If We're Being Honest
Books | Fiction / Family Life / General
3.6
Cat Shook
For fans of We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange and All Adults Here by Emma Straub, Cat Shook’s debut novel If We’re Being Honest is the snappy, smart, heartwarming story of the Williams family, and the sweltering summer that rewrote their history.When Gerry, the beloved Williams patriarch, dies suddenly, his grandchildren flock from across the country to the family home in Eulalia, Georgia. But when Gerry’s best friend steps up to the microphone to deliver his eulogy, the funeral turns out unlike anyone expected. The cousins, left reeling and confused, cope with their fresh grief and various private dramas. Delia, recently heartbroken, refuses to shut up about her ex. Her sister Alice, usually confident, flusters when she spots her high school sweetheart, hiding a secret that will change both of their lives. Outspoken, affable Grant is preening in the afterglow of his recent appearance on The Bachelorette and looking to reignite an old flame with the least available person in town. Meanwhile, his younger brother Red, unsure of himself and easily embarrassed, desperately searches for a place in the boisterous family.The cousins’ eccentric parents are in tow, too, and equally lost—in love and in life. Watching over them all is Ellen, Gerry’s sweet and proper widow, who does her best to keep her composure in front of the leering small town.Clever and completely original, If We’re Being Honest reminds you that while no one can break your heart like your family can, there’s really no one better to put you back together.
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More Details:
Author
Cat Shook
Pages
320
Publisher
Celadon Books
Published Date
2023-04-18
ISBN
1250847559 9781250847553
Ratings
Google: 4.5
Community ReviewsSee all
"If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook was not my cup of tea, and I knew this going into it. When I originally requested this via BookishFirst, I thought I would enjoy it and be able to mark of a square on my 2023 Bookish bingo card (for category: book from a genre you’ve never read before) if I won a copy. However, once I won I began to have doubts on whether I could truly enjoy this book. I considered contacting BookishFirst to have them cancel my win but I decided not to, thinking I might be able to push through.
If We’re Being Honest follows the four cousins of the eccentric Williams family after the passing of their grandfather Gerry in Eulalia, Georgia. For me, I was so bored and miserable trying to read this to the point where I dreaded trying to pick it up most days. I couldn’t find it in myself to like any of the characters and the story was bland compared to what I normally read. So I didn’t push through. I just couldn’t.
However, this was not because If We’re Being Honest is a bad book but because it’s too far away from my preferred genres that I’d feel more comfortable reading. While I normally read young adult fantasy, this is general adult fiction/women’s fiction. It also heavily centers on grief and family connections which are things I’m currently struggling with, thus I was not in the right mental health space to be reading this book.
This was truly a case of it’s not you, it’s me. I fully believe that readers who frequently enjoy books from this genre and can handle topics such as grief will truly enjoy this book. But for me, If We’re Being Honest is 1 out of 5 stars."
L
Lauren
"Got about 50% through and just could not finish it and I love a family saga. The head hopping (constantly shifting from one character's perspective to another) was annoying and didn't add much. The writing wasn't wasn't strong or witty enough to offset the fact that very little happens after the explosive beginning. Just felt like a slog. Disappointing that Anne Bogel/MMD recommended this one -- I had high hopes!"
Uttara Dukkipati
