This book felt a little too familiar for me to thoroughly enjoy it. The premise of the story being a dying man's partial confession set the tone for "I've read this before". I enjoy this author's writing though and would definitely read other books that she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it! Great story! Nell's father dies and her mother is suffering from dementia. On her father's dead-bed he shares something that makes Nell question all she has ever known about her family. I enjoyed the going back and forth in time showing Nell's parents and what they went through starting their family and then present day when Nell is an adult exploring her family history. I give the book 4.5 stars. Only not 5 as I would have liked an epilogue with information on Nell's future.

Wow! I was really impressed with this story and the path it took.
It was nothing I expected and it was such a great read. My theory of what had happened and why were completely incorrect and I loved that!

It is told in 3 person and from present to past in different POV’s, but primarily from Nells’.
Nell’s story will break your heart and we how a simple and innocent statement by her dad on his death bed changed her life and everything she knew.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the advance copy to review.

Fantastic plot, which kept me turning the page, and staying up late last night to finish. This is a story I will be talking about to others, because I totally love the concept and it had me questioning what I would do in those circumstances.

I really enjoyed the back and forward chapters to keep the tension up (although I did tend to skim some of the THEN chapters, as they did get a bit repetitive for me). That's the only reason I give this four stars instead of five.

The story was quite interesting but not original enough to keep me hooked. I found it overwritten with a lot of tedious introspection and, just when the story becomes interesting, it stops. I would have found the relationship between Nell and her real mother more interesting.

This is a moving novel about love, loss and family secrets. Skilfully told in two different timelines (mother Annie in the past and daughter Nell in the present) I found it a compelling read as the family's painful secrets were gradually revealed. Subjects such as death, grief and dementia are treated sensitively and the intensity of maternal love is brilliantly evoked. My only criticism is that it got a bit repetitive at times when describing feelings. Otherwise very well written and structured, with a strong story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Impossible Truths of Love by Hannah Beckerman. This author was new to me and I will definitely look into reading her earlier books.
This book is the beautiful touching story of Nell, her two older sisters and her parents and the secrets they each hold. On her father’s deathbed, he mumbles something to Nell that causes her to begin questioning everything she has known about her life. So begins Nell’s journey to find the truth.
This was a very emotional story. Some trigger warnings for anyone that experienced the death of a child, as well as those that have contact with people with dementia. The author delved into both of these areas with such extreme detail and sensitivity. I was totally absorbed by this book from the very start, wanting to discover the secrets that the family is holding onto and how they will be explained. If you love family dramas, I highly recommend this book.

The safety and security of Nell’s family life is shaken when a comment her father makes as he lay dying leaves her with unanswered questions. Her suspicions are further aroused when her mother Annie, whose memory is gradually slipping away through dementia, makes confusing references about events from Nell’s childhood. What do they mean and is she really who she thinks she is? Will she ever uncover the truth?

Hannah Beckerman writes beautifully. She has the ability to bring grief, sadness and utter desperation alive on the page. Annie’s story is heartbreaking and Nell’s quest to uncover the truth hooks you in from the first page. The book is written in two time periods. It tells the story of Annie and her husband, Bill, who have suffered an unspeakable tragedy early on in their marriage and the current story of Nell, their daughter, who is desperately trying to unravel the mystery surrounding her childhood.

The events which occur, although hopefully rare, are certainly not beyond the realms of possibility and will no doubt leave the reader wondering which choice they would have made. This is the perfect Book Club read; hours of meaty discussion are guaranteed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I had already requested this book for review when I went to see Ruth Jones at a literary festival and she recommended it as one of her top three reads. As soon as I started reading, I could see why. The narrative was convincing and highly engaging from the first page. Any kind of family mystery is right up my street and this is among the best. I believed in each of the characters and their stories and was highly motivated to find out the truth behind Nell’s origins throughout the novel. I highly recommend this book!

As a reader who tends to favour fast-paced thrillers with twists on every page, this novel took a little while to ease into, as it is best described as a ‘slow burn’. Beautifully written, Beckerman introduces us to her fictional heroine Nell, who is torn between caring for her mother, who has dementia, and being present for her dying father. Heavily sedated with morphine in his last hours of life, he makes a cryptic comment about her familial heritage that leads Nell to investigate her backstory and the many secrets her parents have kept from her. Written in a dual timeline, the story switches between the past and the present and in addition to present-day character Nell, who is grieving the company of both of her parents, we are introduced to past-day character Annie, a mother grieving the loss of her baby to sudden infant death.
Any reader thinking that the subject of grief dominates this novel would be very much mistaken, however, as it offers so much more. Well-written in stylish, elegant prose, Beckerman’s novel offers not only unique insights into what it means to be human but also, in the fictional disguises of Nell and Alice, two endearing humans who I found it hard to let go at the end of the novel. As the title suggests, to love someone truly means to live with some impossible truths. I secretly hope Beckerman will consider writing a sequel, as I enjoyed this novel so much.
My thanks go to the publishers and to NetGalley for the free ARC I was provided with in return for this honest and unbiased review.

The Impossible Truths of Love is a hat a beautiful, and heart wrenching story of changes, broken hearts, love, and family. Told from two POVs and in two time periods, The Impossible Truths of Love will have you reaching for the tissues more than once. The book is set in the ‘now’ with Nell and ‘then’ with her mother Annie, beginning 35 years ago when she and Bill were newly married. The narrative flows seamlessly between the different characters with strong substiles that make it very easy for the reader to tell who is speaking.

