What do you think?
Rate this book
I Meant to Tell You
When Miranda Isaacs’s fiancé, Russ Steinmann, is being vetted for his dream job in the U.S. attorney’s office, the couple joke about whether Miranda’s parents’ history as antiwar activists in the Sixties might jeopardize Russ’s security clearance. But as it turns out, the real threat emerges after Russ’s future employer discovers that Miranda was arrested for felony kidnapping seven years earlier – an arrest she’d never bothered to tell Russ about.
Miranda tries to explain that she was only helping her best friend, Ronit, in the midst of a nasty divorce and custody battle, take her daughter to visit her parents in Israel. Russ doesn’t see it quite as innocently. In a frantic search to persuade Russ that she’s not a criminal, Miranda either makes the situation worse or exposes other secrets and mysteries. Miranda’s stepfather – who has just revealed to her mother that he’s been having an affair—starts dropping cryptic hints about her biological father. On top of all that, Miranda is arrested again, this time for drunk driving.
With everything she thought she knew upended, Miranda must face the truth about her mother, herself, and her future marriage.
Miranda tries to explain that she was only helping her best friend, Ronit, in the midst of a nasty divorce and custody battle, take her daughter to visit her parents in Israel. Russ doesn’t see it quite as innocently. In a frantic search to persuade Russ that she’s not a criminal, Miranda either makes the situation worse or exposes other secrets and mysteries. Miranda’s stepfather – who has just revealed to her mother that he’s been having an affair—starts dropping cryptic hints about her biological father. On top of all that, Miranda is arrested again, this time for drunk driving.
With everything she thought she knew upended, Miranda must face the truth about her mother, herself, and her future marriage.
- GenresFictionWomens Fiction
260 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2022
About the author
Fran Hawthorne
14 books232 followersFran Hawthorne got sidetracked for three decades writing award-winning nonfiction, including eight books, mainly about consumer activism and business social responsibility. But she's been actually been writing novels since she was in elementary school.
Her newest -- I MEANT TO TELL YOU (Stephen F. Austin State University Press, November 2022) -- is a finalist for the ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD; the NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS (in both contemporary novel and women's fiction); the INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (in both literary and general fiction); and the SARTON AWARD for contemporary fiction. In addition, this novel has won the silver award for women's fiction and the bronze award for adult fiction in the FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS, and it is also a finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards/SOMERSET AWARD for literary and contemporary fiction.
Her newest -- I MEANT TO TELL YOU (Stephen F. Austin State University Press, November 2022) -- is a finalist for the ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD; the NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS (in both contemporary novel and women's fiction); the INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (in both literary and general fiction); and the SARTON AWARD for contemporary fiction. In addition, this novel has won the silver award for women's fiction and the bronze award for adult fiction in the FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS, and it is also a finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards/SOMERSET AWARD for literary and contemporary fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Currently reading
March 6, 2023(I'm taking the advice of my fellow Goodreads author, James)
Because I wrote this novel, I'm not going to rate or review it myself ! However, I'd like to share some reviews from Goodreads readers, with many thanks:
Nursebookie: "a truly heartbreaking and compelling read .. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic novel, with amazing characters, an immersive story line, and a page turning drama I just cannot get enough of."
Virginia: "Every voice in this book is crystal clear, and conversations all sound real enough to be the people at the next table in the restaurant. I grew very fond of Miranda and Judith, and my heart hurt for her as she went through all the painful truth-tellings. The plot moves quickly and easily between the present and past, setting up a series of little mysteries ...It would be fun to revisit Judith and Miranda and Russ today, 20 years after the events of the book, to see how they've progressed. I very much enjoyed this and will pass it along to my discerning reader friends."
Judy: "With compassion and insight, Hawthorne creates a believable, flawed cast of characters and invites you to explore their secrets with her. You may think differently about your own life and secrets after you read this absorbing novel."
Nancy: "With relatable, well-drawn characters and its exploration into the stories we tell and the stories we hide, I Meant to Tell You is a thoughtful and insightful book. The deepening layers of concealed stories draw you into the story like a mystery. Each character has their flaws and poor decisions, but we feel sympathy and kinship with them."
Miss W Book Reviews: "a thought-provoking book that really made me think about secrets and the effect they have on relationships."
Booksandcoffeemx: "A compelling and clever novel about lies and the effect they have in our lives even after several years. An easy to read, engaging and delightful story."
