Everything I Never Told You

Everything I Never Told You

  • Downloads:5004
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-05-14 10:54:21
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Celeste Ng
  • ISBN:0349134286
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Lydia is dead。 But they don't know this yet。

Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair。 Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue - in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the centre of every party。 But Lydia is under pressures that have nothing to do with growing up in 1970s small town Ohio。 Her father is an American born of first-generation Chinese immigrants, and his ethnicity, and hers, make them conspicuous in any setting。

When Lydia's body is found in the local lake, James is consumed by guilt and sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage。 Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to make someone accountable, no matter what the cost。 Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is convinced that local bad boy Jack is somehow involved。 But it's the youngest in the family - Hannah - who observes far more than anyone realises and who may be the only one who knows what really happened。

Everything I Never Told You is a gripping page-turner, about secrets, love, longing, lies and race。

Librarian's note: There is an Alternate Cover Edition for this edition of this book here

Download

Reviews

Cris

2。5

Lily Kase

Really just so underwhelming。 The story seems like the author bit off way more themes than one book could chew。 The characters were all pretty cliche and wholly unlikable。 I was hoping by the end to have some fulfilling wrap-up or twist, but no such luck。

Giovanna Cuellar

This book hit me right in the heart。

Gail (Neuroknitter)

This book tore my soul out。 This book was beautifully written。 The characters and their relationships were rich and complex。 Briefly, the middle daughter of a Chinese American man and caucasian woman is missing and eventually found dead in a nearby lake (not a spoiler)。 The story revolves around the parents, their childhoods and the expectations put on them by their parents。 In turn, we see how they treat, or don’t, their children and the ramifications of those good intentions。 I’m sure their ar This book tore my soul out。 This book was beautifully written。 The characters and their relationships were rich and complex。 Briefly, the middle daughter of a Chinese American man and caucasian woman is missing and eventually found dead in a nearby lake (not a spoiler)。 The story revolves around the parents, their childhoods and the expectations put on them by their parents。 In turn, we see how they treat, or don’t, their children and the ramifications of those good intentions。 I’m sure their are better and more comprehensive reviews out there。 I highly recommend this book for the front row view it gives the reader of racism and discrimination in America, sexism, othering, the desire to fit in and be nondescript vs。 the desire to stand out and not be a cliche, and how putting the unfulfilled desires the parent had for themselves onto the child is suffocating。 。。。more

Mafalda

*4。5

Alexandra Ameel

Celeste Ng is a master storyteller, and her books will never fail to amaze me。

Lori

Start to finish bummer。。。。

Mariah Pampeno

I thought this book was good, not the best, but good。 I liked the writing and thought it was descriptive and flowed very well。 I don't really read books like this because I find them boring but I thought that this kept my attention。 It centers around a Chinese/White couple living in an Ohio town in the 1970s。 This story follows the creation of this couple and their 3 Chinese/White children: Nathan, Lydia, and Hannah。 Nathan is the oldest and basically the child that ended his mother's college ca I thought this book was good, not the best, but good。 I liked the writing and thought it was descriptive and flowed very well。 I don't really read books like this because I find them boring but I thought that this kept my attention。 It centers around a Chinese/White couple living in an Ohio town in the 1970s。 This story follows the creation of this couple and their 3 Chinese/White children: Nathan, Lydia, and Hannah。 Nathan is the oldest and basically the child that ended his mother's college career。 Lydia is the perfect/most loved child that Marilyn and James use to live out how they wanted their lives to be。 And then there is Hannah, poor Hannah, who is the forgotten baby of the three。 An underlying theme in this book is racism and it's implications on an interracial marriage/family。 I found this enlightening and was glad that this was talked about throughout the book in instances of how it affects the characters everyday lives。 The main plot is that Lydia has been found at the lake in town and the family goes through the motions of grieving/trying to figure out what happened。 Although this follows the family members trying to cope and figure out what happened it's not really a "who done it" kind of read and by the end of it I didn't really care about what happened, I was more focused on the character's lives。 Reading it I felt sad for all of the children in this family。 Lydia's mom is constantly pushing her to be the best student so she could grow up and be what Marilyn hasn't and her dad is pushing her to fit in with everyone else and be popular。 Nathan and Hannah are kind of just forgotten children and have to deal with their parents frustrations。 Overall it wasn't a bad read and even though I feel like some of the characters fell into useless tropes。 It was entertaining enough for me to get through it (audible) in 24 hours, had I be reading it though it definitely would have taken me days to finish。 A part of my rating is also due to the fact that this book spoke about race and gave white readers real examples of everyday racism and microaggressions that happen with strangers and with family。 It was a good book that IF I read again I will definitely be READING it and not listening to it。 。。。more

