I'll Tell You Everything, Rebecca Kelley
3.5 stars

When Ramona, the daughter she gave up for adoption, shows up at Seven Glacier, where it all begins, Amy finds herself at wits end trying to keep the past in the past while grasping at straws to keep her daughter in her life and giving her what she's asking for: any insight on who she is and where she comes from. Her sudden reappearance in her life pushes Amy to come up with tales about her origins in hopes Ramona accepts everything at face value, even things that dont quite make sense. Unfortunately for her, Ramona keeps digging deeper and deeper, and her whole past - along with her many lies - are revealed.

The story is told in two different point of view, Amy, an hotelier residing in Seven Glacier for the season with her family, and Ramona, the daughter she gave up for adoption, looking for answers to questions she had her entire life. The use of the unreliable narrator isnt new, however the addition of Ramona brings in a fresh counter balance with her incessant haunt for the truth, both narrators working as a push and pull for the story. I did enjoy the setting of Seven Glacier, and i find it helped the story quite a bit.

While I do enjoy a good story filled with twists and turns, for me, this one was a bit too much for me. I guess I expected the mystery to be more mysterious, or to be more on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately, the twists were a bit predictable, and each iteration of the story made it easier to guess the final reveal. All in all, it was a good story, albeit a little too much twists for me. I would suggest going in with the notion its not a thriller but more of a domestic drama.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

**Initial Reaction**: 8

**Characters:** 7

**Setting:** 9

**Plot:** 9

**Pace:** 8

**Style:** 8

**Ending:** 9

**Enjoyment:** 9

67 / 16 = 4.1875

Rounded Rating = 4.25

Set in the mountains of Montana, close to the Canadian border.. I thoroughly being able to visual being at the lodge, the views, the bears... all the things that make a summer wilderness trip.

Amy now runs the lodge she worked at as a teen in the summers while Romana, the daughter Amy put up for adoption, has come around asking for clarity. Who is her dad? What is the story?

At times I understood Romana’s frustrations with Amy. While I felt the story was going around and around, each chapter kept me immediately wanted to read the next.

It wasn’t necessarily suspenseful... could have been novella length.

Can you believe anything?!?! I love an unreliable narrator and I don’t think there could be a more unreliable one. I loved all of the back and forth.

Good for you, not for me. Thanks for the free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/14/25

I absolutely loved the setting of this story—it had that perfect, cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re right there. I could easily imagine myself curled up in a warm lodge, holding a cup of hot chocolate, with a breathtaking view of snow-capped mountains and a serene lake stretching out below. Maybe even catching sight of a bear wandering in the distance. It was that vivid. The whole vibe felt so comforting and immersive.

The story itself was incredibly hard to put down. Every chapter pulled me in deeper, making me eager to peel back more layers of the mystery. It kept me hooked right to the end. It’s the kind of book that’s easy to get lost in for a while, and I genuinely enjoyed it.

However, I do think it's the kind of story I’ll forget after some time. It didn’t leave a lasting impact on me, and I don’t typically give 4 or 5 stars unless a book really sticks in my head. But I can’t deny how much I loved the characters and the overall feel of the story. They fit perfectly with that cozy, inviting setting.

If you’re in the mood for a fast, cozy read that takes you out of the real world for a little while, this is a great pick. It might not be a story that stays with me forever, but it was definitely a lovely escape while it lasted.

Rebecca Kelley’s I’ll Tell You Everything is a haunting and deeply captivating story that pulls readers into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and the relentless search for the truth. With its compelling narrative and heavy emotional undertones, this book masterfully keeps readers on edge, questioning everything until the very last page.

The story’s strength lies in its ability to immerse the reader in a world filled with suspense and moral ambiguity. The pacing may feel stretched at times, but this slower unraveling of events only adds to the tension, mirroring the weight of the secrets and darkness at the heart of the narrative. As the truth edges closer, the emotional stakes grow higher, making the eventual revelations feel all the more impactful.

Kelley’s writing captures the story’s heaviness beautifully, conveying the complexity of its characters and the gravity of their choices. The psychological depth of the narrative ensures that the darkness is not gratuitous but rather a necessary part of understanding the characters and their motivations.

While some moments may feel prolonged, the overall impact of the story is undeniable. I’ll Tell You Everything is a thought-provoking and gripping read that delves into the murky complexities of truth and the burden of carrying it. For readers who enjoy dark, emotionally resonant psychological dramas, this book is a standout.

I appreciated the story and even enjoyed a few snippets of the text, but felt overall that the book lacked personality and storyline.

Amy Linden lives in the mountains with her family as a hotelier. When Ramona, the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty years ago comes calling, she tells the story of the past and teenage romance.

This is a great one for this looking for a quiet, sentimental tale of first love and tragedy. Bonus if you enjoy hotel and camp stories. The novel is Ramona finding out the true story of her biological father. It takes some time to get there but the true story will come out. Amy has buried the past for a good reason.