(for more, please see the Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... )
Because I wrote this novel, I'm not going to rate or review it myself ! However, I'd like to share some reviews from Goodreads readers, with many thanks:
Nursebookie: "a truly heartbreaking and compelling read .. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic novel, with amazing characters, an immersive story line, and a page turning drama I just cannot get enough of."
Virginia: "Every voice in this book is crystal clear, and conversations all sound real enough to be the people at the next table in the restaurant. I grew very fond of Miranda and Judith, and my heart hurt for her as she went through all the painful truth-tellings. The plot moves quickly and easily between the present and past, setting up a series of little mysteries ...It would be fun to revisit Judith and Miranda and Russ today, 20 years after the events of the book, to see how they've progressed. I very much enjoyed this and will pass it along to my discerning reader friends."
Judy: "With compassion and insight, Hawthorne creates a believable, flawed cast of characters and invites you to explore their secrets with her. You may think differently about your own life and secrets after you read this absorbing novel."
Nancy: "With relatable, well-drawn characters and its exploration into the stories we tell and the stories we hide, I Meant to Tell You is a thoughtful and insightful book. The deepening layers of concealed stories draw you into the story like a mystery. Each character has their flaws and poor decisions, but we feel sympathy and kinship with them."
Miss W Book Reviews: "a thought-provoking book that really made me think about secrets and the effect they have on relationships."
Booksandcoffeemx: "A compelling and clever novel about lies and the effect they have in our lives even after several years. An easy to read, engaging and delightful story."
(for more, please see the Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... )
April 7, 2023
I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne is a medium paced contemporary read that will have you peek into our lead's world as it flips on it's head.
Miranda Isaac seems to have the perfect life. She gets along with her family, her fiancé, Russ, is going after his dream job, and she's getting married soon. But all of that unwinds when Russ Steinmann's job requests security clearance of Miranda and her family. Miranda's secret about helping her friend kidnap her young child comes out, which is something she never told Russ. She tries to explain that she was helping her friend Ronit out of good intentions - her husband was abusive and trying to take their child away from them. But does that make everything right? Not so much.
In Miranda's pursuit of fixing her relationship, things go off the rails. Her life begins to spiral and she learns things about herself and her family that she would have never imagined to be true.
This book will pull at your heartstrings! There's heartbreak, there's compassion, and there's so much empathy in a book like this. Fran Hawthorne has crafted a book that reads so smoothly and easily, but also makes you want to shake the characters by their shoulders as if they are a good friend and yell at them. The book battles between what's right and ethics, which is also very interesting. At times, you know what is going on isn't the right path by society's standards but it feels right by the heart. You might even question if you would follow the same actions yourself (even if some of them aren't bright decisions). Would you hide big secrets from your family to protect them? When is the right time to tell them those big secrets? How might it affect your relationship? This book brings those questions up and does its best to show one of many opportunities for how it could go oh so utterly wrong.
We all have secrets, that's for certain. And this book welcomes us into Miranda's. Miranda feels very real and I just want to give her a hug. Fran made her very relatable, almost as if she is my friend or my neighbour. Her Mother Judith is also very relatable when you begin to read more about her as well. The book really shows how relationships can ebb and flow, and change over time. Then throw in Russ and his family (and legacy), and the spider web builds.
Also, the title is spot on. It really highlights quite a few characters in this story and things they probably should have told everyone else at some point.
Overall, this is truly a mesmerizing novel. It's a great contemporary read that is easy to read but will also bring some feels out.
Five out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Fran Hawthorne, in exchange for an honest review.
Miranda Isaac seems to have the perfect life. She gets along with her family, her fiancé, Russ, is going after his dream job, and she's getting married soon. But all of that unwinds when Russ Steinmann's job requests security clearance of Miranda and her family. Miranda's secret about helping her friend kidnap her young child comes out, which is something she never told Russ. She tries to explain that she was helping her friend Ronit out of good intentions - her husband was abusive and trying to take their child away from them. But does that make everything right? Not so much.
In Miranda's pursuit of fixing her relationship, things go off the rails. Her life begins to spiral and she learns things about herself and her family that she would have never imagined to be true.
