The Things We Left Unsaid by Emma Kennedy was the last book I picked up in a lockdown panic book buying trip to Sainsbury’s. I can live without new clothes and shoes and various things around the house. I can’t live without books. (I also picked up My Brilliant Friend and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird.) I’d read a book by Emma Kennedy before – Shoes for Anthony – which I’d really enjoyed, so I felt I was in safe hands with this one.
When Rachel is jilted on her wedding day, she is forced to go home to live with her mum, Eleanor. Rachel and Eleanor don’t have an easy relationship, and it is exacerbated by their grief for Rachel’s beloved father, Charlie. Rachel wants to wallow in grief for her lost marriage and her lost father, but Eleanor is much more matter of fact.
The narrative switches between Rachel’s present day story and Eleanor’s youth as an art student in Soho. Rachel’s cold and distant mother once had a rather fabulous life, which Rachel knows nothing about. Eleanor has been keeping a secret for many years, and Rachel is determined to find out the truth.
I read this straight after The Two Lives of Lydia Bird and I was amazed at the similarities between them – in their own way, they are both books about grief and a lost marriage. I seem to have this knack of reading similar books consecutively, without knowing beforehand that they are going to be similar.
Lydia Bird is a lighter read, where as The Things We Left Unsaid feels a bit more grown up. It is an enjoyable family story with some interesting and believable characters, particularly Agnes, Eleanor’s younger sister, who seems to have a better relationship with Rachel than Eleanor does. It is a fairly gentle book, but with a few twists which mean I can’t go into too much detail on the plot here. To me, it had a very satisfying ending.
If you enjoy a read about families and the secrets they keep, I would definitely recommend The Things We Left Unsaid.
August 23, 2020
Emma Kennedy’s name sounds familiar, but I don’t think I’ve read anything by her. The story sounds intriguing, I wonder now what the mother’s secret was.
I also happen to come across similar plot/setting coincidences when picking books to read randomly.
August 24, 2020
It’s weird how these coincidences in reading happen, isn’t it? Emma Kennedy appears on TV quite a bit and she’s also well worth following on Twitter.
September 8, 2020
Sounds interesting but I don’t think I want to read books with a grief focus just now
September 9, 2020
It’s definitely one for you to avoid in that case!
September 10, 2020
Love the sound of this, even more so because of your comparison to Lydia Bird #readwithme
September 14, 2020
It’s a really nice read about families and their secrets. I’m sure you would enjoy it.
September 12, 2020
This is a brilliant review! You’ve really whetted my appetite without giving too much away :o)
#ReadWithMe
September 14, 2020
Thanks very much! I always try not to give too much away in my reviews.