anna “justifica” la aventura. Sin sentido.

¿Por qué Anna no tiene un final feliz? ¿Por qué no le dieron un pizarrón en blanco para dejar ir a la basura de su esposo, alejarse de la amante y seguir con su vida? ¿Por qué solo la otra tuvo ese privilegio?


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

When Anna's husband Gray tells her he's been diagnosed with Terminal Cancer she thinks life can't get worse. Then he informs her he's been having an affair with Laurel for the last year and wants her to be involved at this late stage in his life. Does Anna even know her husband of only 20 years?
I had differing thoughts whilst reading this novel, whilst I was sympathetic to Gray"s position i couldn't believe his audacity and selfishness. Laurel's character came across as though she was the grieving widow and Anna was just going through the motions for the sake of their 2 children.
Despite the storyline I found it an easy read, it showcases how people grieving differently and covers some difficult subjects. A firm 4 stars from me

I enjoyed this romance novel. It was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest.