If Only I Could Tell You by Hannah Beckerman:

The book If Only I Could Tell You is about a family that has experienced traumas and a great losses, yet we don’t find out what these are precisely almost until the end. This family has been torn apart for over 30 years because one unspoken moment. Throughout the book you go through a journey of empathy for all parties involved with the use of chapters being narrated by either the main three characters: Jess, Lily and Audrey. The book also tackles themes like family secrets and grief in an honest and raw way, which made me feel as though I was also experiencing it. It is a book largely dominated by women and their complex familial relationships, going across three different generations. It is equally as heart-warming as it is heart-wrenching.

I believe that this book taught me and, most importantly, reminded me of just how vital family is and how they should never be taken for granted. It also reminded me how honesty, no matter how painful at the time, is a crucial value to uphold. Another message is that of courage. If you have courage, you will live a full and content life, but if you don’t you will suffer the consequences of not feeling fulfilled. All characters in this book show courage in different forms and also remind us of how cowardice can affect not only ourselves, but all of those around us.

Overall, this book was absolutely marvellous! It was exceptionally written and a beautiful story that deserves to be read all over. It was extremely moving and it made me cry several times! I would recommend this to anyone and everyone because it is truly fantastic. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did!