Rashmi Kamath

Once in a while, there comes along a book that is far from a joyful summer read but is everything human and in-between, and (even though it is just two books under her belt) I have come to understand Celeste Ng as a Queen of such poignant authorship。 The premise: A father -born on the US soil- who is struggling to identify himself as neither Chinese like his parents nor an American like his peers, someone that has tried and repeatedly failed to fit in; a mother -raised to become someone's wife- Once in a while, there comes along a book that is far from a joyful summer read but is everything human and in-between, and (even though it is just two books under her belt) I have come to understand Celeste Ng as a Queen of such poignant authorship。 The premise: A father -born on the US soil- who is struggling to identify himself as neither Chinese like his parents nor an American like his peers, someone that has tried and repeatedly failed to fit in; a mother -raised to become someone's wife- who has big plans for herself as a medical doctor, someone that has no intention of fitting in。 What happens when two people with the baggage they do not know they possess come together and build a nest with 3 kids? Everything I Never Told You is a patient unfolding of their veiled traumas coursing through generations as though an unseen curse。There is slow, yet deliberate weaving of isolated events, seemingly innocent incidents, into the fabric that becomes the narrative of individual characters coming together into a tapestry that binds them as a family。 Celeste does not shy away from highlighting the discrimination that people of color and immigrants come to experience as a part of their big American Dream, nor does she spare any mercy in describing the vulnerabilities most of us want to keep a safe distance from。 Perhaps, the most relatable is the effect and allure a parental love has in the life of a child, pushing them in directions they never would have chosen were they given a choice; and how parents, well-intentioned in all the sense of the word, yet blindly treating their child as a means to an end, as a creation meant to merely live a life that they could not manifest!The language, while simple, is rich in its emotional clarity and is three-dimensional in depicting multiple perspectives。 It takes someone with an incredible level of comprehension of human coping and behavior, such as Celeste, to create a story with characters that cannot be boxed into any particular label。 I am awestruck at how she has stacked one minuscule thing after another leading up to the denouement, which if viewed in isolation without its entirety makes no sense。 If I haven't already said it, Celeste is a raconteur and it shows - every page, every word。 As to whether this book is a page-turner, it is - yes。 Not in a whodunnit kind of way, but rather in a way of human curiosity that is offensive as well as intrusive outside of a book。 I must add a trigger warning - the story starts with death (not a spoiler) and does not have a happy ending, or any kind of ending for that matter。 The trajectory of the story is backward, to discovering the trail back to where the narrative begins。 Personally, I am not for books that are intense (or so I like to pretend), however, I have a penchant for stories that are moving and heartfelt。 This is not the easiest of the reads, but it does cater to my craving for existential depth。 A must-read in my opinion if the genre fits。 5 stars。#bibliophilesbookreview #celesteng #everythinginevertoldyouLink to my blog 👇https://borrowedforlightreadingandpad。。。 。。。more

piper c

if i didn’t finish this book in a coffee shop with people around i probably would have wept。 this is some of the best characterization i’ve ever read。 ng writes her characters as distressingly human, depicting their worries and desires and thoughts through the words we’ve never been able to put together to explain our own。 everyone in this book fucks up in fantastical ways, but it never manages to turn you completely against any one character。 a testament to ng’s writing。 families (not to mentio if i didn’t finish this book in a coffee shop with people around i probably would have wept。 this is some of the best characterization i’ve ever read。 ng writes her characters as distressingly human, depicting their worries and desires and thoughts through the words we’ve never been able to put together to explain our own。 everyone in this book fucks up in fantastical ways, but it never manages to turn you completely against any one character。 a testament to ng’s writing。 families (not to mention bi-racial ones) are complicated and messy and nuanced and beautiful and ng captures this complex topic effortlessly, and makes you feel everything along the way。 。。。more

