Things Left Unsaid- Courtney Walsh

 

Title:  Things Left Unsaid

Author: Courtney Walsh

Genre: Fiction, Adult fiction, maybe religion/spirituality

Stars: 5

Synopsis from Goodreads:

An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.

Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.

But Lyndie isn’t the only one with secrets.

Cassie’s mother, father and brother, still struggling with the loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart—to escape the darkness and all its regrets and to finally come to terms with the past and, especially, with each other.

My thoughts:
I loved this novel.  I couldn't put it down since I got the mobi.  I have never read anything from Walsh, so I didn't know what to expect.  The cover and the title is what I was drawn to, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, it'll be difficult to pick up another book quickly due to the book hangover I'll have with these character I just spent the day with.
There are so many secrets, but Walsh does a wonderful job keeping the secrets straight with the characters and then revealing them at the perfect times.  I think if it were to happen differently, or when I wanted to while I was reading I would've been disappointed in the ending.
It was a light, good feeling novel even though the story line revolves around the disappearance and death of a friend, daughter, sister.  Religion does play a pretty big role, but not in the overwhelming way.  More like the just the right way.
It was a wonderfully written novel about friendships, family, forgiveness and love that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.  It will definitely be a topic of conversation for a while.  I cannot wait to spread the message along.  Definitely recommended and worth the read.   
Thanks to Netgalley for the early read!