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If We're Being Honest
For fans of We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange and All Adults Here by Emma Straub, Cat Shook’s debut novel If We’re Being Honest is the snappy, smart, heartwarming story of the Williams family, and the sweltering summer that rewrote their history.
When Gerry, the beloved Williams patriarch, dies suddenly, his grandchildren flock from across the country to the family home in Eulalia, Georgia. But when Gerry’s best friend steps up to the microphone to deliver his eulogy, the funeral turns out unlike anyone expected. The cousins, left reeling and confused, cope with their fresh grief and various private dramas. Delia, recently heartbroken, refuses to shut up about her ex. Her sister Alice, usually confident, flusters when she spots her high school sweetheart, hiding a secret that will change both of their lives. Outspoken, affable Grant is preening in the afterglow of his recent appearance on The Bachelorette and looking to reignite an old flame with the least available person in town. Meanwhile, his younger brother Red, unsure of himself and easily embarrassed, desperately searches for a place in the boisterous family.
The cousins’ eccentric parents are in tow, too, and equally lost—in love and in life. Watching over them all is Ellen, Gerry’s sweet and proper widow, who does her best to keep her composure in front of the leering small town.
Clever and completely original, If We’re Being Honest reminds you that while no one can break your heart like your family can, there’s really no one better to put you back together.
When Gerry, the beloved Williams patriarch, dies suddenly, his grandchildren flock from across the country to the family home in Eulalia, Georgia. But when Gerry’s best friend steps up to the microphone to deliver his eulogy, the funeral turns out unlike anyone expected. The cousins, left reeling and confused, cope with their fresh grief and various private dramas. Delia, recently heartbroken, refuses to shut up about her ex. Her sister Alice, usually confident, flusters when she spots her high school sweetheart, hiding a secret that will change both of their lives. Outspoken, affable Grant is preening in the afterglow of his recent appearance on The Bachelorette and looking to reignite an old flame with the least available person in town. Meanwhile, his younger brother Red, unsure of himself and easily embarrassed, desperately searches for a place in the boisterous family.
The cousins’ eccentric parents are in tow, too, and equally lost—in love and in life. Watching over them all is Ellen, Gerry’s sweet and proper widow, who does her best to keep her composure in front of the leering small town.
Clever and completely original, If We’re Being Honest reminds you that while no one can break your heart like your family can, there’s really no one better to put you back together.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2023
About the author
Cat Shook
3 books327 followersCat Shook graduated from the University of Georgia in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and Mass Media Arts. Born and raised in Georgia, she now lives in Brooklyn. She is the author of If We're Being Honest, a GMA Buzz Pick, and Humor Me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,117 reviews
April 18, 2023
When the book opens we are given a rundown of the very large Williams family, as they try to figure out who is best suited to give the eulogy for Gerry, the family Patriarch who has just passed away. This was yet another story with a large cast of characters and I wondered if I should start a flow chart to keep everyone straight.
It WASN’T the most exciting way to begin this “one week” family saga.
Gerry’s best friend, Fred is elected and the Eulogy he delivers is a DOOZY!
Over the course of the week, his bombshell revelation will be the catalyst for conversations and soul searching within the family, as each member examines their own choices in life.
We are TOLD (rather than shown) what each family member does from the time of the funeral and wake until a week later when they are gathered again for a much happier occasion-a wedding!
The chapters are long, which I dislike, and although the story has some touching moments, it didn’t quite resonate with me.
But, I have a feeling that it will be winner for some readers, perhaps those from a large close knit family, who find that it DOES resonate with them?
2.5 ⭐️
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Celadon Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
It WASN’T the most exciting way to begin this “one week” family saga.
Gerry’s best friend, Fred is elected and the Eulogy he delivers is a DOOZY!
Over the course of the week, his bombshell revelation will be the catalyst for conversations and soul searching within the family, as each member examines their own choices in life.
We are TOLD (rather than shown) what each family member does from the time of the funeral and wake until a week later when they are gathered again for a much happier occasion-a wedding!
The chapters are long, which I dislike, and although the story has some touching moments, it didn’t quite resonate with me.
But, I have a feeling that it will be winner for some readers, perhaps those from a large close knit family, who find that it DOES resonate with them?
2.5 ⭐️
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to Celadon Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 15, 2023Throwing in the towel at 42 %. Too many characters and I'm bored silly.