roxtao

~ www。roxtao。com ~From the first pages of Everything I Never Told You, there’s such a thick layer of sadness enclosing the whole atmosphere that even the happier memories tend to float in a grayish filter。 Nothing is bright, nothing really shines, every little joy being somehow washed by wave after wave of sorrow, unspoken regrets and more than anything, longing。 Longing to be either yourself or someone else, to fit in or to be unique, longing for love, for dreams, for things to be different or ~ www。roxtao。com ~From the first pages of Everything I Never Told You, there’s such a thick layer of sadness enclosing the whole atmosphere that even the happier memories tend to float in a grayish filter。 Nothing is bright, nothing really shines, every little joy being somehow washed by wave after wave of sorrow, unspoken regrets and more than anything, longing。 Longing to be either yourself or someone else, to fit in or to be unique, longing for love, for dreams, for things to be different or exactly the same, for freedom or belonging。 Longing for all the things that make us human and for all the things that make us different。I haven’t really stopped reading once I learned how to, as a child。 Not during teenage years, not during adulthood。 But I realized now, while reading Everything I Never Told You, that it’s been more than a decade maybe since a book offered me some sort of… revelation。 I cannot find a better word。 During the years of adolescence, when I was questioning everything and looking for answers, I searched for and found books after books that would allow me to form my thoughts, that indirectly shaped the way I think, that made my mind buzz with ideas。 But since then, somehow reading turned from thirst of knowledge into entertainment only instead。And I can’t remember discovering any more bewildering novels。 Novels that would shake me, that would suddenly make me grasp an idea that feels like it’s completely new and in the same time, like it’s been always floating there, under a shallow layer, so close, but always out of reach。And although the whole novel of Celeste Ng is somehow bursting of examples, one insignificant scene was the one opening my eyes about this: how hard we hit the ones we love the most, when we are furious on anything else besides them。 How in that explosive moment, we don’t care how exposed, innocent and hurt they are and nothing else matters besides our own anger。 And how poisonous is the mix of guilt, fury and pride that forms in the seconds after, how it swells in your throat so much that it hurts and doesn’t let you breathe or swallow。 We never learn that the guilt won’t ever disappear, even if, perhaps, the memories themselves might fade with time。 In that impulse, we always forget that the guilt will survive even after the people won’t be there anymore, that the guilt will hover around, surrounding and intoxicating any recollections, outbalancing any facts or feelings, no matter how much we try to ignore it。As cheesy as it may sound, I feel grateful for reading this book and amazed by the author’s ability to paint such raw images, to make me feel such diametrically opposed feelings in the same time, to make me sense each character’s pool of grief, regrets, silences and vulnerabilities。 I did not read Everything I Never Told You。 I felt it, I lived it。 There weren’t many things to make me connect with the characters or to identify myself with their own stories, but the author’s talent makes you empathize with all of them, transfering you their feelings as if they were your own。 。。。more

Rachel

Loved it。

Audrey

Overall I thought the book was an interesting insight to how you may think someone has a perfect life and is the favorite child, but the reality of it is far from that。 At times it seemed to just drag on, but still was interesting especially in the end to see how everything played out。

