
Member Reviews

Everything about this book is 5 stars! From Claudia picking up the pieces of the mess that David left when he left her, running off with her best friend since she was a child. To Claudias mom showing up after a wine drunk conversation and them attempting to fix their very strained relationship as Gloria steps in to help raise Maya as Claudia navigates her newly single life. I loved them learning about eachother and more about Claudias Abuela in turn, and setting boundaries in their adult lives while still accepting help and learning to love eachother. Claudias progression from the beginning to the end is incredible and such a huge F YOU to David and Rachel and everything about the blossoming friendship between Claudia and Nick, the exes, was absolutely a joy. Throughout the book, Claudia learns just what shes capable of, all while learning about her culture and her relationships and how those relationships may not have always been what she thought or how they seemed on the surface.

Annette is back to take you on an emotional rollercoaster! Though Claudia has just been left by her husband, she’s also lost her best friend. Rachel….so not only is she grieving the loss of her marriage but also of her best friend.
I love how the story alternated between the present and the past. The past is as told in a series of diary entries that paint the picture of this friendship. Some will say this is about the loss of the marriage, for me, it was the raw pain and anger Claudia felt from the betrayal. Definitely recommend this read!

This was raw, heartfelt, and helped me to work through some of the thoughts and feelings I had about my relationship with my own mother growing up, as well as the hard time my husband and I have had in our marriage. No relationship is perfect and we all suffer heartbreak. This book shares the hope we can have that we will make it through.
The journal entries she had written helped me to understand her life up until the heartbreaking moment she realizes her husband cheated on her and he ran away to start a new life with her best friend. Not only did she have to get over her husband cheating on her, she had to release the pain of her best friend's betrayal.
This story is also about her rebuilding her life after all of the fallout and finding who she is again. Her relationship with her mom, who neglected her growing up, is growing into something new, as her mother helps her to pick up the pieces.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I loved this book. It was a relatable story that kept me interested the whole time. My favorite part was going back and forth from the diary entries to present. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

An enjoyable read by a new to me author, a real scenario story for Claudia’s divorce and the heartbreak done by her “best friend” to navigating a new life after a heart break by two people you’re supposed to have support from the most.
I enjoyed the diaries bringing us to her past as well as the small details of her abuela and their culture tying it into the whole book.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I finished Everything She Never Knew on Mother's Day. As part of this book dealt with the main character Claudia's relationship with her mother, it seemed fitting.
But this book was about so much more--it was about Claudia's loss (of a marriage and a friendship), renewal, and her finding her way as a newly single mom. I loved the use of Claudia's past journal entries as a device for showing that growth.
I first came to Annette Chavez Macias's writing via her romance books written as Sabrina Sol. I truly think her mastery of the romance genre makes her such a skilled literary fiction writer. She's so good at developing the characters of Claudia, Maya, Gloria, and Merecedes in this book and how their lives intertwine and influence each other. While Everything She Never Knew doesn't have that archetypal happily ever after that a romance book has, she still finished the book in a satisfying way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced copy of this book.

As someone who shares a name with the main character, I was so excited to dive into this novel—until chapter two left me gutted. What happens to Claudia is one of my deepest fears, and seeing it unfold on the page felt like watching a nightmare I’ve imagined in secret, brought to life. But that’s what made it so compelling—I couldn’t look away.
You know, I have a complicated relationship with my best friend. And although, god forbid anything like this ever happens to me, this book was my worst fear in story form—but I loved it so much. It’s almost like Annette Chavez Macias wrote the exact scenario I’ve driven myself crazy with for years. A scenario I’ve never said out loud… suddenly there it was, spelled out on the pages of my Kindle. There was even a passage toward the end that eerily mirrored something my husband—and even a few friends—have said to me about my best friend. It’s crazy. And it made me feel seen in a way I didn’t expect.
The betrayal Claudia experiences—her best friend Rachel running off with her husband—is so intimate, so personal, it’s not just about a marriage ending. It’s about the devastation of losing someone you trusted with your heart, who knew what would hurt you most… and did it anyway. As painful as it is, it’s also a beautiful story of resilience. Watching Claudia slowly reclaim her identity, reconnect with her roots, and find strength in the rubble felt like watching someone bloom through the cracks.
I especially loved how she began to rediscover her Mexican heritage—something that really resonated with me, as I’ve been on that same journey myself. Macias doesn’t shy away from life’s messy, complicated truths, and yet she always weaves in hope. Claudia’s growth, her love for her daughter Maya, and even the subtle sparks with Nick, all made this story linger long after I finished.
Heartbreaking, raw, and ultimately empowering—Everything She Never Knew is a novel that cracked me open a little. Thank you, Annette Chavez Macias, for writing this story. It meant more to me than you know.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the entries in the diary. I felt so bad for the mc but she turned out to be a tuff cookie. I would recommend this book.