May 27, 2023
If We're Being Honest by Cat Shook is a Southern and Family Fiction Story!
The Williams family, from far and wide, are all gathered together for the funeral of Gerry Williams, the beloved family patriarch.
As the funeral gets underway, Fred Clark, Gerry's BFF steps up to the podium to deliver the eulogy and what he shares about Gerry, in an extremely inebriated state, sets all in attendance and the entire town reeling. It's quite unexpected...
And that's just the beginning of what takes place with the Williams family in the town of Eulalia, Georgia over the next few days...
If We're Being Honest is a Family Fiction story, one of my favorite sub-genres, but this particular story takes some time to get acquainted with.
We're introduced to this ginormous family list right from the get-go. I started taking a few notes and when I got to my third sticky note, I stopped. Yes, there are, in fact, that many characters.
If We're Being Honest does have great topics nestled into the story but the style it's written in is similar to reporting it rather than describing it. I also found there to be an overabundance of details and dialogue that could have used further editing.
I was excited to listen to the audiobook but I found myself backtrack-listening numerous times to figure out who was who. I finally stopped doing this and simply enjoyed narrator Kathleen McInerney's perky voice. Unfortunately, her gender voicing was similar with all male and with all female characters which created further muddiness with determining who was who.
If We're Being Honest is one I wanted to love but sadly this author's debut novel didn't work for me overall. However, I'm glad to see that it has resonated with others.
3⭐
Thank you to Celadon Books for an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
The Williams family, from far and wide, are all gathered together for the funeral of Gerry Williams, the beloved family patriarch.
As the funeral gets underway, Fred Clark, Gerry's BFF steps up to the podium to deliver the eulogy and what he shares about Gerry, in an extremely inebriated state, sets all in attendance and the entire town reeling. It's quite unexpected...
And that's just the beginning of what takes place with the Williams family in the town of Eulalia, Georgia over the next few days...
If We're Being Honest is a Family Fiction story, one of my favorite sub-genres, but this particular story takes some time to get acquainted with.
We're introduced to this ginormous family list right from the get-go. I started taking a few notes and when I got to my third sticky note, I stopped. Yes, there are, in fact, that many characters.
If We're Being Honest does have great topics nestled into the story but the style it's written in is similar to reporting it rather than describing it. I also found there to be an overabundance of details and dialogue that could have used further editing.
I was excited to listen to the audiobook but I found myself backtrack-listening numerous times to figure out who was who. I finally stopped doing this and simply enjoyed narrator Kathleen McInerney's perky voice. Unfortunately, her gender voicing was similar with all male and with all female characters which created further muddiness with determining who was who.
If We're Being Honest is one I wanted to love but sadly this author's debut novel didn't work for me overall. However, I'm glad to see that it has resonated with others.
3⭐
Thank you to Celadon Books for an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
April 21, 2023
2⭐
Featuring ~ multiple 3rd POV, debut, family drama, long chapters (40-60 minutes)
When the author provides a family tree we know we're in for a lot of characters to keep track of. I am not even going to try and list them all either.
There's quite a bit to follow along with ~ from learning Dad/Grandpa is gay at his funeral by the eulogy from his lover to a pregnant from a one night stand granddaughter to a marriage on the rocks with a spouse either cheating or tired of the others disinterest. And that's not even the half of it.
I'm not sure about the book form, but with the audio there was not a smooth transition into the next point of view, which was quite frankly annoying and took me out of the story. I wasn't very invested in any of the characters and I couldn't care less what was going on with them.
Narration:
Kathleen McInerney ~ 11 hours 8 minutes ~ a bit robotic, but I was able to speed up to 3x and follow along as best as I could.
There were a few humorous moments, but overall not for me. Don't let me deter you if it sounds like something you might like as it is currently an editor's pick on Amazon.
Side note ~ I like the colorful cover
*Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ multiple 3rd POV, debut, family drama, long chapters (40-60 minutes)
When the author provides a family tree we know we're in for a lot of characters to keep track of. I am not even going to try and list them all either.
There's quite a bit to follow along with ~ from learning Dad/Grandpa is gay at his funeral by the eulogy from his lover to a pregnant from a one night stand granddaughter to a marriage on the rocks with a spouse either cheating or tired of the others disinterest. And that's not even the half of it.