This book will pull at your heartstrings! There's heartbreak, there's compassion, and there's so much empathy in a book like this. Fran Hawthorne has crafted a book that reads so smoothly and easily, but also makes you want to shake the characters by their shoulders as if they are a good friend and yell at them. The book battles between what's right and ethics, which is also very interesting. At times, you know what is going on isn't the right path by society's standards but it feels right by the heart. You might even question if you would follow the same actions yourself (even if some of them aren't bright decisions). Would you hide big secrets from your family to protect them? When is the right time to tell them those big secrets? How might it affect your relationship? This book brings those questions up and does its best to show one of many opportunities for how it could go oh so utterly wrong.
We all have secrets, that's for certain. And this book welcomes us into Miranda's. Miranda feels very real and I just want to give her a hug. Fran made her very relatable, almost as if she is my friend or my neighbour. Her Mother Judith is also very relatable when you begin to read more about her as well. The book really shows how relationships can ebb and flow, and change over time. Then throw in Russ and his family (and legacy), and the spider web builds.
Also, the title is spot on. It really highlights quite a few characters in this story and things they probably should have told everyone else at some point.
Overall, this is truly a mesmerizing novel. It's a great contemporary read that is easy to read but will also bring some feels out.
Five out of five stars.
I received this book for free from the author, Fran Hawthorne, in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 22, 2022Sure, we all have secrets. That speeding ticket. (It was one time! I was lost in Detroit!) The doll shoes you stole from your cousin when you were eight and your doll was shoeless. (Sorry, cousin Debbie!) Not to mention that mad woman in the attic who just happens to be your wife. (That didn’t happen to me.)
Those sins of omissions, just not mentioning something you did long ago, don’t usually impact your life. But sometimes, they catch up with you and threaten to derail everything. “I meant to tell you,” but once upon a time I did something that I was too embarrassed to tell you about.
Fran Hawthorne’s characters in I Meant to Tell You become ensnared by the legacy of their own past actions, choices they have kept secret. Miranda and Russ are planning their wedding. Russ has applied for his dream job as an assistant U. S. attorney in the District of Columbia. Background checks bring to light Miranda’s arrest years previous when she tried to help a friend leave her abusive husband. But the secrets don’t end there. Miranda’s mother, and Russ himself, are revealed to have withheld vital information, threatening their relationships.
Miranda’s family legacy of political activism takes the story into the 1960s antiwar movement, her mother fabricating an idealist father who fought for justice. Miranda’s Israeli college friend married a man who becomes abusive, and Miranda agreed to drive her and her child to the airport, only to discover the husband had alerted police, accusing them of kidnapping of his child. And Russ’s estrangement from his father has its own dark legacy.
With relatable, well-drawn characters and it’s exploration into the stories we tell and the stories we hide, I Meant to Tell You is a thoughtful and insightful book. The deepening layers of concealed stories draw you into the story like a mystery. Each character has their flaws and poor decisions, but we feel sympathy and kinship with them. Central is the need for forgiveness, aware that we err but we can grow through mistakes and become whole, healthy people.
I received an ARC through Caitlin Hamilton Marketing in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Those sins of omissions, just not mentioning something you did long ago, don’t usually impact your life. But sometimes, they catch up with you and threaten to derail everything. “I meant to tell you,” but once upon a time I did something that I was too embarrassed to tell you about.
Fran Hawthorne’s characters in I Meant to Tell You become ensnared by the legacy of their own past actions, choices they have kept secret. Miranda and Russ are planning their wedding. Russ has applied for his dream job as an assistant U. S. attorney in the District of Columbia. Background checks bring to light Miranda’s arrest years previous when she tried to help a friend leave her abusive husband. But the secrets don’t end there. Miranda’s mother, and Russ himself, are revealed to have withheld vital information, threatening their relationships.
Miranda’s family legacy of political activism takes the story into the 1960s antiwar movement, her mother fabricating an idealist father who fought for justice. Miranda’s Israeli college friend married a man who becomes abusive, and Miranda agreed to drive her and her child to the airport, only to discover the husband had alerted police, accusing them of kidnapping of his child. And Russ’s estrangement from his father has its own dark legacy.
With relatable, well-drawn characters and it’s exploration into the stories we tell and the stories we hide, I Meant to Tell You is a thoughtful and insightful book. The deepening layers of concealed stories draw you into the story like a mystery. Each character has their flaws and poor decisions, but we feel sympathy and kinship with them. Central is the need for forgiveness, aware that we err but we can grow through mistakes and become whole, healthy people.
