We Don't Talk About Carol

Kristen L. Berry
58 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2025

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Book Brief

Kristen L. Berry

We Don't Talk About Carol

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2025
Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Mystery & Crime Fiction

•

Horror & Suspense

•

Historical Fiction
Theme
Grief

•

Memory

•

Race
First Publication Year

2025

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Reviews & Readership

4.0

25,272 ratings

78%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry offers a gripping exploration of familial secrets and resilience. Reviewers praise its compelling narrative and well-developed characters. However, some find the pacing uneven. Overall, Berry crafts an engaging story that resonates emotionally, though some narrative elements could benefit from refinement.

Who should read this

Who Should Read We Don't Talk About Carol?

Readers who enjoy Kristen L. Berry's We Don't Talk About Carol are drawn to complex family dynamics and dark humor. Comparable to Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere and Jonathan Tropper's This Is Where I Leave You, they enjoy narratives where family secrets unfold with wit and emotional depth.

4.0

25,272 ratings

78%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Character List

A former crime reporter and the novel's protagonist, who unearths family secrets while navigating her own journey of personal empowerment. Her investigation into her family's past is central to the plot.

The central mystery of the novel revolves around her 60-year disappearance. Her diary provides insights into her past, revealing her ambitions as a teenager and the life she constructed as an adult.

The novel's primary antagonist, who presents a charming exterior concealing a manipulative nature. His actions are pivotal to the story's central mystery.

Sydney and Sasha’s mother, who initially seems emotionally distant and strict but gradually reveals more depth as family tensions unfold. Her insistence on secrecy significantly impacts the family dynamic.

Sydney’s younger sister, who is emotionally expressive and has remained close to their mother. Her curiosity plays a crucial role in the unfolding investigation.

Sydney and Sasha’s deceased father, remembered for his volatile behavior and the impact it had on his family. His history is tied to unspoken family trauma.

A secondary antagonist and outcast whose backstory adds complexity to his role. Known for his unsettling demeanor, his actions are closely linked to the novel's central events.

Book Details
Pages

336

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Mystery & Crime Fiction

•

Horror & Suspense

•

Historical Fiction
Theme
Grief

•

Memory

•

Race
First Publication Year

2025

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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