I'm not sure about the book form, but with the audio there was not a smooth transition into the next point of view, which was quite frankly annoying and took me out of the story. I wasn't very invested in any of the characters and I couldn't care less what was going on with them.
Narration:
Kathleen McInerney ~ 11 hours 8 minutes ~ a bit robotic, but I was able to speed up to 3x and follow along as best as I could.
There were a few humorous moments, but overall not for me. Don't let me deter you if it sounds like something you might like as it is currently an editor's pick on Amazon.
Side note ~ I like the colorful cover
*Thanks to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2023
3.75 stars
If We're Being Honest was a slow grower type read for me. The cast of characters is large and that made it difficult in the beginning to keep track of everyone. Eventually I did settle into a nice reading groove and I gotta tell you, I loved the ending for the book.
Grandpa Gerry has passed away. As his family and friends attend his funeral service someone drops a bombshell. The story follows around his various family members including his wife, kids, and grandkids over the course of the next week.
A family tree or a cast of characters would have been much appreciated as it took me about 50 or 60 pages until I felt I had a decent grasp on who was who. This family drama isn't flashy, but each character was at a bit of a crossroads in their life and that was enough to sustain my interest. Perhaps it's a run of the mill family drama but I did think the ending was special.
Thank you Celadon Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
If We're Being Honest was a slow grower type read for me. The cast of characters is large and that made it difficult in the beginning to keep track of everyone. Eventually I did settle into a nice reading groove and I gotta tell you, I loved the ending for the book.
Grandpa Gerry has passed away. As his family and friends attend his funeral service someone drops a bombshell. The story follows around his various family members including his wife, kids, and grandkids over the course of the next week.
A family tree or a cast of characters would have been much appreciated as it took me about 50 or 60 pages until I felt I had a decent grasp on who was who. This family drama isn't flashy, but each character was at a bit of a crossroads in their life and that was enough to sustain my interest. Perhaps it's a run of the mill family drama but I did think the ending was special.
Thank you Celadon Books for sending me an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
May 12, 2023
If We’re Being Honest is a family drama about the Williams family, who just lost Gerry, their husband, father and grandfather. A bombshell about Gerry is revealed at his funeral too, leaving everyone with questions on top of their fresh grief while they also each deal with personal dilemmas.
The family includes Ellen, the matriarch, adult siblings Wilma, JJ and Carol Anne, along with their own adult children, one spouse and a significant other. Though Gerry’s death was unexpected, the Williams all planned to reunite for a family friend’s wedding the following weekend and this circumstance leads them to now spend the full interim week together.
I can’t say this story was necessarily a new one, but it was still an entertaining read. There was a lot going on in this book but I enjoyed learning about the family’s various antics, and secrets, some more legitimate and interesting than others. If We’re Being Honest leaned toward the lighter side, though it was a reminder there are different ways to deal with grief — 3.5 stars
The family includes Ellen, the matriarch, adult siblings Wilma, JJ and Carol Anne, along with their own adult children, one spouse and a significant other. Though Gerry’s death was unexpected, the Williams all planned to reunite for a family friend’s wedding the following weekend and this circumstance leads them to now spend the full interim week together.
I can’t say this story was necessarily a new one, but it was still an entertaining read. There was a lot going on in this book but I enjoyed learning about the family’s various antics, and secrets, some more legitimate and interesting than others. If We’re Being Honest leaned toward the lighter side, though it was a reminder there are different ways to deal with grief — 3.5 stars
August 23, 2024
Humor Me by this author popped onto my radar due to it being compared to Romantic Comedy which was an absolute fave of mine. While I wait in permanent purgatory for my library hold to finally come around on that one I couldn’t help but noticing all the houses on the cover of this one and of course I had to check it out.
The story here is about the Williams family who have sadly all gathered to mourn the loss of Gerry. No one feels up to the task of eulogizing their beloved patriarch, so his best friend Fred agrees to do the honors. And then Fred delivers a real whammo of a secret about their relationship. The remainder of the novel focuses on all of the other family members’ relationships. From recently dumped Delia, to whoopsie pregnant Alice, to The Bachelorette contestant Grant, to Red who is struggling with a secret of his own and even their parents/aunts/uncles, we get a little taste of everyone’s love lives.
