What We Thought We Knew

What We Thought We Knew

Genre:  Contemporary Literary

Publisher: Vanguard Press

Date Published: 2024

Book Length: 280

Format:  Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review

Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend

About Book: Four children, three marriages, two secrets, and one unfathomable tragedy: the families at numbers two, four and six Penwood Heights are connected by work, friendship, the loss of a child and a secret truth which has sat in the bedrock of their lives for years. In the centre of this tight-knit group is Faith, who believes her job is to act as a paperweight, keeping them all safe. And she does this until someone from her past reappears and threatens to sabotage everything. And, as the pieces fall, these families, these friends, realise that what they thought they knew about one another was nothing more than make-believe. They also discover that trust is illusory and for Faith, at least, that keeping other people's secrets can be more dangerous than keeping our own. 

My Thoughts: What We Thought We Knew by Claire Dyer is a book full of emotion. People’s lives, their regrets, what if’s and if only. Running through the book is deep sadness through loss and secrets kept you wonder what they are, but I made a stab in the dark at the backdrop of the lives of the characters.

I did get slightly confused about the couples to start with, who was with whom, which children were with which couple, but it soon became clear.

Dyer’s prose opens up throughout the book as a revelation delicately unveiling the complexities of the friendships between the three couples and the tremendous weight of what is hidden and unsaid. The book moves back and forth between past and present, bringing the secrets to bare. Adding depth to the story. Her keen observation of human emotion is evident on every page as she masterfully navigates the depth of grief and betrayal, I wondered if there would be any way out for any of them, which shows my own connection to the characters. As Dyer unfolds the layers and the past comes crashing through the door of the present, What We Thought We Knew becomes a poignant reflection on trust and keeping the secrets of others, what would be the right decision – to tell or not to tell. I found myself enraptured by Dyers words on the pages as she captured the nuances of human experience. I felt the vulnerabilities of each person deeply. It made me feel sad and I cried at the time of healing out of relief and hope.

In conclusion, Claire Dyers novel is a testament reminding us of the shared experiences and bonds made that can define us. It is a tale of love, loss, secrets and forgiveness that will linger long after the last page has been read.