Terézia

I don't even know whether this is a favourite or a runner-up, a four or a five star book。 All I know is that I wanted to abandon it during the first chapter and that I cried all the way through the end unconsolably。 The "dead teen girl" has become a trope that I'm tired of hearing about。 And no offense, I thought this would be a one in a dozen。 It wasn't。 The scope is larger, there are plenty more societal issues discussed。 Lydia's death is not the problem, it's the crack in the seams that held I don't even know whether this is a favourite or a runner-up, a four or a five star book。 All I know is that I wanted to abandon it during the first chapter and that I cried all the way through the end unconsolably。 The "dead teen girl" has become a trope that I'm tired of hearing about。 And no offense, I thought this would be a one in a dozen。 It wasn't。 The scope is larger, there are plenty more societal issues discussed。 Lydia's death is not the problem, it's the crack in the seams that held all of their mouths shut。 I sometimes think about a quote I saw on a cover of a magazine, something like "There is something suspicious about families where they do not argue"。 This book would be a proof of sorts to that claim: families where they do not discuss their problems can be just as, if not more damaging for all parties involved。 not that problems cannot be solved without arguments。I may come back to edit this, and reread this once I've recovered。 The book is certainly not perfect; the precocious, all-seeing child trope that Hannah was did put a damper on my enjoyment。 But there is just so much that gripped my heart and squeezed it hard。 Something like the way that I feel about The Martian Chronicles。 。。。more

Cas

I was a little hesitant to read this because Little Fires Everywhere received so much praise yet I found it to be a slow plot and an empty ending。 This book also had an empty ending that was unsatisfactory but the plot was a little better。 I don’t feel I wasted my time but I also wouldn’t recommend it。

Janča

Knihu Vše, co jsme si nikdy neřekli jsem začala číst někdy na začátku března, tuším。 Přečetla jsem nějakých 30 stran a říkala si, že s touto knihou kamarádky nebudeme。 Týden zpátky jsem se odhodlala vrátit se a dát knížce druhou šanci。 A musím říct, že to byla správná volba。Nikdy jsem snad nečetla tak silný příběh, nad kterým bych si poplakala a který by ve mě zanechal tolik, jako tohle。Mám z toho celkem smíšené pocity。 Příběh byl opravdu naprosto skvělý, co mi ale lehce nesedlo byl autorčin sty Knihu Vše, co jsme si nikdy neřekli jsem začala číst někdy na začátku března, tuším。 Přečetla jsem nějakých 30 stran a říkala si, že s touto knihou kamarádky nebudeme。 Týden zpátky jsem se odhodlala vrátit se a dát knížce druhou šanci。 A musím říct, že to byla správná volba。Nikdy jsem snad nečetla tak silný příběh, nad kterým bych si poplakala a který by ve mě zanechal tolik, jako tohle。Mám z toho celkem smíšené pocity。 Příběh byl opravdu naprosto skvělý, co mi ale lehce nesedlo byl autorčin styl psaní。Možná se mi názor ještě ustálí, přecejen jsem před chvílí dočetla。Každopádně mi je neskutečně moc líto Natha, Hanny a Jamese s Marilyn。 A samozřejmě i Lydie。 Tihle všichni mi neskutečně přirostli k srdci za pouhých 254 stran。。。 。。。more

Vlada (Vladkabooks)

OMG, this was intense and heartbreaking。 This book will keep me reflecting about family relations and the story itself for a while。 Definitely my favourite book by Celeste NG。

ivy nguyen

Powerful and enticing read。 Ng’s words are breathtaking and she dives into how loss, racism, and sexism can have profound effects on family dynamics。 I found myself able to empathize and feel for each character despite them making bad choices。 It was also a relatable novel in terms of feeling the overwhelming pressure put onto you by your family and having the need to meet their expectations。 The ending leaves me feeling bittersweet and many moments in the book had me on the edge of my seat, as Powerful and enticing read。 Ng’s words are breathtaking and she dives into how loss, racism, and sexism can have profound effects on family dynamics。 I found myself able to empathize and feel for each character despite them making bad choices。 It was also a relatable novel in terms of feeling the overwhelming pressure put onto you by your family and having the need to meet their expectations。 The ending leaves me feeling bittersweet and many moments in the book had me on the edge of my seat, as if I want to cry but can’t work up the tears。 。。。more