I will admit when I started this and realized the jumping off point of the story was a funeral and family coming together, I couldn’t help but (unfairly) compare it to one of my all-time favorites This Is Where I Leave You. This one doesn’t quite hold up, but it is a perfectly fine story. Really my only issue was the sheer volume of characters and how long it took me to figure out exactly who was who – some because they didn’t even seem necessary and were so one-dimensional, others because 25-30 year olds came off like teenagers while their parents came off like 30 year olds. This could have been parsed down to focus on only the grandkids and would have been a lot less chaotic. That being said, it was nice to read about “normal” people with so much love for each other . . . .
3.5 Stars
The story here is about the Williams family who have sadly all gathered to mourn the loss of Gerry. No one feels up to the task of eulogizing their beloved patriarch, so his best friend Fred agrees to do the honors. And then Fred delivers a real whammo of a secret about their relationship. The remainder of the novel focuses on all of the other family members’ relationships. From recently dumped Delia, to whoopsie pregnant Alice, to The Bachelorette contestant Grant, to Red who is struggling with a secret of his own and even their parents/aunts/uncles, we get a little taste of everyone’s love lives.
I will admit when I started this and realized the jumping off point of the story was a funeral and family coming together, I couldn’t help but (unfairly) compare it to one of my all-time favorites This Is Where I Leave You. This one doesn’t quite hold up, but it is a perfectly fine story. Really my only issue was the sheer volume of characters and how long it took me to figure out exactly who was who – some because they didn’t even seem necessary and were so one-dimensional, others because 25-30 year olds came off like teenagers while their parents came off like 30 year olds. This could have been parsed down to focus on only the grandkids and would have been a lot less chaotic. That being said, it was nice to read about “normal” people with so much love for each other . . . .
3.5 Stars
October 21, 2022
This was so lovely! It felt like the author read This Is Where I Leave You and said, "Jonathan Tropper, your women are shit and clearly misogynistic so let's re-work this" and then she did! It was at times, laugh-out-loud funny and other times quiet, poignant, and tender. Love how family is represented in this book, and also that different types of relationships are valid (including being content NOT being in one!) A book about family and the failings of human connection that is ultimately overwhelmingly hopeful about said human connection nonetheless?? Absolutely stunning.
April 11, 2023
I started this book with listening to the audio, but I was having too much trouble keeping track of all of the character connections so I switched to kindle and while it was better it was still hard to keep track. A family tree would have been appreciated. The story itself was sad and heartwarming and interesting even if I didn’t always like or connect with the characters. The story begins with a run down on the family members and who would be best to give the eulogy for the patriarch of the family. His best friend was selected over his wife, children, and grandchildren and he gave a eulogy no one would ever forget. Relationship struggles were at the heart of this story and each family member was having slightly different issues. Of all of the characters I think Alice was my favorite. This story did a great job of showing the aftermath of grief which was awesome. I also really liked that it tackled some tougher issues in the relationship dramas like having the reader see how various family members reacted to revelations about people being gay or being unmarried and having a baby. Overall it was a pretty good debut and I would pick up another book by this author in the future.
October 16, 2022
Only reading books that feel like a hug from now on. Drop recs below plz
April 13, 2023
I knew I was going to love this book as soon as I read the first line of chapter 1: "Gerry Williams's funeral was a shit show." This brilliant story of a southern family mourning the loss of their grandpa/dad/husband, while coming to terms with an uncomfortable truth revealed at his funeral, was hilariously funny and heartbreakingly sad and all of the feelings in between.
I did have a little trouble keeping the gazillion characters straight at first, but it sorted itself out as I got to know each of them and their various relationships within the family better. The story flew by, and I didn't want it to end - I loved this bananas family so much. And that ending -- I had gross emotions about it because it was so perfect.
This was an incredible debut, and I cannot wait to see what Cat Shook writes next -- she absolutely killed it.
* thanks to Celadon Books for the NetGalley review copy. If We're Being Honest publishes April 18, 2023.
* quote was taken from an uncorrected proof and may change prior to publication (but it had better not).
I did have a little trouble keeping the gazillion characters straight at first, but it sorted itself out as I got to know each of them and their various relationships within the family better. The story flew by, and I didn't want it to end - I loved this bananas family so much. And that ending -- I had gross emotions about it because it was so perfect.
This was an incredible debut, and I cannot wait to see what Cat Shook writes next -- she absolutely killed it.
