What's Not Said: A Novel

by Valerie Taylor

Overview

“Taylor’s dialogue is snappy and contemporary . . . A witty and often amusing family drama.”—Kirkus Reviews

Kassie O’Callaghan’s meticulous plans to divorce her emotionally abusive husband, Mike, and move in with Chris, a younger man she met five years ago on a solo vacation in Venice, are disrupted when she finds out Mike has chronic kidney disease—something he’s concealed from her for years. Once again, she postpones her path to freedom—at least, until she pokes around his pajama drawer and discovers his illness is the least of his deceits.

But Kassie is no angel, either. As she struggles to justify her own indiscretions, the secret lives she and Mike have led collide head-on, revealing a tangled web of sex, lies, and DNA. Still, mindful of her vows, Kassie commits to helping her husband find an organ donor. In the process, she uncovers a life-changing secret. Problem is, if she reveals it, her own immorality will be exposed, which means she has an impossible decision to make: Whose life will she save—her husband’s or her own?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631527456
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	09/13/2020
Pages:	316
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Valerie Taylor is the award-winning author of the romantic comedy trilogy: What’s Not Said, What’s Not True, and What’s Not Lost. She’s also the author of the Venus Bixby Mystery series. When she’s not writing or reading, Valerie enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator. She now resides in Shelton, CT, returning there after enjoying some of the best years of her life in Boston and Seattle.

Editorial Reviews

2021 CIBA Chatelaine Book Awards First Place Winner
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Romantic Comedy
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Chick Lit
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Contemporary Novel
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Marriage
2021 Literary Titan Book Awards Silver Winner
2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary
2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women’s Fiction
2021 American Fiction Awards Finalist in Women's Fiction
2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women’s Fiction
2020 Canadian Book Club Awards Finalist in Fiction
Chosen as an August 2021 Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection
Featured by the international NoMo Book Club in May 2021

“Taylor’s dialogue is snappy and contemporary . . . A witty and often amusing marriage drama.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“In this dramatic tale of love, lust, and lies, author Valerie Taylor crafts an entertaining and gripping story. . . . a shocking novel full of secrets, twists, and turns, but it also has elements of pure humor and deep love. If I had to pick one word to describe What's Not Said, it would be the word ‘captivating.’”
—Readers' Favorite

“What’s Not Said is highly recommended for women who look for not just stories of marital relationships, but the unexpected revelations that revolve around life purpose and the immortality of love.”
—Midwest Book Reviews

“What’s Not Said is oh-so-clever at illustrating the unintended consequences of secrets. Valerie Taylor’s characters face a tangle of events and emotions that keep the reader turning pages!”
—Joan Cohen, author of Land of Last Chances

“Wonderfully entertaining! You’ll find yourself rooting for the main character from the beginning as she finds herself divided by mixed loyalties and her own desires. Taylor has written a sharp-witted and fun story, so grab a seat, buckle in and enjoy!”
—Marianne Lile, author of Stepmother: A Memoir

“Overall, this was a wickedly fun read, and entirely engaging in its soap-opera-esque style of storytelling.”
—Reedsy

“Taylor’s debut is a mystery, a romance, and a tale about chance and coincidence. It’s a book about secrets and lies and the elusive dream of a fairytale ending.”
—BookTrib

“Witty and fun but also poignant and heartfelt, this novel takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of love, lust, deception, and ultimately redemption . . . A fast-paced novel you won’t want to put down.”
—Cathy Zane, award-winning author of Better Than This

From the Publisher

2020-07-02
A young woman must choose between old loyalties and a new beginning in Taylor’s debut novel.

Kassie O’Callaghan is a successful 54-year-old marketing executive with a knack for details, which has served her well during her long and admirable career. Now, she’s using her gift to orchestrate a very different kind of project: divorcing Mike Ricci, her husband of 30 years. After years of dealing with Mike’s emotional abuse, she’s finally had enough. But just as she’s about to take the leap, she gets some disastrous news—Mike has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The news throws her emotions into confusion and complicates her plans to move in with Chris Gaines, a younger man she met while traveling in Venice, Italy. After she postpones her divorce and her other future plans, she comes across clues indicating that Mike may be deceiving her. Kassie eventually faces an impossible decision that might ruin her chance at happiness. Taylor’s dialogue is snappy and contemporary, and the book reads like a fun romantic comedy at times, despite the rather heavy subject matter. Kassie’s inner monologues occasionally provide humorous insights into her personality; when speaking with a doctor involved in her husband’s case, for instance, she thinks to herself, “Oh, that’s reassuring. Let’s suspend with the pleasantries already, shorty, and tell Bad Kassie what’s going on.” The chapters move along briskly without skimping on the finer points of the plot, and there’s even a Spotify playlist and book club discussion questions at the end for those who may be looking for a deeper reading experience. Secondary characters add intriguing layers of complexity to the story, and each plays a role in influencing Kassie’s decisions. The protagonist’s inner struggle feels genuine and heartfelt, and anyone who’s lived through a divorce will find it easy to relate to her.

A witty and often amusing marriage drama.

Kirkus Reviews