Scan barcode
mothgoth's review
3.0
I enjoyed the writing, content maybe less so. I felt it could have been more, or hoped at least.
notsarahconnor's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
CW: Sexual assault (off-page), animal death.
What We Both Know is a dark, casually disturbing, amazing Canadian read. I loved Parker's writing style and can't wait to see what else she has to write!
Read the full review on my blog!
What We Both Know is a dark, casually disturbing, amazing Canadian read. I loved Parker's writing style and can't wait to see what else she has to write!
Read the full review on my blog!
readsandrants's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.75
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC
This book lured me in with the comparison to my dark Vanessa but ultimately disappointed. It was clear to me what was happening but it was never actually said, this book said so many things and yet nothing at all. If you like boring books in which nothing happens then this book is for you. The whole time there is this buildup and this expectation and then you reach the end and nothing has happened.
I liked the idea of this book but the execution just fell flat with this author. Even though I didn’t enjoy my dark Vanessa I could appreciate the writing and the message behind it but I'm sad to say that I can’t say the same about this book.
Someone else who reviewed this book said something that I feel was a great way to summarize this book, so I will share it here: “I think having that comparison to my dark Vanessa does a disservice to anyone reading this novel, and the novel itself. The focus is not so much on the crime or even the person who did irreparable damage to another human being. It is really an exploration of a person who was ignorant to events surrounding the lives of her family, and confronting those events later in life.”
This book lured me in with the comparison to my dark Vanessa but ultimately disappointed. It was clear to me what was happening but it was never actually said, this book said so many things and yet nothing at all. If you like boring books in which nothing happens then this book is for you. The whole time there is this buildup and this expectation and then you reach the end and nothing has happened.
I liked the idea of this book but the execution just fell flat with this author. Even though I didn’t enjoy my dark Vanessa I could appreciate the writing and the message behind it but I'm sad to say that I can’t say the same about this book.
Someone else who reviewed this book said something that I feel was a great way to summarize this book, so I will share it here: “I think having that comparison to my dark Vanessa does a disservice to anyone reading this novel, and the novel itself. The focus is not so much on the crime or even the person who did irreparable damage to another human being. It is really an exploration of a person who was ignorant to events surrounding the lives of her family, and confronting those events later in life.”
iamnita's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I did not enjoy this read - but I wanted to stick it out for where it went. I was disappointed that the writing didn't make sense to me - and I left feeling too "stupid" to understand what was happening. Perhaps I don't understand the techniques being used.
Further, I didn't see where the book was going, nor understood what was happening while it was happening, nor enjoyed where it went. I felt like things were thrown in (like the dog dying) that had no bearing on anything else. I also didn't understand the pacing - sometimes it was moment to moment, sometimes it was day to day, and sometimes there had to gaps between that I didn't really understand.
I don't understand the link to My Dark Vanessa - this isn't that, nor in its ballpark. It's a story that goes very very differently, and only shares the sexual assault component - but it isn't even about her. It's about her dead sister. There's also no justice in this case.
Further, I didn't see where the book was going, nor understood what was happening while it was happening, nor enjoyed where it went. I felt like things were thrown in (like the dog dying) that had no bearing on anything else. I also didn't understand the pacing - sometimes it was moment to moment, sometimes it was day to day, and sometimes there had to gaps between that I didn't really understand.
I don't understand the link to My Dark Vanessa - this isn't that, nor in its ballpark. It's a story that goes very very differently, and only shares the sexual assault component - but it isn't even about her. It's about her dead sister. There's also no justice in this case.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse
saralovesstories's review
3.0
Pitched as a book for fans of My Dark Vanessa so, I was sold on that. I was approved for an e-ARC of this book and I rated it 3.5 stars.
It definitely has some of the same themes as My Dark Vanessa, but rather than dual timelines piecing a characters experience and trauma together… this one is just a stream of conciousness from a woman who isn’t even sure if what she remembers is true or whether it was something she dreamed up.
Our main character, Hilary, steps in to help her famous author father write his final piece of work - a memoir of his life. In doing this, Hillary unlocks a number memories about her childhood, her sister and their relationship with their father. She just can’t decide whether or not to reveal those memories and ruin her fathers reputation. She also can’t talk to him about them…because he is slowly slipping away from himself due to Alzheimer’s.
I appreciate that the author carefully approached these dark, tough topics and how some people deal with their trauma without needing to dwell too long on the details of what caused the trauma.
This next note is just a personal bias, but I really love that it was set in Toronto and the regions surrounding. The author spoke of parts in the city that I know and even the Big Apple off the 401 towards to Kingston, which I’ve been to with my own family a number of times. I always like something different from NYC … which seems to be a lot of the books I read.
It was a quick read and I really felt immersed in Hilary’s day to day, even if at times she seemed to sway in and out of reality and could appreciate that she was torn on how to tell her fathers story without Incriminating him or… maybe that’s exactly what she wants to do.
I rated this one a 3.5. For context, since we’re comparing, My Dark Vanessa was a 5⭐️ read for me. A lot of very similar themes, but I struggled with the delivery and lack of clarity with how it ended.
Would I recommend it?
Sure. If you this kind of story telling.
Would I read it again?
Probably not. Unless another reader pointed out something I might’ve missed that could change how I read it.
It definitely has some of the same themes as My Dark Vanessa, but rather than dual timelines piecing a characters experience and trauma together… this one is just a stream of conciousness from a woman who isn’t even sure if what she remembers is true or whether it was something she dreamed up.