* thanks to Celadon Books for the NetGalley review copy. If We're Being Honest publishes April 18, 2023.
* quote was taken from an uncorrected proof and may change prior to publication (but it had better not).
June 2, 2023
How is this on the MMD and Bitter Southerner’s summer reading lists?
I made myself keep going, thinking that there would be some form of plot or something, but ended up truly hating every sentence of this book. It feels like it’s written by a very young person/ teen with no life experience who created characters without depth that are nothing more than cliched stereotypes.
There were too many characters with no depth who didn't really do anything other than think about things in the past. There was no taste of the South here, or at least not any South that I wish to be a part of.
Just not for me.
I made myself keep going, thinking that there would be some form of plot or something, but ended up truly hating every sentence of this book. It feels like it’s written by a very young person/ teen with no life experience who created characters without depth that are nothing more than cliched stereotypes.
There were too many characters with no depth who didn't really do anything other than think about things in the past. There was no taste of the South here, or at least not any South that I wish to be a part of.
Just not for me.
April 18, 2023
In this charming, heartwarming, and witty southern debut, Cat Shook's IF WE'RE BEING HONEST tells the story of the Williams family— following them through an eventful week that begins with a funeral and ends with a wedding... and everything in between.
82-year-old Gerry has suddenly passed away from a heart attack. He is the grandfather and patriarch of the Williams family. He was well respected and loved by many. When he dies suddenly, all the grandchildren and family return to the small rural town of Eulalia, Georgia, for the funeral.
However, they all get a SHOCKER when Gerry's best friend delivers some surprising news at the eulogy.
The funeral turns into a circus. Everyone is shocked while dealing with their respective grief in different ways.
Cousins Delia, Alice, Grant, Red, and the other members of this large family reflect on their lives, their family, and their grandfather, Gerry, and grandmother, Ellen.
Gossip is flying and tongues wagging, but Ellen tries to hold it together. Everyone has secrets in this small southern town.
Smart, funny, and honest, you will laugh out loud! Hilarious.
I listened to the audiobook, in which the fabulous narrator Kathleen McInerney was superb—representing a wide array of voices for a highly entertaining listen.
A smashing debut family drama! For those who enjoy delightful, messy, dysfunctional, complex, and multi-generational family sagas. I loved the satisfying conclusion!
Looking forward to reading more from this new talent.
Thanks for #MacmillanAudio for a gifted ALC via #NetGalley for review purposes.
Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Put Date: April 18, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
April 2023 Must-Read Books
82-year-old Gerry has suddenly passed away from a heart attack. He is the grandfather and patriarch of the Williams family. He was well respected and loved by many. When he dies suddenly, all the grandchildren and family return to the small rural town of Eulalia, Georgia, for the funeral.
However, they all get a SHOCKER when Gerry's best friend delivers some surprising news at the eulogy.
The funeral turns into a circus. Everyone is shocked while dealing with their respective grief in different ways.
Cousins Delia, Alice, Grant, Red, and the other members of this large family reflect on their lives, their family, and their grandfather, Gerry, and grandmother, Ellen.
Gossip is flying and tongues wagging, but Ellen tries to hold it together. Everyone has secrets in this small southern town.
Smart, funny, and honest, you will laugh out loud! Hilarious.
I listened to the audiobook, in which the fabulous narrator Kathleen McInerney was superb—representing a wide array of voices for a highly entertaining listen.
A smashing debut family drama! For those who enjoy delightful, messy, dysfunctional, complex, and multi-generational family sagas. I loved the satisfying conclusion!
Looking forward to reading more from this new talent.
Thanks for #MacmillanAudio for a gifted ALC via #NetGalley for review purposes.
Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Put Date: April 18, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
April 2023 Must-Read Books
March 31, 2023
Thank you to Celadon for my surprise in the mail. I always love when my husband walks in the door and says"you've got another book". I have never been disappointed with what I am sent...even if it isn't always a book I would have chosen myself. Basically the book starts with a funeral...and from that we learn about all of the people that are gathered for it...who they are, what they do, where they live...we slowly get to know each one and what their story is and how they intertwine. Sometimes this many people will either confuse me or make me lose interest, but that didn't happen with this one. I was able to get into the story and stick with it the whole way through.
June 5, 2023
So awful I wanted to quit several times.