“Everything started here - my whole life. My whole life revolves around this place. I can leave, I can try to escape it, but it would just pull me back over and over again.”

I’ll Tell You Everything comes out 1/14.

Amy and her husband have a beautiful lodge and she’s a social hotelier just like she always wanted. She started in the kitchen as a teenager at the very same lodge.

When her daughter that she gave up for adoption, Ramona, shows up asking questions about her father, Amy panics. Questions she doesn’t want to answer. Who is Ramona’s father? Amy spins one lie after another. But Ramona wants to know and won’t leave without the truth. What happened that summer Amy worked at the lodge?

Great mystery and psychological thriller. Definitely a twisty ride to the end!

I'll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley is a so-so domestic drama.

Amy Linden is married to Jonathan and the two have a son, Gabe. Amy and Jonathan own and manage a grand mountain lodge. Twenty-five years ago Amy gave up her daughter for adoption, a secret she has kept for years. When her daughter Ramona Crawford pays Amy a visit at the Lodge, wanting to know her birth story and the identity of her biological father, it threatens Amy's current life.

The slow-paced plot unfolds from the point-of-view of Amy and Rebecca. Most of the chapters are set in the present, but some of Amy's chapters are set in the past, telling the story of what happened years ago. Quickly you will realize Amy is an unreliable narrator and she doesn't want to tell Ramona the truth. Ramona's adoptive mother has been diagnosed with cancer, which is what compels her to keep pushing Amy for the true story.

This plot moved too slowly for me and I struggled with caring about these characters. Honestly, I didn't care for either of them so I never became invested in the secrets, lies, or emotional state of the characters. It is a short novel. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This may have worked better as a short story or novella, there wasn’t a lot of plot, dialogue, or characterization. The ending was probably supposed to be dramatic, but something that seemed a bit obvious from the beginning. Unfortunately I just didn’t feel the suspense and I had really ambivalent feelings towards the characters; neither strongly likable not unlikable.

Secrets and lies. Ramona who has only recently learned that she was adopted and that Amy is her bio-mom arrives at Amy's home and wants answers- answers Amy isn't inclined to provide about the identity of Ramona's bio-dad. They alternately tell this as Amy changes her story repeatedly until the onion is finally unpeeled. This is slow moving you might find frustrating at times but it's also intriguing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I really enjoyed reading 'I'll tell you everything ' the premise of the story is a girl given up for adoption meets her biological mother and over the course of the book gets several different versions of the truth about her conception, birth and giving up from her mother. The book kept my attention as each new version of the 'truth' is different and the reader is kept guessing as to what on earth can be coming next. The descriptions of the scenery and wildlife are beautiful and the characterisation especially of Amy and Ramona well done. I would be happy to recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m not able to give a full review of this book as unfortunately I didn’t finish it due to how much it was dragging, this book might have got better as it went on.

Good storyline about an adopted child who’s trying to find out why. Many stories and tales but what is the truth?

The setting of this book is it's own character, it is cozy and almost makes you feel like you are at the nice warm lodge as well. This story grabs you from the beginning and seems to be hard to put down, and a rather quick read. I love the premise of choosing the truth that will destroy your life or telling a lie that could hurt another. An overall great read.

This was a tough one to get through… but I did finish it. It felt like it was dragging on and on… while it was definitely not for me, I still recommend everyone read and determine on their own that the story isn’t for them.

A uniquely heart-breaking and aggravating story. There is a really strong conflict between truth and lie, and you never know which is which until the very end.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Rebecca Kelley's "I'll Tell You Everything" is a compelling exploration of friendship, family, and the secrets that bind and break us. This novel delves into the intricacies of human relationships with a keen eye for detail and emotional depth.

The story follows two childhood friends, Nora and Meredith, whose lives have taken them in different directions. When a long-buried secret threatens to unravel their seemingly perfect lives, they must confront their past and navigate the complexities of their present. Set against the backdrop of a small town, the novel captures the essence of intimate community life, where everyone knows each other's business, and secrets are hard to keep.

Nora and Meredith are fully realized characters, each grappling with their own dilemmas and past traumas. Kelley's portrayal of their friendship is nuanced yet realistic, highlighting the ways in which their bond has evolved over the years. The supporting characters, including family members and other townsfolk, add layers to the narrative, making the world of the novel rich and immersive.

The novel tackles themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of friendship. Kelley's writing is both lyrical and precise, capturing the emotional highs and lows of her characters with empathy and insight. The dialogue is authentic and engaging, drawing readers into the heart of the story. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for deep character development and a gradual unfolding of the central mystery.

"I'll Tell You Everything" is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that stays with you long after you turn the last page. Rebecca Kelley's skillful storytelling and deep understanding of human nature make this a standout work of contemporary fiction. Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives and explorations of complex relationships will find this book deeply satisfying.