Things You Won't Say - by Sarah Pekkanen (Paperback)

About the Book

"In this timely and provocative novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting. How far would you go to save your family? Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting--but this time Mike has pulled the trigger. But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes. In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel--her best yet"--

Book Synopsis

In this timely and provocative novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting.

How far would you go to save your family?

Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting--but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.

But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.

In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel--her best yet.

Review Quotes

Praise for Sarah Pekkanen:
"Sarah Pekkanen writes with wit and warmth and a deep understanding of the way women--mothers, daughters, sisters, friends--make a place for themselves in the world."--Jennifer Weiner "#1 New York Times bestselling author"

Praise for THINGS YOU WON'T SAY:
"Gripping reading"-- "People"

"A gripping story of racial profiling, PTSD, and the threads that hold people together. You'll forget it's fiction."-- "Marie Claire on THINGS YOU WON'T SAY"

"A standout among standouts."-- "Glamour on Things You Won't Say"

"Fantastic and realistic."-- "Examiner.com"

"Internationally best-selling Pekkanen writes novels that offer thoughtful examinations of how the past shapes adult relationships and the differences between men and women."-- "Booklist"

"Pekkanen offers a conversational writing style and a knack for making readers care about her characters."-- "Washington Post"

"Pekkanen reliably builds strong, interesting characters."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Pekkanen tackles a timely topic."-- "Booklist"

"Pekkanen's wry voice and engaging characters keeps things fresh."-- "People"

"Sarah Pekkanen is one of my favorite authors of women's fiction."--Lisa Scottoline "New York Times bestselling author"

"Smart and soulful, Pekkanen explores the place where self and sisterhood intersect."-- "Redbook"

"Ultimately, Pekkanen shows that relationships of any kind take work, expression of love, and the willingness to take risks in order to save them."-- "New York Journal of Books"

About the Author

Sarah Pekkanen is the bestselling author of The Ever After, The Opposite of Me, Skipping a Beat, These Girls, The Best of Us, Catching Air, Things You Won't Say, and The Perfect Neighbors. Her work has been published in People, The Washington Post, and USA TODAY, among other publications. She lives with her family in Chevy Chase, Maryland.