Such a beautiful but emotional story. A great depiction as to why not to make assumptions as you can get some things so wrong and the impact is massive!

I loved this book. Well written & flowed perfectly got through it so quick! First book I’ve read by this author but look forward to reading more. Would recommend this to anyone.

Audrey's family has fallen apart. Her two grown-up daughters, Jess and Lily, are estranged, and her two teenage granddaughters have never been allowed to meet. A secret that echoes back thirty years has splintered the family in two, but is also the one thing keeping them connected.

As tensions reach breaking point, the irrevocable choice that one of them made all those years ago is about to surface. After years of secrets and silence, how can one broken family find their way back to each other?

*****

I have heard many wonderful things about this book, so was eager to read it. It didn't let me down, although it was a difficult read due to the very nature of the story (but enjoyable none the less)!

At times I found the story slightly implausible however, it all made sense at the end.

Highly recommended!

A decent family drama, though it felt sluggish in places where I just wanted the 'twist' to hurry up as it was flagged up too early and I spent too much time on wild guesses to really lose myself in the story. I liked the strong female characters, especially the grandmother, though they all really seemed to excel at picking dreadful men. I chose this because of Marian Keyes' rec, but because she liked it, I expected more humour and this was a tad too sentimental for me.

A gripping read about a family which has been torn apart by tragedy and secrets but are the secrets they believe they know actually the real ones? Jess hasn't spoken to her sister Lily since she was 10 years old - nearly 30 years ago. Jess believes her sister is the cause of the events that led to the family being wrapped apart and has held that against her for years - she won't even allow her daughter Mia to see her cousin Phoebe. Their mother Audrey, who has terminal cancer, has one wish which is to reunite her family. The books has some unexpected twists and surprises - who actually holds the answers?

I loved, loved, loved this book. Well rounded characters and a heart breaking story. I thought I had an idea of what the twist was but I was totally wrong. This author is definitely one to watch out for.

Oh my what a totally heartbreaking story. Beautifully written. You will definitely need tissues handy when reading this book. Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book

Audrey has limited time to find out why her daughter Jess hates her sibling Lily. The truth slowly unfolds revealing family tragedy. Brilliantly written, each character is described well and it is easy to relate to them.

This starts rather mysteriously. Something has happened, something very serious.
As the book progresses it gives away its secrets bit by bit.
It’s sad and tragic for the most part.
It was an enjoyable read though despite being so tragic.

Beautifully written and bursting with emotion.

When at the beginning of the book, we find the two sisters, Lily and Jess, outside the spare room they are not supposed to enter, we’re led to believe we know what happened in there. Except we don’t. This book is filled with as many plot twists, and tragic ones might I add, as you can think of in a little over 350 pages.

I must warn that it is not the kind of book to read if you’re looking for something happy, even though it has some happy moments, but to read if you want to feel and feel deeply. Although it is replete of tragic and sad revelations, hope is always present, which undoubtedly prevents it from becoming depressing.

Following the two sisters and their mother, Audrey, in their ever busy and emotionally challenging lives, the story moves back and forth in time, uncovering some of the best-kept secrets that shaped the family.

If Only I Could Tell You deals with grief and loss and shows how different it can affect those involved in it. It deals and makes us, the readers, deal with the sadness of those affected by the happening tragedies whether they’re 10, 17 or 40. Beckerman wrote it in such a way that makes the scenes come alive that you might find you need tissues to dry your tears.

It is a book that reminds you of how surprisingly short life can be and how it can shatter you even if you think you’re prepared for whatever’s going to happen. It reminds you of how important it is to cherish life and those present in it, taking every opportunity to be close to those around you and do what truly makes you happy.

The character of Jess frustrated me a few times since we don’t learn the motive for her hatred towards her sister until the last few chapters. It is difficult to think of something bad enough to hold a grudge for over 30 years even when her mother is dying, and her only wish is for her daughters not to be estranged. But the truth is when you find out the reason, you can’t help but feel sympathetic towards her.

The reason why I can’t give this book 5 stars is because I feel the end of the story is a bit rushed, having many revelations being made without having space for the reader to see a settlement within the characters.

All in all, it was a surprisingly good read, full of emotion and revelations that left me thinking about it for a few days.

Audrey has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and her one wish is to reunite her two daughters Jess and Lily. Jess has refused to have anything to do with Lily for 28 years but has never said why...... even her daughter Mia is not allowed to have anything to do with Lily's daughter Phoebe....... but what is the big secret and can it be overcome?

This is a very emotional book that covers many topics sensitively, Audrey is a lovely character that you really feel for, but you want to knock Jess and Lily's heads together, the years of heartache this has caused their mother. I was drawn in from the beginning though and had to find out what could have caused such a massive rift.