Tracy

Beautifully written but painfully sorrowful book。 I was torn between not being able to put the book down because I wanted to see how it unfolded and the desire to stop reading it because sitting with the pain and uncomfortable feelings it elicited wasn't always what I was in the mood for! With all the current sorrow in the world, take caution when reading。 There is some resolution at the end, but I was still left feeling so sad for all of the characters! Beautifully written but painfully sorrowful book。 I was torn between not being able to put the book down because I wanted to see how it unfolded and the desire to stop reading it because sitting with the pain and uncomfortable feelings it elicited wasn't always what I was in the mood for! With all the current sorrow in the world, take caution when reading。 There is some resolution at the end, but I was still left feeling so sad for all of the characters! 。。。more

Charles

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Everything I Never Told You is a novel that's drenched in doom and gloom。 There's hardly ever a moment that brought me any joy from the beginning to end。 The story is filled with characters that I have trouble liking in any capacity。 I see the symbolism and the careful writing, but none of it won me over。 I'm a gloomy person and even I found it difficult to want to finish。 It's not particularly hard to read the words, but the story is such a downer。The big ending doesn't really compel me either。 Everything I Never Told You is a novel that's drenched in doom and gloom。 There's hardly ever a moment that brought me any joy from the beginning to end。 The story is filled with characters that I have trouble liking in any capacity。 I see the symbolism and the careful writing, but none of it won me over。 I'm a gloomy person and even I found it difficult to want to finish。 It's not particularly hard to read the words, but the story is such a downer。The big ending doesn't really compel me either。 Lydia's unintentional drowning can easily be seen as a slightly more complicated way to suicide。 She knows she can't swim, but decides to do it anyway。 This is a case where the reader has to arbitrarily reason that she unintentionally drowned, despite it easily being seen as a suicide。 For example, if I wanted to see if I could walk through the Sahara desert with no supplies, just my body, I'm actually just trying to die。 There's no argument against this。 Literally, if I know that I'm gonna do something that's going to kill me, I am attempting suicide。 As such, I believe it's a story that glorifies suicide。 Once she dies, everyone's life can finally be freed from all those misunderstandings and terrible parenting。 Apparently, everyone was just better off with her dead。 Great :DAlong with that, as an Asian American myself, I couldn't understand what rubbed me the wrong way for so long。 I realize now that the story is about the lives of bananas。 These Asian characters are completely divorced from their heritage in a case of complete assimilation。 Of course, people can choose to do what they want, but I just don't relate to these people。 They didn't experience the struggles that first and second generation Asian Americans face。 Admittedly, James does, but it's hardly ever looked that deeply into, just shallow window dressing。 I can accept that that。 As with the Asian American representation, the queer representation is just a minor footnote to present the writing as more progressive than it actually is。 Sure, I know Jack is queer and there's a possible hinting that Nath becomes his partner, but that's little more than a shallow representation than anything actually meaningful。 It's hardly progressive, more liberal than anything。 If Nath's homosexuality was actually ever brought up at all and expanded on in the actual writing, I would certainly commend the author。 As it is now, a meaningless nothing like this minor note just weakens the overall story as a whole。 Oh and Jack just liking Nath unconditionally like that comes off as irrational。 The dude is just lovestruck for hardly any reason。 Once again, if the writing actually delved into these characters more, it could've totally fixed these issues。It's also a story that reinforces stereotypes。 Sure Marilyn is a white tiger mom, but I feel like it's there because the characters are Asian Americans。 James isn't a good husband either, the cheating bastard。 Asian kids being good at school, overbearing Asian parents, Asian kids getting bullied。 I sure love stereotypes that reinforce common society perceptions of a marginalized people written by someone of that group。 Feel free to read it and give me sound counterpoints。 I just really rubbed me the wrong way。 。。。more

Sarah Jones

5🌟

Debra Shelton Windham

I couldn’t quit reading this book, but it broke my heart over and over again。 The family members you get to know so intimately in this book each keep secrets from one another that lead to tragic, life-altering consequences。 Each member of Lydia’s family is shocked by her death (which is revealed on page 1 of the book) but have no concept of how each one of them influenced her decisions that led to her death。 It is truly one of the most tragic books I’ve ever read, and it’s beautifully written。

Bonnie

This is the story of a mixed race family and all the secret desires, needs and frustrations that each family member never talks about。 It’s a heartbreaking look into what happens when family communication breaks down and how important it is to have someone to share your story with。Even though most of the book is quite depressing, I found myself zipping through it in hopes that everyone would finally open up in the end。 (Spoiler: it’s a good ending)。