I received an ARC through Caitlin Hamilton Marketing in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
August 22, 2022
I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne pulled me in from the very start. Compelling story as well as an excellent look at how well we know our friends and family, and ourselves.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book and I think readers will likely emphasize the part that spoke most to them. While for me it was the idea of secrets, or even just not full disclosure. Yet I was invested in the characters, not just Miranda. I liked watching how friendships connect, disconnect, and sometimes reconnect. And I was absolutely interested in how things would resolve.
Back to my main takeaway: secrets. It is often said that if you tell a lie you're usually compelled to tell more to support the first one. It seems to hold true for having a secret exposed, eventually other secrets, or at least moments of uncertainty from those who felt betrayed, seem to follow. I believe in almost total openness in a relationship but also understand that some so-called secrets are omissions without intent to keep a secret. The interesting part is where that line is drawn. Hawthorne makes, for me, that line hard to locate.
I also found the ways in which the characters interacted made me think about how we all sometimes act. Good intentions don't always give good results. We can make mistakes, sometimes legal mistakes, when we feel our lives spiraling out of control. Unthinkingly we can do something that is out of character and we kick ourselves for it. But understanding and condoning are two different things.
I think this would be an ideal book group read because there is plenty of things to talk about and maybe reconsider. I would enjoy hearing from those who took a different path into the book, or who viewed the idea of secrets in a way unlike mine.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book and I think readers will likely emphasize the part that spoke most to them. While for me it was the idea of secrets, or even just not full disclosure. Yet I was invested in the characters, not just Miranda. I liked watching how friendships connect, disconnect, and sometimes reconnect. And I was absolutely interested in how things would resolve.
Back to my main takeaway: secrets. It is often said that if you tell a lie you're usually compelled to tell more to support the first one. It seems to hold true for having a secret exposed, eventually other secrets, or at least moments of uncertainty from those who felt betrayed, seem to follow. I believe in almost total openness in a relationship but also understand that some so-called secrets are omissions without intent to keep a secret. The interesting part is where that line is drawn. Hawthorne makes, for me, that line hard to locate.
I also found the ways in which the characters interacted made me think about how we all sometimes act. Good intentions don't always give good results. We can make mistakes, sometimes legal mistakes, when we feel our lives spiraling out of control. Unthinkingly we can do something that is out of character and we kick ourselves for it. But understanding and condoning are two different things.
I think this would be an ideal book group read because there is plenty of things to talk about and maybe reconsider. I would enjoy hearing from those who took a different path into the book, or who viewed the idea of secrets in a way unlike mine.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 20, 2022
TITLE: I MEANT TO TELL YOU
AUTHOR: Fran Hawthorne
PUB DATE: 08.23.2022 Now Available
Fran Hawthorne’s writing of complex family dynamics and the way lies and secrets fester and bites, makes for a truly heartbreaking and compelling read in I MEANT TO TELL YOU.
The book is about, “When Miranda Isaacs’s fiancé, Russ Steinmann, is being vetted for his dream job in the U.S. attorney’s office, the couple joke about whether Miranda’s parents’ history as antiwar activists in the Sixties might jeopardize Russ’s security clearance. But as it turns out, the real threat emerges after Russ’s future employer discovers that Miranda was arrested for felony kidnapping seven years earlier – an arrest she’d never bothered to tell Russ about. With everything she thought she knew upended, Miranda must face the truth about her mother, herself, and her future marriage”.
I could only imagine this book being read in a book club, it really would make a for a lively discussion, as the truths are revealed, the can of worms emerge to light, with untoward consequences from the past.
I throughly enjoyed this fantastic novel, with amazing characters, an immersive story line, and a page turning drama I just cannot get enough of. Brava to Fran Hawthorne!
AUTHOR: Fran Hawthorne
PUB DATE: 08.23.2022 Now Available
Fran Hawthorne’s writing of complex family dynamics and the way lies and secrets fester and bites, makes for a truly heartbreaking and compelling read in I MEANT TO TELL YOU.
The book is about, “When Miranda Isaacs’s fiancé, Russ Steinmann, is being vetted for his dream job in the U.S. attorney’s office, the couple joke about whether Miranda’s parents’ history as antiwar activists in the Sixties might jeopardize Russ’s security clearance. But as it turns out, the real threat emerges after Russ’s future employer discovers that Miranda was arrested for felony kidnapping seven years earlier – an arrest she’d never bothered to tell Russ about. With everything she thought she knew upended, Miranda must face the truth about her mother, herself, and her future marriage”.
I could only imagine this book being read in a book club, it really would make a for a lively discussion, as the truths are revealed, the can of worms emerge to light, with untoward consequences from the past.
