Review: The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen (audio)

Title:The Things We Wish Were True

Author:Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Narrator:Taylor Ann Krahn

Published:September 2016, Brilliance Audio

Length:8 hours 16 minutes

Source:Publisher

In an idyllic small-town neighborhood, a near tragedy triggers a series of dark revelations.

 

From the outside, Sycamore Glen, North Carolina, might look like
the perfect all-American neighborhood. But behind the white picket
fences lies a web of secrets that reach from house to house.

Up
and down the streets, neighbors quietly bear the weight of their own
pasts—until an accident at the community pool upsets the delicate
equilibrium. And when tragic circumstances compel a woman to return to
Sycamore Glen after years of self-imposed banishment, the tangle of the
neighbors’ intertwined lives begins to unravel.

During the course
of a sweltering summer, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the
neighbors learn that it’s impossible to really know those closest to us.
But is it impossible to love and forgive them?

My thoughts:This is the first book I’ve read by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and now I’m wondering why I waited so long to pick up her books! I really enjoyed this and found myself completely immersed in the storyline right from the start.

I loved how there were so many characters – yet each one was so distinct and different. It was easy to follow along and not get confused. They all come together after one incident at the pool and then as we continue to follow them, secrets upon secrets start to come out – some having quite devastating consequences.

I loved the short chapters – even listening to the audio version of this, it had the same effect – you get so caught up in what’s happening with each character that you are anxious to get back to them when the POV switches, as it does with each chapter. Plus, it seemed that quite often, something would be revealed just at the end of a chapter and you are left hanging on until either another character picks up that particular thread or you get back to that same character. Once I started with this book, I had such a hard time walking away from it…I needed to see where everything was going. 

This was an incredibly enjoyable book and I am definitely looking forward to picking up some more books by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen. Have you read any of her books yet? If so, which one(s)?  


Audio thoughts:This is the first time I’ve listened to Taylor Ann Krahn narrate a book and I really enjoyed listening to her. She did a great job giving each character their own unique voice. This was a great listening experience and I will definitely be checking out what else this narrator has narrated!