This story will certainly pull readers along, grabbing the hearts of anyone who picks it up and drawing empathy and true emotion in reaction to the characters problems and heartbreak.

This is not a fast paced book that should be speed read. You should take your time and truly absorb the whole story as it really is worth it.

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for providing an e-copy for me to read and leave my honest review. I feel very connected to this book and am happy to recommend it to everyone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a copy of the wonderful family drama by Hannah Beckerman - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Told in two time periods - present day and 35 years ago - and from the dual perspectives of Annie in the past and her daughter, Nell, in the present. Nell has come home because her father is close to death and he whispers a cryptic message to her before he passes. Her mother is suffering from dementia and Nell and her two sisters are tasked with moving her out of the family home and into a care facility. Her mother also makes some comments to Nell - but with her mother's state of mind, Nell is not sure how to interpret them. In the past, we learn of Annie and Bill's life and tragedies and the secrets they have vowed to keep.

This was such an emotional read and the author did a wonderful job of really getting me invested into the lives of these characters and the choices they were forced to make. It's also a good reflection on what it means to be part of a family and what we would do to protect those we love.

OMG!!! This was so emotional and pulled at every heart string I have and also a nice break from all the thrillers. This book was all about belonging and feeling part of a family, which anyone can identify with and everyone wants. Well written and nostalgic.

Highly recommended. I look forward to more books by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hannah Beckerman and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available: 10/2/21

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. What a wonderful book. Families and their secrets. It was emotional, touching and enthralling from beginning to end. So beautifully written, it would be hard to not be moved by this read. Highly recommended.

I usually write relatively long, wordy reviews about how much I like a book, except for my nitpicky complaints.

I can't really do that with "The Impossible Truths of Love"-- it was beautifully written, emotional, and exactly what I needed to read. The story follows Nell, a woman in her 30s that is dealing with death of one parent and the mental deterioration of another. At the same time, she is having to deal with the burden that her parents have lied or kept some sort of family secret from her. She only has a vague comment from her dying father to work with: "I have always loved you, even though you were never really mine to love."

I don't usually love these type of family drama stories, but this particular one really resonated with me. Hannah Beckerman's portrayal of family relationships included the highs and lows of parenting, the grief of losing a loved one, and the impact of how decisions made can be felt decades later.

Thank you for writing this amazing book Ms. Beckerman. I'm not someone who easily cries over books, but this one made me cry both happy and sad tears, and I love you for it :)

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for an e-copy of this book. I can't think of enough words to express how deeply this book impacted me, other than to add that I highly recommend this book to pretty much anyone, regardless of whether they usually read family dramas or not.

{Thank you to Amazon Publishing for my gifted review copies}

I love a good family drama that uncovers family secrets - and this one ended up being the perfect weekend read. It had enough substance yet also kept me turning the pages to learn more.

Told through two points of view, Nell in the present day and her mother, 35 years before- Author Hannah Beckerman shines at unfolding the complexities of Nell's childhood. {I do want to include a content warning for infant loss and postpartum depression as it does include these heavier topics...}⁣
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I really enjoyed Hannah Beckerman's last novel, If Only I Could Tell You, and I loved this one even more! I look forward to reading what Beckerman comes out with next and I highly recommend adding this one to your fall reading list.

This author is new to me and from the get go I felt in such safe hands. She gave time for me to be 'in the story' without losing pace.

The characters felt like people you know and, even with their flaws, I cared about them. The sibling relationships were credible and resonated.



A fabulous story and a great read. Loved it.

Highly recommend

Hannah Beckerman writes a n amazing book of family and secrets. The main character Nell is with her father, Bill, on his deathbed when he makes a cryptic remark that leads Nell searching. Her mother , Anne, is slipping into dementia so she can not settle the unease that Nell has about her life. Nell has never been close to her sisters who are much older than she is so she can’t go to them either. Nell needs to find out and what she uncovers shows the destruction of family secrets to the entire family.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an ARC for a review of this book. I will be looking for more Hannah Beckerman books.

Beckerman writes a beautiful novel of the lose and care of an elderly parent and the secrets left behind. “Bill Hardy is on his deathbed when he fixes daughter Nell with a troubled, urgent stare. “You need to know that I’ve always loved you even though you were never really mine to love,” he tells her. His words are the catalyst for Hannah Beckerman’s third novel, a tangled tale in which the unravelling of family secrets exposes dilemmas of startling moral complexity.” This is a beautiful novel written in alternate voices as the main character Nell tries to untangle death bed whisper. The characters are well developed and family conflict feels real and relatable. Highly recommend. Thank you for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Impossible Truths of Love is a poignant book that examines the grief and trauma brought about by an accidental switching of new born infants which apparently only one set of parents is truly privy to. As they grow to love and adore their daughter, all the while knowing that she might some day be taken away, no one believes nor understands the sorrow and fear they have as they are confronted by what seems like a crime they have unwittingly committed. The "then" and "now" presentation of the plot of the lives of the parents and then the daughter who shares no DNA with them contrasts the widespread and deep influence of this horrible mistake with the pride and love the parents have for their daughter. Family, loss, love, and the deep connection the parents have for their child runs vividly through the book and keeps the reader wondering to the last page what the family secret really is.