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puffmattie's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tmathews0330's review
5.0
You feel right up until the end that you don't know what is going on, which paces the book to be a quick read. But the surprise twist, I never would have guessed. It has a depth I didn't expect.
megmcclure's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
julienog's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
From start to finish, Heather Gudenkauf's debut novel these things hidden stays dark and tense. It keeps the reader interested in what may happen next while also keeping an anxious feeling. This book is full of twists and turns and keeps the readers on edge. With and ending just as depressing as the beginning mystery, this book shows that any stories can have hope no matter what happens.
The four main characters: Claire, Charm, Brynn and Allison all share an experience with Joshua, a foster child. While being different parts of his mystery, they all have secrets about him nobody else knows and are also looking to find out more about him. This story delves into how they all piece the dark mystery surrounding his birth together and as these secrets are revealed, there is much heartbreak in their discoveries. The mysteries discovered leads each character to make big decisions with the rest of their lives, some hopeful and some dismal.
The four main characters: Claire, Charm, Brynn and Allison all share an experience with Joshua, a foster child. While being different parts of his mystery, they all have secrets about him nobody else knows and are also looking to find out more about him. This story delves into how they all piece the dark mystery surrounding his birth together and as these secrets are revealed, there is much heartbreak in their discoveries. The mysteries discovered leads each character to make big decisions with the rest of their lives, some hopeful and some dismal.
kaylamae0415's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mstipress's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Literary fiction at its best! OMG! I am still flabbergasted. At first, I felt like I was reading privilege. All around all American blue eyes blond hair girl who is perfect, entitled. Then there is something so different happening. The exact opposite with the sister.
I felt myself growing with empathy pressured to change my lens that I was reading from. I was drawn into this story from every angle that it was told from. Claire, Charm, Allison, Brynn! Right until the end. When I turned the last page I was checking to make sure I didn't miss anything!
Every single character, the building of the plot, the conflict presented within the self, environment and others! This was a masterpiece! I loved this💚.
Who wants to talk about the real issues presented?
I felt myself growing with empathy pressured to change my lens that I was reading from. I was drawn into this story from every angle that it was told from. Claire, Charm, Allison, Brynn! Right until the end. When I turned the last page I was checking to make sure I didn't miss anything!
Every single character, the building of the plot, the conflict presented within the self, environment and others! This was a masterpiece! I loved this💚.
Who wants to talk about the real issues presented?
lindseyembry33's review
4.0
This book is really intense. The main character is forced to face the consequences of her actions and you watch the rest of the people around her and get to see how they were affected by what she did. I'm not going to tell you what she did but you'll find out soon enough if you read the book. Its a great example of how our actons can affect others.
ellie_gonzalez's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Infertility, Drug abuse, Blood, Cancer, Suicide, Medical trauma, Child death, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
holmstead's review
4.0
As I sit here, my mind reeling from the words I have finished reading, I am compelled to express exactly what this book has done to me. It is astounding that words can provoke such strong emotions. In some ways, I hate this book. I am left feeling completely drained. I can tell you in so many words, exactly how this book has made me feel:
Imagine you have a deflated balloon sitting in your palm. You take it in your mouth, and slowly start to fill air into it at its maximum capacity. It has all this pressure behind it. And just when you think you have no more room, you finally start to tie it, but you just can't get your fingers to tie the damn knot. Then all of a sudden, your grip loosens, and that damn bugger is flying all around the room. THAT is what I am at this moment: Pressurized and then deflated.
Anyone who is a mother, daughter, sister, aunt will be affected by this book. I can't believe how I haven't read this author before. I am not giving this book 5 stars because I am ultimately saddened at the outcome of it all, but Heather Gudenkauf has definitely left an impression with me.
I felt such anger and confusion with Allison, such sympathy and sadness for Brynn, admiration for Charm, disdain for Reanne, empathy and heartache for Claire. All these women tied together one way or another, I just couldn't imagine the struggles some had to endure.
And with that, I can finally start to breathe normally and move onto something....happy....with rainbows and butterflies, some dancing pink unicorns even.
Imagine you have a deflated balloon sitting in your palm. You take it in your mouth, and slowly start to fill air into it at its maximum capacity. It has all this pressure behind it. And just when you think you have no more room, you finally start to tie it, but you just can't get your fingers to tie the damn knot. Then all of a sudden, your grip loosens, and that damn bugger is flying all around the room. THAT is what I am at this moment: Pressurized and then deflated.
Anyone who is a mother, daughter, sister, aunt will be affected by this book. I can't believe how I haven't read this author before. I am not giving this book 5 stars because I am ultimately saddened at the outcome of it all, but Heather Gudenkauf has definitely left an impression with me.
I felt such anger and confusion with Allison, such sympathy and sadness for Brynn, admiration for Charm, disdain for Reanne, empathy and heartache for Claire. All these women tied together one way or another, I just couldn't imagine the struggles some had to endure.
And with that, I can finally start to breathe normally and move onto something....happy....with rainbows and butterflies, some dancing pink unicorns even.
libbyhenderson's review
3.0
"From the author of "The Overnight Guest" and "The Weight of Silence" (which I gave 4/5 stars) comes this novel called "These Things Hidden." Author Heather Gudenkauf does not disappoint! It is a quick read, memorable, and hard to put down. The only reason for the 3/5 star rating from me is the uncharacteristic plot twist near the end, involving a secondary yet important character. I felt it didn't fit the character that had been built to that moment. To say I had no clue would be an understatement. Yet the book was well written, and I can recommend it as good, but maybe not great!