I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I don't have a great deal of time to dedicate to reading which is why I am a big fan of Audible audio books. After a few pages I made sure to carve out some time to read sit down and read/devour it. It is a realistic look into a relationship. It tackles real issues that couples deal within an honest way while taking you along the journey with them. Is love always enough? What happens when a couple stops talking and start to lose each other? When they are afraid to tell each other their own fears and truths. Can find their way back to each other while dealing with the pain of infertility, infidelity, and physical distance? Is taking some time away from each other the right thing and if so, for one or both of them? It takes you on an emotional journey that is well worth the ride. It is written with kindness and honesty, but does not hold back. It is my first novel by Rachel Burton, but surely will not be my last. If you are looking for something that is more than a quick beach read (which I also love) with some characters that will stay with you for this is the book for you. It offers great deal to think about. It gives hope, which is something sorely lacking in todays world.

A well written book. I enjoyed the author’s writing. The plot of infidelity and infertility will touch your heart. I highly recommend this book.

The Things We Need To Say – Rachel Burton

Will and Fran are trying again. Trying to repair the marriage that became a casualty of the traumatic times they have had to experience. Realising their love is still strong, they begin the delicate task of putting their relationship back together. But then Fran accidentally sees a text on Will’s phone that shatters everything…
Having now read two books by Rachel Burton, there’s an innate quality about her novels that I don’t think I’ve found in any others. They are full of emotion and tension but in a quiet, dignified way which seems tied up with their innate Englishness. Losing yourself in one of this author’s books is remarkably soothing, despite the emotions wrought within them.
The character of Fran in The Things We Need To Say is a yoga teacher, helping her students to let go of the things that hold them back, and learning to feel comforted and relaxed through their classes. As a qualified Yogi herself, it suddenly came to me that Ms Burton has brought that very same quality to her writing. Diving into any of her books is a wonderful experience. They are very real; heartwarming, as well as heart breaking all wrapped up with a sense of hope. She is an author to watch and definitely not one you should miss.

5*

This was really sad! Uplifting too as it's about change and hope and what a yoga retreat can offer you - when you go to Spain to teach one that is and you end up healing yourself. I'm not a sporty person or a yoga one but even i could appreciate how the closeness of the group and the support it provided gave Fran the help she needed. Fran's journey there and her changes during and after were nice to read but there was still a sense of delicateness. It read very personal as if the author was using some experiences of her own or fantastic research! I felt I was intruding almost at times but maybe that's just me. I think it just shows that we can all have problems hidden within and not realise what it going on with the person beside us. I now actually feel that a retreat of some kind in Salou would be nice - but still not convinced of yoga. Maybe a writing one?

Fran and Will are happily married. Their love is strong, but their desire for a family leads to heartbreak and creates a chasm in their relationship. Unable to communicate properly, a lack of words could have potentially devastating consequences.
This is a well-written and emotional book that deals with difficult subject matter. It explores how people can be brought together – and driven apart – by circumstances, and how important it is to give voice to inner fears. And to allow other people to help, even when your instinct is to withdraw.
I enjoyed reading about Fran's work as a yoga teacher at a retreat in Spain, and how the discipline helped her – and her students – deal with their different problems. Having only tried yoga once, I'm now tempted to give it another go!
The author is clearly a talented writer with a knack of tapping into deep emotions and articulating them well on the page. I look forward to reading her first book, The Many Colours of Us. My thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for allowing me to review this book. All opinions are my own.

This book could be used as textbook for why counseling is needed for those who are grieving. I found it all a bit too much, though I must admit that I've been lucky enough to not experience this type of loss. The story of the loss of a child, a cheating spouse and a job that offers a chance to get away from the spouse all seemed too much.
Fran, the wife/yogi, spends a lot of time in a bottomless well of grief, shutting out her husband and his grief. Of course he does something stupid to make it worse, only to find out 60% of the way through the book what the other stupid thing was that he did that night. The way it was broadly hinted at throughout the first half of the book annoyed me. If you have something to say, say it and stop with the hints.
I finished it but found I could have used the time better reading something else. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read by Rachel Burton, and it is truly beautiful. I myself have suffered with infertility issues and I have to say some of the emotions and descriptions of loss that the writer weaves into the story really resonated with me. Everyone's journey is different, and it's refreshing to read about it in such a captivating and honest way. Fran and Will's relationship kept the pages turning, and the backdrop of the setting, the yoga, and the secondary characters really made me love this story. Enchanting, heartbreaking and hopeful.

