The Things We Cannot Say

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 41,408 ratings

Price: 22.04

Last update: 12-25-2024


About this item

Now a New York Times best seller!

From the author of Truths I Never Told You, Before I Let You Go, and the upcoming The Warsaw Orphan, Kelly Rimmer’s powerful WWII novel follows a woman’s urgent search for answers to a family mystery that uncovers truths about herself that she never expected.

"Kelly Rimmer has outdone herself. I thought that Before I Let You Go was one of the best novels I had ever read.... If you only have time to read one book this year The Things We Cannot Say should be that book. Keep tissues handy." (Fresh Fiction)

"Fans of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls will adore The Things We Cannot Say." (Pam Jenoff, New York Times best-selling author)

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It’s a decision that will alter her destiny...and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now 15 and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate. Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now, she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents’ farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.

Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative. The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced...and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.

Don't miss Kelly Rimmer's new and unforgettable novel, The Warsaw Orphan.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Nikki Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2024
    The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    At the moment - I just finished this book less than 10 minutes ago - I find myself in a state of bittersweet awe. Tears have fallen. This story is a sad one, but also a fulfilled and emotionally full one. Much of this story is based on true events and the magnitude of those events cannot be passed by, nor should they ever be. This is a book I think every person should read. I believe it will be a reminder of what should never be forgotten as well as renewal of faith in humanity.

    This story was well executed. Thoroughly researched and well planned. I flew through this book with ease as the story was easy to follow - even across two timelines. WWII has so many stories still untold and this story combines the story of our heroine as well as the stories of her closer family and friends. Reading this book felt like I was living this story right along with her.

    Below contains some spoilers.

    We get to meet Alice, her family - including her Babcia (grandmother). Alice takes on the challenge of a no longer verbal Babcia to help her find peace during her end stages of life. This leads Alice on a journey she never dreamed of. In a quick reaction to circumstances Alice finds herself booking a flight to Poland to find what her Babcia is looking for. With very little to go on she finds herself across the world trying to find answers to the limited context and clues she got from her grandmother (Babcia). All the while she is also balancing her own family life including a child well above average intelligence and one that is a nonverbal child on the autism spectrum. We see the true struggles of a special needs mom often in this story, but we also see the strength she has as well as the motivation she has to see her entire family survive and be well. I don’t want to say too much more, but the strength Alice has - clearly parallels that of her Babcia.
    Customer image
    Nikki Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2024
    The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    At the moment - I just finished this book less than 10 minutes ago - I find myself in a state of bittersweet awe. Tears have fallen. This story is a sad one, but also a fulfilled and emotionally full one. Much of this story is based on true events and the magnitude of those events cannot be passed by, nor should they ever be. This is a book I think every person should read. I believe it will be a reminder of what should never be forgotten as well as renewal of faith in humanity.

    This story was well executed. Thoroughly researched and well planned. I flew through this book with ease as the story was easy to follow - even across two timelines. WWII has so many stories still untold and this story combines the story of our heroine as well as the stories of her closer family and friends. Reading this book felt like I was living this story right along with her.

    Below contains some spoilers.

    We get to meet Alice, her family - including her Babcia (grandmother). Alice takes on the challenge of a no longer verbal Babcia to help her find peace during her end stages of life. This leads Alice on a journey she never dreamed of. In a quick reaction to circumstances Alice finds herself booking a flight to Poland to find what her Babcia is looking for. With very little to go on she finds herself across the world trying to find answers to the limited context and clues she got from her grandmother (Babcia). All the while she is also balancing her own family life including a child well above average intelligence and one that is a nonverbal child on the autism spectrum. We see the true struggles of a special needs mom often in this story, but we also see the strength she has as well as the motivation she has to see her entire family survive and be well. I don’t want to say too much more, but the strength Alice has - clearly parallels that of her Babcia.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
  • Evergreen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    I loved this book. It's an incredibly touching story of love and suffering and courage. Courage to live and courage to die. And an inspiring reminder of the suffering of so many at the hands of a monster regime. A reminder that we must ensure it never happens again.
  • pat wing
    4.0 out of 5 stars marvelous book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
    I loved this book and the story told in two different voices and time periods. The story was interesting, unique and well written.
  • Roger.
    5.0 out of 5 stars simply astounding.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2024
    I wouldn’t know where to begin. This is a multi faceted, very touching novel. Parts infuriated me. Parts brought tears to my eyes. Relatively easy to follow and woven together brilliantly. It’s a “smaller” world nowadays. What probably seemed worlds away in the early 40s is now so relatively easily accessible. And we come to learn that we are in so many ways alike, regardless the continent. Well, aside from the barbaric, incomprehensible brutes that brought about such horror during this period. I find delight when I read of any of them getting some of what they dished out. At any rate, this book is excellent
  • D Sue Kisseberth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent historical novel! It speaks of desperate times that can’t be forgotten, sacrifice, bravery, love and loss and resilience.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
    I can’t get enough of WWII historical novels and this one was particularly captivating, The suspense of not knowing what happened in the past combined with the unraveling of secrets in the present was riveting!
  • MARTHA PEARCE
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
    Such a compelling,well written story. Would highly recommend this book. A very sensitive account of the struggles of a family with such an amazing history.
  • Ashley Schlosser
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024
    I really enjoyed this book and I was so emotionally involved with the characters. A tear filled ending but so lovely.
  • Matthew T. Holt
    4.0 out of 5 stars It took a while
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2024
    This is a good read. Although a work of fiction, the storyline is perfectly plausible given the chaos and repeated cruelty visited on the Polish people during WWII. I don’t often feel emotional after finishing a book, but this one left me feeling a bit raw. And thankful for the easy life I have been fortunate to live.

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