May 3, 2023
Another DNF. The beginning is too abrupt and after 20 pages of trying to sort out the large number of characters, I gave up. Don't editors exist anymore?
May 22, 2023
I finished this book against my better judgement. I almost DNF'd it several times and I really should have but I stuck it out to see if anything interesting would happen but it never did. The premise of this book was supposedly a study of how a family deals with a surprise revelation at their grandfather's funeral but it did nothing of the sort. The big twist was revealed in the first chapter, Grandpa Gerry was gay and was in a relationship with his best friend, Fred, for over 60 years. You'd think that we'd learn how Gerry's wife, Ellen, felt or maybe how his children, Wilma, JJ or Carol Anne reacted or how his grandchildren, Alice, Delia, Grant or Red, adjusted to the news. Nope, none of that happened. Everyone just seemed to shrug and move on to focusing on their own problems. Alice is pregnant with her childhood boyfriend's baby, Delia is trying to get over being dumped by her boyfriend, Grant was kicked off of The Bachelor, Red is struggling with how to come out to his family, Wilma is skittish about dating, JJ and his wife are having marital problems and Carol Anne is just always focused on herself so it is hard to point out anything specific. This book was boring and pointless, all of the characters were narcissistic and there was absolutely no evident grief to cope with so the entire premise of the book was flawed. Skip this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2023
This is one of the worst books I have read in a very long time. I should have known that it was not for me when the first page had a family tree to keep track of all the characters. Throughout the entire book I was confused about how the characters were related and their stories all mixed together. Some of the characters were not even on the family tree! Additionally, it felt like the author was trying to add every possible plot twist an idea into one book that she possibly could. Do you want to read a book about accidental pregnancy, death, cheating, weddings, funerals, coming out, and every other possible life event? Well then this book is for you. The last 60 pages were almost unbearable to read. I didn’t feel connected to a single character, possibly because I didn’t know who half of them were, and there was no storyline that kept me interested throughout this book. I would not recommend this to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
IF WE'RE BEING HONEST
Cat Shook
I really enjoyed this book. I mean it is character-driven, it is family.. and family with a revelation! I could only hope that if my family had a similar revelation that we would handle it with such grace.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Cat Shook
I really enjoyed this book. I mean it is character-driven, it is family.. and family with a revelation! I could only hope that if my family had a similar revelation that we would handle it with such grace.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Read
March 24, 2023DNF at page 83
thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc
April 6, 2023
Cat Shook's debut novel opens with the funeral of Gerry, a husband, father, grandfather, and so much more, as we soon find out. This intriguing opening immediately gives way to a large cast of characters, as each member of the family and their significant others are introduced. It is a bit overwhelming but we catch on as the novel moves forward, since the bulk of the novel is exploring the relationships of each of these characters. The space of time is only a week, as the family tries to sort through their feelings of grief and celebrate the wedding of a neighbor and family friend at the end.
Some of the aspects I enjoyed were the character development and seeing a close, Southern family sort through many emotional themes. The writing is active and entertaining. Many of the scenes were touching and there was humor throughout, which flushed out what was otherwise one long week.
On the flip side, there was potential to do more with the characters in this setting, and I feel like this more difficult option was sacrificed in favor of a more surface, two-dimensional plot. The cast of characters seemed more like an inclusive check-off list of all the current social constructs: the closeted gay person, the handsome jock with a heart, the narcissistic want-to-be actress, the former cheer coach who exercises obsessively and suspects her husband of cheating, the homophobic former football star dad, the inter-racial high school sweethearts who get pregnant during a one-night reunion, the divorcee who struggles with getting out there again. The fact that these types came to mind while reading shows the characters come off as more trite than original. Also, the central plotline, if it occurred in real life, would have been WAY more complicated and brought with it much harder emotions than what was presented in the text. Again, it felt like it was the easy way out. And while I enjoyed the humor most of the time, sometimes it was really juvenile and cringy.
Overall, this book is readable and enjoyable, without getting too deep or complicated. Thank you to Celadon Books and the author for an advance copy of this story of a contemporary Southern family trying to be honest.
Some of the aspects I enjoyed were the character development and seeing a close, Southern family sort through many emotional themes. The writing is active and entertaining. Many of the scenes were touching and there was humor throughout, which flushed out what was otherwise one long week.