Our main character, Hilary, steps in to help her famous author father write his final piece of work - a memoir of his life. In doing this, Hillary unlocks a number memories about her childhood, her sister and their relationship with their father. She just can’t decide whether or not to reveal those memories and ruin her fathers reputation. She also can’t talk to him about them…because he is slowly slipping away from himself due to Alzheimer’s.
I appreciate that the author carefully approached these dark, tough topics and how some people deal with their trauma without needing to dwell too long on the details of what caused the trauma.
This next note is just a personal bias, but I really love that it was set in Toronto and the regions surrounding. The author spoke of parts in the city that I know and even the Big Apple off the 401 towards to Kingston, which I’ve been to with my own family a number of times. I always like something different from NYC … which seems to be a lot of the books I read.
It was a quick read and I really felt immersed in Hilary’s day to day, even if at times she seemed to sway in and out of reality and could appreciate that she was torn on how to tell her fathers story without Incriminating him or… maybe that’s exactly what she wants to do.
I rated this one a 3.5. For context, since we’re comparing, My Dark Vanessa was a 5⭐️ read for me. A lot of very similar themes, but I struggled with the delivery and lack of clarity with how it ended.
Would I recommend it?
Sure. If you this kind of story telling.
Would I read it again?
Probably not. Unless another reader pointed out something I might’ve missed that could change how I read it.
mothumn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Arc Review
I thought this was an interesting and well written look into a very serious and not often touched topic. It was quite slow paced which made it hard to get through but it’s written in a way that really makes you feel like you are in the narrator's head. You bear witness to her every thought and the way her mind works around the things she is finding out and trying to find an answer to it all. I personally felt like the book was very vague on the topic in a way that made it seem like maybe she was possibly making it all up in her head, that maybe was jumping to conclusions about things that she had nothing to back up, which I dont think was the point. I thought it was a very interesting point of view to tell this from, despite my previous criticism I think the point of the book still stands. The closeness of the relationship, between a daughter and a father, was interesting to see her reaction to finding out what he had done. It was definitely a very dark topic to tackle and it was done very respectfully, although I do think that it could have done more and said a solid take on the issue.
I thought this was an interesting and well written look into a very serious and not often touched topic. It was quite slow paced which made it hard to get through but it’s written in a way that really makes you feel like you are in the narrator's head. You bear witness to her every thought and the way her mind works around the things she is finding out and trying to find an answer to it all. I personally felt like the book was very vague on the topic in a way that made it seem like maybe she was possibly making it all up in her head, that maybe was jumping to conclusions about things that she had nothing to back up, which I dont think was the point. I thought it was a very interesting point of view to tell this from, despite my previous criticism I think the point of the book still stands. The closeness of the relationship, between a daughter and a father, was interesting to see her reaction to finding out what he had done. It was definitely a very dark topic to tackle and it was done very respectfully, although I do think that it could have done more and said a solid take on the issue.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Rape
jennas_riversidereads's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
krystasbookclub's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I'm not sure where to begin with this book, so I will start with the writing. Fawn Parker is a brilliant author. I cannot say enough about the beauty in their written word. This book discusses a lot of deep and emotional things that so many people will be able to relate to, yet Parker does so in a way where I was compelled to keep reading. The way Parker is able to establish each character's persona, I felt like these were real people, doing real things. Parker's writing is in a league of its own and is up there with the best writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
This book is marketed as "for fans of My Dark Vanessa" - which I really don't agree with fully, this book is so much more. I loved My Dark Vanessa, but this book, although yes, deals with sex with a minor/child, What We Both Know speaks to caring for aging parents, parental sexual abuse against a child, drunk driving, memory loss, body image, infidelity, suicide, and death. This all sounds very upsetting, yet while reading What We Both Know, the writing is absolutely beautiful where you are able to push through these topics (partly because they are discussed in "passing by" vs. in My Dark Vanessa where the sex and relationship are discussed in detail) and really get to the root of what is going on - the relationship between father and daughter, or lack thereof.
I really want to thank Penguin Random House Canada and Fawn Parker for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book moved me and captivated me. It left me thinking of it every day. I still think about the characters and how horrific the theme is, yet how stunning Parker's writing is.
This is a fantastic book that I will recommend. I also really loved that it was set in Toronto and the GTA. I love reading books that are set in my backyard.
What We Both Know has easily moved into the spot saved for my most favourite books.
This book is marketed as "for fans of My Dark Vanessa" - which I really don't agree with fully, this book is so much more. I loved My Dark Vanessa, but this book, although yes, deals with sex with a minor/child, What We Both Know speaks to caring for aging parents, parental sexual abuse against a child, drunk driving, memory loss, body image, infidelity, suicide, and death. This all sounds very upsetting, yet while reading What We Both Know, the writing is absolutely beautiful where you are able to push through these topics (partly because they are discussed in "passing by" vs. in My Dark Vanessa where the sex and relationship are discussed in detail) and really get to the root of what is going on - the relationship between father and daughter, or lack thereof.
I really want to thank Penguin Random House Canada and Fawn Parker for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book moved me and captivated me. It left me thinking of it every day. I still think about the characters and how horrific the theme is, yet how stunning Parker's writing is.
This is a fantastic book that I will recommend. I also really loved that it was set in Toronto and the GTA. I love reading books that are set in my backyard.
What We Both Know has easily moved into the spot saved for my most favourite books.