4.5 ⭐️
A book with all the ingredients that would dive you in not just in Claudia’s journey rediscovering her worth and value but also her Mexican roots and traditions. A family story full of emotions and reconciliation.
I can relate myself with Claudia in many ways because what happened to her happened to me, although with some differences, I was left alone with a daughter after believing I had an almost perfect marriage. The betrayal and lifting myself not only for me but for my daughter reaffirmed to me how strong and independent I had always been. But not all of us are prepared to face those situations from minute one, and that's okay, as long as you do it and see how strong and valuable you are, that’s all that matters.
I know there’s so many Claudia’s out here and this story definitely would teach one or two things that would help us to get ahead or keep going rewriting our journey to happiness.
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for providing an ARC on exchange of my honest review.

Firstly, thank you to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
The use of Spanish words and phrases throughout the story taught me some new things, especially about 'The Day of the Dead'.
However I did feel like the story dragged a little bit in the middle. I picked this book up as it was being advertised as a romance novel but found there wasn't really any romance happening at all in my opinion and wished there was a little bit more of a connection between Claudia and Nick.
On the whole I did enjoy this book, it was a good storyline with a satisfying ending

I have really come to love this authors writing. She once again gave us a beautiful story about the strength a woman has when she doesn’t realize it. I enjoyed this story more because I feel that it is very relatable as it shows how perfectly flawed we are. Claudia’s anger was focused on her friend throughout the book as that is where her true heartache came from.
I loved the flashbacks with the diary entries that detailed Claudia’s childhood experiences and how they related to present day events. A great depiction of breaking generational trauma.
Thank you Montlake and Netgalley for this Advance Readers Copy ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This was a raw, powerful journey of healing, pain, and emotional resilience.
The story centers on a woman who was once intensely independent but has chosen the stay at home mom life. Her world shatters when she discovers her husband has run away with the person she trusted the most ... her best friend. But the deeper question becomes: whose betrayal hurts more?
There are moments when the main character will frustrate you, she makes messy, human choices that might make you want to scream. But that’s where the beauty lies. This story does not offer flawless people or easy answers. It offers the brazen truth. It’s a reminder that we all react to trauma in different ways, and that’s okay.
Her relationships are raw, especially the one with her mother. The woman who should’ve been her safe place had failed her time and time again growing up. And yet, in her darkest hour, her mother returns, bringing both support and buried secrets. Watching their connection evolve is as healing for the reader as it is for the character.
The diary entries scattered throughout the book are especially powerful. They add emotional depth and context, revealing the inner thoughts of a woman who’s trying desperately to hold herself together. They also show how love can blind us, and how we often excuse those who hurt us the most.
One of the most beautiful surprises in this book was the rich infusion of Mexican and Mexican American culture. It doesn’t just exist in the background, it embraces the narrative like a warm hug, adding layers of authentic meaning.
While the book is slotted under romance, it’s more accurately a reflection on relationships in all their complexity. The romantic element is there, yes, but it’s more quiet. It is less about falling in love and more about learning how to open up again. In the end there is something a bit unfinished left with the story, something that leaves you hoping for a sequel or a novella that gives possible relationships the space they deserve to grow.
This book will test your patience, but it will also reinforce your empathy. Whether or not you agree with the characters’ choices, you will find yourself rooting for those who have been burned the most not only to win but to grow. It’s not a light read, but it is an intensely human one, and sometimes, that is what you need to remind yourself that we are all living life for the first time.