Fran and Will are at a crossroad of heavy decisions in their marriage. After losing their premature son a year ago, Fran is finally at a point where she feels she can become the wife Will needs and that they can begin to rebuild the marriage. But when she learns of Will’s betrayal, it all becomes too much to bear again. At the crux of the marriage are expectations long held and never talked about by either of them-topics that dwelled in their minds but never addressed.
Grace leaves Will for a yoga retreat in Spain, long planned, and both of them finally find themselves evaluating the past and present mistakes, possibilities and future. As told from each of their perspectives, it is a lesson in realization and truth that both must face and come to terms with if their marriage is to survive.

I loved this book. It had all emotions wrapped upon into a tale of great love and great loss. Beautiful.

I whizzed through the Things We Need to Say and enjoyed every little bit of it. The story follows Fran and Will who have had to deal with a lot of heartbreak and it explores how different people react in different ways to events which happen in their lives..

After the devastation of losing their child and the des overt of Wills infidelity Fran has some difficult decisions to make. Fran has already been going to Spain to run a yoga retreat and it is here that she must do a lot of soul searching. The members of the retreat and the emergence of an old flame all add to her decision making.

Emphathy, understanding, relationships and loss are all handled brilliantly in this book. It covers the subject of following your heart , not listening to other people's judgement, loving and finding yourself and above all the need to communicate within a relationship even when that is hard to do. The ending was heart warming.

I recommend this brilliant well written book which had me thinking about my own life.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the opportunity to read this perfect read.

Heartbreaking, heartwarming and hopeful.

The Things We Need to Say, follows the journey of Fran and Will, a couple who between them have shared excruciating heartbreak. Needing time alone, Fran goes to Spain to run a yoga retreat where she meets a cast of strong, endearing characters. Her time there is a time to reflect and grow as a person and each character is able to offer something to help her on her journey.

The Things we Need to Say is a wonderfully well-written novel which covers the issues of infertility, infidelity and temptation in an heart-wrenchingly honest way.

The Things We Need to Say, An emotional, uplifting story of grief and hope , Rachel Burton



Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction

Gah, there's just one thing I didn't like about this story – the category Women's Fiction! Why do that? Why exclude men who could love this story? I Really Hate seeing books categorised in that genre. Rant over.

I wasn't sure about this book, but reviews looked good and it is, its a perfect read for those who want a novel that will make them think “what would I do?” Make them wonder about the characters, the morality of events, how people react in different situations.

I loved both Will and Fran, and was desperately hoping they could find a way through the sticky morass they found themselves in. They've been through so much, look perfect from the outside but inside they are both a seething mass of grief, hurt, not knowing what to do, whether they could recover.
Just when Fran feels she does want to try again she gets another awful shock. Can they get past it?

Well, everyone reacts differently and for some that last hurt would be the one that breaks, but while away in Spain Fran gets a chance to think, to work out what went wrong, to wonder of they've just been papering over the cracks these last few years, desperate to do what others find effortless.
I so felt for them both, and the title is perfect -they do need to talk, to clear the air, discuss how they feel, what went wrong before they can decide if they want to go forward together or if things have gone too far.

Fran's yoga group and the people she met in Spain helped her gain perspective, while for Will its his brother, and unexpectedly his father who help, along with a couple of Fran's friends who know him.

I loved their story, was moved to tears at parts and heart-broken for each of them. I thought I'd be angry at Will and yet...he was so lost, and so in love still with Fran and she with him that I just couldn't find it in me.
Its a perfect five star read for me, but not one I think I'd re-read.

Stars: five, a real solid story for readers who want more then the widely available fluff stories.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

This was a story of love and loss within a married couples life. It's a devastating experience to go through and it felt that this was written from the heart. This love and loss happens in relationships in all types of situations, not just with the loss of a child. Whilst reading I could feel the loss and heartache but I could never feel the love coming through the story.

I didn't like all the jumping back and forth between the year and to be honest was quite bored and had to force myself to keep reading.