On the flip side, there was potential to do more with the characters in this setting, and I feel like this more difficult option was sacrificed in favor of a more surface, two-dimensional plot. The cast of characters seemed more like an inclusive check-off list of all the current social constructs: the closeted gay person, the handsome jock with a heart, the narcissistic want-to-be actress, the former cheer coach who exercises obsessively and suspects her husband of cheating, the homophobic former football star dad, the inter-racial high school sweethearts who get pregnant during a one-night reunion, the divorcee who struggles with getting out there again. The fact that these types came to mind while reading shows the characters come off as more trite than original. Also, the central plotline, if it occurred in real life, would have been WAY more complicated and brought with it much harder emotions than what was presented in the text. Again, it felt like it was the easy way out. And while I enjoyed the humor most of the time, sometimes it was really juvenile and cringy.
Overall, this book is readable and enjoyable, without getting too deep or complicated. Thank you to Celadon Books and the author for an advance copy of this story of a contemporary Southern family trying to be honest.
July 21, 2023
I enjoyed this story, but there was simply too much to keep track of. It starts out with an info dump of characters and it was immediately difficult to keep track of who was who. I had to continually refer to the family tree up until around the halfway point just to remember where the character fit in the story and what their relationship was to the person they were with. Was it a child, grandchild, neighbor, friend of the family, sibling, cousin...? It just took too long to get it all straight because the information didn't slowly build, but was given to you all at once.
This little family tree helps quite a bit to reference (repeatedly) until you get all the characters sorted.
In addition, each character has their own story line. So, there is a lot of drama going on. You need to keep track of who is worried about
I love a character driven novel, but because I was still trying to keep the characters straight when all the drama was going on I just felt a bit confused for the first half of the book. Imagine just being dropped into this big family at a gathering (funeral) and immediately needing to figure out the relationships, back stories, & personalities of all the members of that family, plus a few outsiders.
Overall, I think this could have been a better novel if the pacing was fixed and characters were introduced more slowly.
On a side note - I listened to part of the story on audio and it was more difficult to keep track of that way. You had the benefit of being able to look at the family tree while listening, but the transitions weren't smooth so half the time you didn't know right away who was narrating or even catch that the narrator just changed. I would definitely recommend the physical book for this one if you want to give it a try.
This little family tree helps quite a bit to reference (repeatedly) until you get all the characters sorted.
In addition, each character has their own story line. So, there is a lot of drama going on. You need to keep track of who is worried about
I love a character driven novel, but because I was still trying to keep the characters straight when all the drama was going on I just felt a bit confused for the first half of the book. Imagine just being dropped into this big family at a gathering (funeral) and immediately needing to figure out the relationships, back stories, & personalities of all the members of that family, plus a few outsiders.
Overall, I think this could have been a better novel if the pacing was fixed and characters were introduced more slowly.
On a side note - I listened to part of the story on audio and it was more difficult to keep track of that way. You had the benefit of being able to look at the family tree while listening, but the transitions weren't smooth so half the time you didn't know right away who was narrating or even catch that the narrator just changed. I would definitely recommend the physical book for this one if you want to give it a try.
April 18, 2023
This one just felt okay. It made me sad that big secrets came out after a death- far too late! I was glad that it seemed to have an impact on others and allowed them to open up. The many different storylines in the characters kept this one moving quickly. It just didn’t resonate with me personally.
🌀Synopsis
When Gerry dies, everyone comes home to grieve. What they don’t know is a bomb is about to drop. The man they knew as Gerry’s best friend announces that they were actually lovers at the funeral. The entire family is shaken and shocked.
Alongside this news we have Alice- who announces she is pregnant and has to also break the news to her high school sweetheart that is the father. There is Delia who is trying to convince herself that she and her ex truly made the right choice and don’t belong together. Red- who is figuring out his sexuality at a young age. And trying to hold them all together is Ellen, Gerry’s widow who also didn’t know he had a lover besides her.
Through their grief this family opens up to each other and finally lets secrets be revealed. They seem to all realize life is too short to keep it all bottled up.
🌀Synopsis
When Gerry dies, everyone comes home to grieve. What they don’t know is a bomb is about to drop. The man they knew as Gerry’s best friend announces that they were actually lovers at the funeral. The entire family is shaken and shocked.
