A painfully emotional story of loss told in the present and past as this young woman grieves her father's death and her mother's descent into dementia. Nell has two older sisters but feels alone in her grief. As she tries to push back her pain, she thinks of some odd statements her parents made and wonders if there is more to their story. As Nell digs into her family's past, the story will change to the voice of Annie, Nell's mother. Annie has lost a child to SIDS and cannot see how she can move on.

Hannah Beckerman has skillfully pulled us into the live of these two women. The emotions will fill your heart while you follow their journeys. This story is an excellent example of an author connecting with her readers. You won't soon forget THE IMPOSSIBLE TRUTHS OF LOVE.

Well done dual time line tale of family secrets and lies. Nell is surprised by her father Bill's dying confession but she's unable to get clarity from her mother Annie because the latter is suffering from dementia. But it's Annie's story that will tug at the heart so be patient. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A well told dual timeline story that bring up the secrets and lies, truths and love. Loss is a hard thing, a deathbed often brings a confession with it. It will pull at the heart strings, awaken emotions and deep under the loss, there is hope. I recommend this book and author.

This was a beautiful and emotional story which took me a while to read as I had to keep stopping and regrouping. Just loved the way it involved you.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

March 2022 - I really really enjoyed this book. I loved Nell’s narration and the gentle descriptive present-tense prose, which I fell into so easily even though at first it seemed so unusual. Family relationships, the tug and pull of the past and future and the decline of a dementia sufferer were all handled so sensitively in this novel; which was exactly the type of story I really love and find myself so drawn to and getting so very involved in. As Nell’s story revealed itself, little by little, and those of the family further in the past too; I found myself holding my breath as I waited to find out the next twist and turn.

If anyone is thinking about reading and usually checks trigger warnings first please do - there was one theme included I usually find too hard to read and tend to avoid altogether, but I’m actually very glad I didn’t know to expect it so went ahead and read, as I really enjoyed this story overall. ❤️

Hope you are all well and having a good week!

** Huge thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book **

The Impossible Truths of Love is a moving and thought-provoking novel about family, secrets, and the power of love. The novel follows Nell as she tries to piece together her father's past after he makes a deathbed declaration that hints at a long-held family secret. The Impossible Truths of Love is a beautifully written novel that explores the power of love, family, and forgiveness. It is a story about how even the most difficult truths can ultimately lead to healing.

I wasn’t sure I would like this book, and struggled with first few chapters, but so glad I stuck with it.
This is a book of powerful love and what someone would do to protect that. I found the ending hard, but guess it has to come following the rest of the book

A superbly well written, highly emotional read. Such cleverly interwoven, multilayered storyline. Absolutely loved it!

Unfortunately archived prior to me being able to read, apologies for this mistake from me. Look forward to reading in future

An exciting thriller read with twists that keep you guessing till the end! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

“The Impossible Truths of Love” by Hannah Beckerman was excellent! Well developed portrayal of love, devotion, loss, hard choices and parent-child bonds. Without giving away the surprises in this great novel, I will say that it continued to improve, each page a new discovery. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

A interesting, sort-of mystery book that starts with a comment Nell's dying father makes on his deathbed. A story about love, family and grief.

I have loved Hannah Beckerman's previous books but for me this one was too soft and the pacing was too slow and I just wasn't invested enough to finish ... sorry ...

A beautiful tale of identity, love, grief and family secrets, which struck my heart right through the middle. The writing style kept me engaged, and Nell’s discovery was written realistically and entertainingly. I strongly felt everything she did, which did mean this was a tear-jerker for me!

Despite the various sensitive issues within this plot, this is an emotion-driven read but not overly dark, making it easy for readers to empathise with all parties involved. This results in a remarkable book.

I am not sure what took me so long to pick up this read, but I am so pleased that I did. Hannah Beckerman is now also an author I look forward to reading in the future.

Love, grief and secrets are universal emotions, and they lie at the heart of Ms. Beckerman’s novel. I feel like there was an interesting story somewhere in her narrative, but it felt so overwrought and forced. This was a DNF for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quite touching learning about the ins and outs of family life for Nell. I enjoyed following her journey to find out about her past. I would highly recommend this book.

Really good book. The plot was well-written and engrossing. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Wow, this book was a raw one for me due to some of the triggering conten, be warned. That said, the author masterfully addresses a number of life experiences, some more common than others, cancer, dementia, child loss to name just a few.
It explores Nell's family following on from her father declaring his love for her and alluding to the fact she was not in fact his daughter.

This novel will stay with me for a long time.

I’m especially affected by compelling, character-driven narratives, and this was exactly that. The nature of love in all forms is sensitively and intricately considered throughout, and Beckerman’s prose kept me intrigued right until the very end. A delight.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the pleasure!

This is a novel that I’m finding hard to describe; the story drew me in deeply and remains in my thoughts long after I’ve finished it, but it’s hard to describe neatly. However, if you like thoughtful, character based stories that are compelling reading, you’ll definitely appreciate this.

Hours before Nell’s beloved father Bill dies, he makes a strange remark which confuses her. Her mother is unlikely to be much help; dementia is claiming her quickly. But Nell tries anyway, and her mother’s odd remarks and occasional visits to the past only raise greater concerns for Nell.

Nell’s never entirely fitted into her family. She knows her parents love her deeply, but she is intellectual in a way her family isn’t. She’s much younger than her two older sisters, and apart from that gap, there’s some underlying resentment about the way she’s been treated differently. She thinks her parents were more protective and restrictive of her; her sisters think she was the favorite and given special privileges.

It won’t surprise you if I tell you that as Nell pokes at her mother’s failing memories, a great big secret begins to emerge. A secret that is central to how Nell sees herself.

Structurally, the novel alternates between Nell in the present, and Annie and Bill around the time of Nell’s birth. Beckerman keeps her secrets for quite some time, but the alternating timelines helps build a strong understanding of Annie and Bill. They’re truly loving parents, truly well meaning, and have overcome a lot. This makes it more curious as it begins to seem that yes, they’ve been keeping a very big secret from Nell for her entire life.

The question of what the secret is looms large over the novel; we don’t discover it for some time (although there are hints). We very much share Nell’s journey of uncertainty and fear.

This is a delicately written novel. There’s the potential for blame here, but I think most readers will focus more on the dreadful situations and dilemmas that Annie and Bill face, and how that shapes their relationship with Nell, and to a lesser extent, her older sisters.

The novel is very explicitly focused on the nature of love, how it’s expressed, and how it grows and lives. I found a number of parts inexpressibly sad, although it ultimately looks to the positives.

This is not a flashy novel, but it’s deeply felt and deeply moving. I strongly recommend it to anyone looking for something thoughtful that will linger in their memory for some time.