This family saga centres around Audrey and her two daughters, Lily and Jess. Jess hasn’t spoken to Lily for 28 years and refuses to tell her mother and sister why. She also refuses to let her 16 year old daughter Mia get to know her cousin, Lily’s daughter Phoebe. This arrangement involves poor Audrey having to walk a tightrope whenever she sees her daughters or looks after her granddaughters. The situation is now complicated and made all the more urgent and poignant by Audrey’s terminal cancer.

I have to admit I was frustrated and angry with Jess’s unreasonable and (to the outside observer) somewhat brattish behaviour. Surely if your sister had done something that terrible you would have told someone/confronted her/called the police as appropriate, rather than bear a grudge for 28 years and cause untold misery and confusion, not to mention inconvenience, to your family. For that reason the story didn’t quite ring true for me. I did warm to most of the other characters though, particularly Audrey and her two granddaughters, and even Lily who, although she is portrayed at times as a tough, hard-hearted businesswoman, does have a lot on her plate with her unreasonable sister and douchebag of a husband.

Unfortunately the implausibility of the central plotline spoiled the book for me and I felt that the ‘secret’ which caused Jess to stop speaking to her sister was dragged out for far too long before it was revealed. With themes including terminal illness, suicide and even child death, this is an emotional and somewhat gruelling read, although the final scenes were very moving.

This book is amazing from the very start. You cannot help but keep reading it to find out how the story unfolds. It is both emotional and thought provoking and explores the intricacy of families and their lives so well. I will certainly be recommending this read to all my fellow readers. Well done the author.

A cracking read that keeps you turning the pages. Some of the plotting is a little hard to believe but that doesn’t detract from it being an emotional roller coasters. Dealing with childhood cancer, teenage pregnancy’, failing relationships and family secrets, it will keep you guessing and engrossed.

Wow. An amazing read! From the start I thought I had the plot sussed and was eagerly waiting the proof I was right. But boy how wrong was I. What an emotional yet captivating read. The author has pulled me in and kept the pages turning by themselves. Big thanks to the author and netgalley for allowing me to read this book

Hannah Beckerman has made me ugly cry.

If Only I Could Tell You is a story how one family deals with grief. Audrey’s two daughters have spent 30 years not talking to each other and Audrey has had enough. She is desperate to bridge the gap between her children before it is too late.

Told from multi-perspective and from various different time frames you really do find yourself immersed in the world that Beckerman has woven. She is very good at pulling the rug from under your feet. Things you thought to be true aren’t. You empathise with characters that you don’t necessarily feel that you should. Most of all you feel Audrey’s sense of frustration and the ever pressing notion that time is ticking away.

Hannah Beckerman has done something that I think only a few writers do really well and that is take a really contentious topic and make you see every side of the argument until you cannot decide with whom you should side with. For me, that is a sign of a great writer and an excellent story.

If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman is available now.

For more information regarding Hannah Beckerman (@hannahbeckerman) please visit www.hannahbeckerman.com.

For more information regarding Orion Publishing (@orionbooks) please visit www.orionbooks.co.uk.

Thank you net galley for chance to read this.What a fabulous read although a sad story it was written in a very believable way.Having two friends children pass away recently this story real rings through to me.

Another emotional read from Beckerman, so have you tissues to hand and your mind clear for all the mixed thoughts that will be racing around.

Twenty eight years of estrangement exist between sisters Jess and Lily and their mother Audrey doesn’t know why but it’s her dying wish to reunite them come what may. However this is not an easy task as Jess’s anger runs deep, so deep that she even forbids her daughter Mia from having a relationship with her Aunt and cousin Phoebe. Lily too is happy to keep her distance, but her reason is not one of hatred but of secrets and protection.

This story has so many layers as it addresses difficult subjects such as death, suicide, relationships and loss but they are told with compassion and care. The narratives are told from Jess, Lily and Audrey with timelines from events in 1988 to present day. Grief is paramount from the onset with guilt hovering over the characters throughout.

If Only I Could Tell You is not an easy cosy read but I am sure will captivate you and consume your thoughts. I can thoroughly recommend this boo and happy to say that Hannah Beckerman continues to write a damn good story, therefore I have no hesitation in giving this a 5 star rating. My thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC.

Help! I was approved for this on 21st Feb - went to download it on 22nd and it had vanished so I haven't actually got it to review! Have added 5 stars so I can contact you!

This was one of the most heart wrenching books I have read. It was written beautifully.
Audrey and her two daughters together with her two granddaughters are all individual characters with their own stories.
This is a story of tremendous sadness but you have hope all the way through that everything will turn out ok for them all.
A fabulous book but definitely read with tissues to hand.