Annette Chavez Macias does what she does best: Tells a relatable story with endearing characters while infusing Mexican culture into the fabric of the story. Everything She Never Knew combines a strong story line with a protagonist that had my heart from the beginning. The complex mother/daughter relationship and abuela felt familiar as strong leads like in her other novels, but the conflict different and the story line moved at a good pace. As an Angeleno, I especially appreciated the setting and the characters' ties to Los Angeles, a place rich with history that evryone should know about. Marriages ending, best friends breaking up, betrayal and heartache, but eventually healing, hope, and a new version of happiness. . .all the things I have come to expect with Annette's books.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So when going into this book , I read the reviews and knew what I was getting into; a chick lit cheating ex book about moving on with a side dish of new love. The romance is not the main course of the book.
I did emphasize with the fmc, she proved to be resilient after the worse betrayal of her life. She wasn't just betrayed by her husband and father of her child but by her supposed best friend of 20 years.
She accepts help from her estranged mother, is hit with being financially cut off and abandoned with an 8 year old to raise with no income. She finds herself a job and starts to even accept help from her best friends ex husband who is also betrayed.
I thought that the book vibes well and I finished it in one night.
Then I got to the end and was disappointed by the ending. I felt like it was rushed and really could have been expanded upon. There also could have been more of karma for the ex and best friend. I would have liked to see a happy for now epilogue feasting 5he fmc, the mmc and her daughter. I also wanted to see more of regret from the ex. I didn't want to see them together , I just wanted him to tell her he realized what he list and form more of a bond with their daughter. (hide spoiler)]

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC courtesy of NetGalley. We not only go through the heartbreak of a marriage. But the heartbreak of a 20+ year friendship. And each hurt for a multitude of reasons.
The only downside to this book, is now I have nothing left to read from Annette Chavez Macias. Her writing just always hits so close to home. It’s an amazing amount of representation that I feel is lacking in our literature.

Claudia is happily married to David, they have a lovely daughter Maya and she is lucky enough to live next door to her childhood best friend Rachel. She wakes one day to find her perfect life in tatters David has left her …. A great read about relationships and understanding that things are not always as they seem. Some lovely insight into Mexican culture with some good twists

Annette Chavez Macias, you have a beautiful way of writing heartbreaking stories. I love how you always include Hispanic communities and food. We have such a rich culture and you showcase that. (YOU are definitely mole worthy). I always appreciate the real life scenarios in your stories and you don’t hide the ugly stuff. The grief, heartbreak, betrayal and forgiveness. But there’s always hope, redemption and peace.
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Goodreads: Brenda (Jadore_2Read)

This book kind of dragged. It has a lot of plots going on going on, but none of them seem to start until the very end.

Everything She Never Knew by Annette Chavez Macias, published by Montlake, is a heartbreaking, raw and gritty read, warm at the some time.
The story jumps from past to present, has some lengths that I had to battle through, but all in all a good story, well written, a good read, 4 beautiful stars.

This was such an emotional and healing read for me. When I saw the author post this book on social media, I stopped everything to get my hands on this read as fast as humanly possible.
Imagine living your life thinking everything was fine, only to suddenly have to navigate the upheaval of betrayal, lies, and uncovering secrets. Claudia must do this while trying the best mom she can be to her young daughter while also navigating her complicated past with her own mother.
Annette Chavez Macias does an incredible job invoking raw emotions from her characters and in turn, her readers. There were times were I was crying along with the characters and just as furious as the FMC. She also writes so beautifully of Southern California, which makes me homesick and nostalgic. I kind of wish I would have slowed down and savored this book, but I just couldn't stop reading.