Alongside this news we have Alice- who announces she is pregnant and has to also break the news to her high school sweetheart that is the father. There is Delia who is trying to convince herself that she and her ex truly made the right choice and don’t belong together. Red- who is figuring out his sexuality at a young age. And trying to hold them all together is Ellen, Gerry’s widow who also didn’t know he had a lover besides her.
Through their grief this family opens up to each other and finally lets secrets be revealed. They seem to all realize life is too short to keep it all bottled up.
April 13, 2023
Complex, heartfelt, and absorbing!
If We’re Being Honest is a tender, hopeful, multi-generational story that delves into all the emotional bonds and intricate ties that exist between family members and immerses you in a tale about confronting the past, accepting the things you cannot change, following your heart, learning to heal, and embracing whatever comes next.
The prose is well-turned and fluid. The characters are flawed, troubled, and bitter. And the plot is a captivating tale about life, loss, heartache, grief, guilt, love, secrets, resentment, revelations, acceptance, familial drama, friendship, hope, forgiveness, and introspection.
Overall, If We’re Being Honest is a nuanced, uplifting, character-driven debut by Shook that was a good reminder that family can be frustrating, messy, secretive, and sometimes hard to love, but they can also be surprising, supportive, loyal, and the only true place that feels like home.
Thank you to Celadon Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
If We’re Being Honest is a tender, hopeful, multi-generational story that delves into all the emotional bonds and intricate ties that exist between family members and immerses you in a tale about confronting the past, accepting the things you cannot change, following your heart, learning to heal, and embracing whatever comes next.
The prose is well-turned and fluid. The characters are flawed, troubled, and bitter. And the plot is a captivating tale about life, loss, heartache, grief, guilt, love, secrets, resentment, revelations, acceptance, familial drama, friendship, hope, forgiveness, and introspection.
Overall, If We’re Being Honest is a nuanced, uplifting, character-driven debut by Shook that was a good reminder that family can be frustrating, messy, secretive, and sometimes hard to love, but they can also be surprising, supportive, loyal, and the only true place that feels like home.
Thank you to Celadon Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2023
In the vain of We Are the Brennans this is a character driven novel focused on multi generations of family and community. There was a large cast of characters but I caught on easily, even via audio (thank you for the complimentary copy Macmillan Audio!) and never felt lost.
The family patriarch, Gerry has passed away, leaving lots of grief in his wake. Then on the day of his funeral a life altering secret is revealed during the eulogy by his best friend which leaves everyone shocked and left to process the news in their own way as they deal with their own troubles.
This was smart, funny and heartwarming. I typically enjoy being privy to family dysfunction, especially when the characters are as likable as this lot.
The family patriarch, Gerry has passed away, leaving lots of grief in his wake. Then on the day of his funeral a life altering secret is revealed during the eulogy by his best friend which leaves everyone shocked and left to process the news in their own way as they deal with their own troubles.
This was smart, funny and heartwarming. I typically enjoy being privy to family dysfunction, especially when the characters are as likable as this lot.
July 26, 2023
i like to think i like character-driven books but then i read two of them in a row with big families and lots of layers and i found myself bored by this one and wondering what the point was and mostly just kind of sad for how miserable everybody seemed??? so idk maybe it was a me problem but it was just ⭐️⭐️ (okay)
April 14, 2023
DNF AT 63%
I just completely lost interest. Some of the family dysfunction seemed really eye roll worthy & the way it jumped around between characters, I kept getting confused with the audio
I just completely lost interest. Some of the family dysfunction seemed really eye roll worthy & the way it jumped around between characters, I kept getting confused with the audio
June 12, 2023
This was a well-written book but I guess I just didn’t get the point or overall message readers were supposed to take away from it. I usually enjoy family dramas but there were so many different storylines and characters in this one that made it hard to keep them straight sometimes. Because the focus was split between a lot of plot lines, I had a harder time connecting with and caring about the characters.
I liked what the author was going for here but I think the execution could have been a little better.
I liked what the author was going for here but I think the execution could have been a little better.
June 29, 2023
3.5 Stars - Great opening scene that made me laugh and I found the overall story and family complications compelling. There were so many characters and storylines that I never fully connected with anyone enough to make it memorable I’m afraid.
June 30, 2023
Bogged down by so many POVs that most of the characters remained flat till the end. The author just did not have enough page space for all of them. But the writing was generally snappy and fun.
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