The Stories We Don’t Tell by Melissa Thayer
Published by: Booktrope Publishing
Publication date: May 15th 2014
Published by: Booktrope Publishing
Publication date: May 15th 2014
Stars: 4 ****
The Blurb
“Growing up had stolen the truth of
us.”
A life worth living is a life worth sharing. Growing up in a small town in Montana not worth a name, that kind of life is not one Nick can manage, let alone comprehend. When fate gives him an existence he can barely recognize, he searches for meaning in the future he wishes existed, and attempts to escape a past that cannot be told, save for in the pages of a faded memory.
Melissa Thayer’s lyrical and poignant debut novel, part confession and part wistful longing, is an incisive look at love and loss, and what remains of a soul that is dashed against the rocky shorelines of hope.
A life worth living is a life worth sharing. Growing up in a small town in Montana not worth a name, that kind of life is not one Nick can manage, let alone comprehend. When fate gives him an existence he can barely recognize, he searches for meaning in the future he wishes existed, and attempts to escape a past that cannot be told, save for in the pages of a faded memory.
Melissa Thayer’s lyrical and poignant debut novel, part confession and part wistful longing, is an incisive look at love and loss, and what remains of a soul that is dashed against the rocky shorelines of hope.
My Thoughts
Normally if I saw that a book was only 120 pages long I wouldn't bother reading it as I would assume that there wouldn't be enough time to tell a story or for me to connect with the characters. I would feel that the end would come far to quickly. However that wasn't the case with The Stories We Don't Tell which I found to be a simple but beautiful story that looks at love and the yearning and longing that accompanies it when we let the love slip through our fingers.
Our central characters are Nick & Emma, childhood friends who develop into something more except the death of Nick's mother when he is a teenager means that he is unable to stay in a relationship with Emma. Throughout the book he pulls her in and pushes her away, they are like magnets who are drawn back together time & time again as the years go by.
The difference between Nick & Emma is that whilst Nick is left wallowing floating through life not knowing in which direction he is headed, Emma really develops as a character and begins to take control of her life making a future for herself. Does that future include Nick?
The Stories We Don't Tell is a story that is rammed full of emotions as we experience everything from teenage angst to grief, it is a real rollercoaster of a read that took me back to me own teenage love and left me wondering how that might have turned out if things hadn't ended the way they did. Melissa Thayer has a really way with words and had me so caught up in Nick and Emma's lives willing Nick to do the right thing by Emma.
Between our souls runs a riverbed we both stream through. She is my depth. I am only surface without her
Short & sweet as they say and this was a truly sweet and powerful read that I would highly recommend.
Check out the rest of Melissa's tour over on Xpresso Book Tours
Check out the rest of Melissa's tour over on Xpresso Book Tours
About The Author
Sin City native Melissa Thayer writes fiction that touches upon the
timeless truths of the human condition in poignant and thought-provoking
ways. She enjoys writing about people and connecting readers with her
characters.
She currently lives in Washington with her husband, daughter, and three cats.
THE STORIES WE DON’T TELL is her debut novel.
She currently lives in Washington with her husband, daughter, and three cats.
THE STORIES WE DON’T TELL is her debut novel.
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
- One signed copy of The Stories We Don't Tell
Great review, Sam! I love that even though it's short it feels very complete and the characters still well developed. Glad you liked it! :)
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