Lydia Kopp

I didn't want to compare this to the Lovely Bones at first but fk that- I do think this story has a lot more nuance。 I felt like I was able to go deep to the very bottom of the minds of everyone in the family。 There were a lot of perspectives to be understood, and the leading through the stages of grief was very cohesive, smooth, and flowing。 Sharing a name with the character Lydia was interesting to navigate。 We're both middle children, so I could relate to her a lot in various aspects。 I under I didn't want to compare this to the Lovely Bones at first but fk that- I do think this story has a lot more nuance。 I felt like I was able to go deep to the very bottom of the minds of everyone in the family。 There were a lot of perspectives to be understood, and the leading through the stages of grief was very cohesive, smooth, and flowing。 Sharing a name with the character Lydia was interesting to navigate。 We're both middle children, so I could relate to her a lot in various aspects。 I understood some of the pressure and expectations that she had to juggle。 Most of all I understood the desire to satisfy others and keep peace in the house。 Overall, it was a short, quick, but meaningful read。 。。。more

Becky Innes

This book was a slow burner。 Whilst not much actually happened in the book in terms of fast paced dramatic events, the quiet storytelling was compelling。 The mix of past and present worked really well and I think I will be thinking about this story for a long time。

Riza Azad

3。5 ⭐️。 Maybe I read a good book at the wrong time。 I was expecting it to be suspense mystery book but it was wayy deeper than that。

Gina

Basic premise- Kids take on their parents unresolved and unconscious issues。

Gary Hirsch

This is the first book I've read by Celeste Ng and I was just blown by her style。 It just oozes despair。 It made me wonder if many parents are this oblivious to their children's issues。 It just broke my heart when Lydia's parents discovered that she hadn't written a single word in her "beautiful" diaries that she was given every year and that she did not have a single friend。 I knew my grown up daughter was also reading this book and I had to call her up just to make certain I wasn't that cluele This is the first book I've read by Celeste Ng and I was just blown by her style。 It just oozes despair。 It made me wonder if many parents are this oblivious to their children's issues。 It just broke my heart when Lydia's parents discovered that she hadn't written a single word in her "beautiful" diaries that she was given every year and that she did not have a single friend。 I knew my grown up daughter was also reading this book and I had to call her up just to make certain I wasn't that clueless as a parent。 I loved the way she wrote about Marilyn's mother and the cookbook。 Her mother never made a single recipe, but just used the cookbook for advice on how to be a desirable wife and hostess。 This was a very sad book to read during a pandemic。 。。。more

Susan Hanson

I really enjoyed this book。 The story is about a Chinese American family who are living during the 1970s in Ohio。 Their daughter Lydia is been put under lots of stress by her mother Marilyn who is trying to live her life through Lydia hoping she will become a doctor。 Lydias father, James wants Lydia to be popular at school and is always giving her suggestions on ways to become popular。 Lydia feels the pressure put on her by both of her parents and rebels。 When Lydia is eventually found dead the I really enjoyed this book。 The story is about a Chinese American family who are living during the 1970s in Ohio。 Their daughter Lydia is been put under lots of stress by her mother Marilyn who is trying to live her life through Lydia hoping she will become a doctor。 Lydias father, James wants Lydia to be popular at school and is always giving her suggestions on ways to become popular。 Lydia feels the pressure put on her by both of her parents and rebels。 When Lydia is eventually found dead the family history is revealed and the lack of communication, which ultimately leads to this tragedy。 I enjoyed all the characters as well as reading the history of the characters that brought them to where they are。 I listen to the audio version of this book。 。。。more

Lienna

this book touches on so much - family and how love is shown; society and its pressures; identity and how it’s influenced by geography, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexuality; and generational differences。 it moved back in forth in time to tell the story of lydia and her siblings, as well as their parents, which sometimes became a bit chaotic, and the characters were very frustrating at times。 ultimately, a good heartbreaking read, that highlights the feeling of “otherness” really well。