Review by Marina: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

A searing page-turner of family secrets and the legacy of war by the Top 10 bestselling

Australian author of Before I Let You Go

2019 Life changed beyond recognition for Alice when her son, Eddie, was born with autism spectrum disorder. She

must do everything to support him, but at what cost to her family? When her cherished grandmother is hospitalised,

a hidden box of mementoes reveals a tattered photo of a young man, a tiny leather shoe and a letter. Her

grandmother begs Alice to return to Poland to see what became of those she held dearest.

WWII Alina and Tomasz are childhood sweethearts. The night before he leaves for college, Tomasz proposes

marriage. But when their village falls to the Nazis, Alina doesn't know if Tomasz is alive or dead.

2019 In Poland, separated from her family, Alice begins to uncover the story her grandmother is so desperate to tell,

and discovers a love that bloomed in the winter of 1942. As a painful family history comes to light, will the struggles

of the past and present finally reach a heartbreaking resolution?

Inspired by the author's own family history, The Things We Cannot Say unearths a tragic love story and a family secret

whose far-reaching effects will alter lives forever.

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer will be published by Hachette Australia on 26 February 2019, Trade Paperback RRP $32.99

4.5 stars

First off, I want to start by saying that I am not one to usually read historical fiction but this story was so intriguing I couldnt help but be drawn into it.

I really felt for the characters and the hardships they faced but all in all I thought the book was well written with a storyline that caused me to tear up in parts.

I loved reading the back story to Alina and what she went through during the war. I also rather liked the way her granddaughter Alice goes in search of her past. Goodness me, I was certainly hooked during the time she travels to Poland. It is very reminiscent of when I travelled with my family to a small town in Poland on the German border, so in a sense I could really relate to this!! Hence the tearing up!

I really did enjoy this book, it certainly goes to show what hardships everyone around us can face. The author has done a great job capturing the feel of the story!

Thanks to Hachette AU for the Paperback copy for review!

Kelly Rimmer has sold over 600,000 digital copies of her previous four novels: Me Without You, The Secret Daughter,

When I Lost You and A Mother's Confession. Before I Let You Go was Kelly's first novel with Hachette Australia and

was a Top 10 bestseller. Kelly lives in rural NSW with her husband, two children and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully

and Basil. Her novels have been translated into more than 20 languages.