I throughly enjoyed this fantastic novel, with amazing characters, an immersive story line, and a page turning drama I just cannot get enough of. Brava to Fran Hawthorne!
August 19, 2022
Reading an author for the first time is always a surprise, this one was a good and charming one! Hawthorne has interwoven 2 generations in the same family., and shares their stories and secrets with the reader. The stories are both fascinating and the characters are likable.
Miranda has “forgotten “ to share a story of a long ago misdemeanor with her fiancé. Her reminder comes when he is being vetted by the FBI for a government job. As the story unfolds, she stumbles into keeping more secrets. The reader learns that secrets are in the DNA of her family when her own parental history is unfurled. Her mother, Judith, has kept quite big secrets as well. I loved both stories. Honestly, I related to Judith (my generation) even more than to Miranda. I loved all these family members and I would love to share their stories with my book groups.
I think that most of my readers and friends will enjoy this novel. In reading the acknowledgments, I noticed the name of a friend and colleague who has passed away. I was incredibly touched by the author’s recollection.
Thank you Netgalley for this delightful novel.
Miranda has “forgotten “ to share a story of a long ago misdemeanor with her fiancé. Her reminder comes when he is being vetted by the FBI for a government job. As the story unfolds, she stumbles into keeping more secrets. The reader learns that secrets are in the DNA of her family when her own parental history is unfurled. Her mother, Judith, has kept quite big secrets as well. I loved both stories. Honestly, I related to Judith (my generation) even more than to Miranda. I loved all these family members and I would love to share their stories with my book groups.
I think that most of my readers and friends will enjoy this novel. In reading the acknowledgments, I noticed the name of a friend and colleague who has passed away. I was incredibly touched by the author’s recollection.
Thank you Netgalley for this delightful novel.
November 11, 2022
A compelling read about relationships, family,friends and the secrets we keep. For Miranda,her world starts to turn upside down when the vetting process for the new postion her fiance Russ is taking. It uncovers things about Miranda's past that she never told him about. More secrets come to light with Miranda's family. This brings to the surface how well do we really know someone. There is so much that happens in this. This was a quick read with a compelling plot. I loved it.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
February 16, 2023
To what extent are we liable for actions we took years ago? Are we still the same person we were forty years ago, or even last week? While reading this book I reexamined my part in helping a friend get physical possession of her two small children from a controlling husband many years ago, a situation slightly similar to the one Miranda finds herself in 7 years before this book begins. I was doing the right thing, as Miranda certainly was, but it wasn’t in any way legal, although this wasn’t a concern to me at the time. I felt so deeply for Miranda and her lovely mother Judith - how very many hoops we have to jump through both in our relationships with partners and with our children. It’s always a good time to tell the truth, but it never feels like a good time to tell a painful truth. "Sometimes lying really is the best of a set of lousy choices” although every secret comes to the surface here. Every voice in this book is crystal clear, and conversations all sound real enough to be the people at the next table in the restaurant. I grew very fond of Miranda and Judith, and my heart hurt for her as she went through all the painful truth-tellings. The plot moves quickly and easily between the present and past, setting up a series of little mysteries that are all resolved in the end. It would be fun to revisit Judith and Miranda and Russ today, 20 years after the events of the book, to see how they've progressed. I very much enjoyed this and will pass it along to my discerning reader friends. 5 stars.
January 17, 2023
Miranda’s fiancé Russ, is going through the process of obtaining security clearance for his job, when the FBI discovers that Miranda was arrested for felony kidnapping a decade before. She’d never mentioned it to Russ, and so begins this story about the lies we tell ourselves and others. In “I Meant to Tell you,” each of the main characters has concocted a story about themselves that differs from what might have actually happened, and each pay a price for obfuscating the truth.
Well-written, wonderful story about relationships, trust, and memory. I was honored to interview the author for the New Books Network (if you need more reasons to read this book!) https://newbooksnetwork.com/i-meant-t...
Well-written, wonderful story about relationships, trust, and memory. I was honored to interview the author for the New Books Network (if you need more reasons to read this book!) https://newbooksnetwork.com/i-meant-t...
April 1, 2023
# Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to the author for my copy.
This was an enjoyable read. I loved the characters. They seemed all the more real for their foibles. I found myself slowing my reading to savor the book & to delay leaving these people behind.
Lots of food for thought on the lies, omissions & general spin we use in our lives.
This was an enjoyable read. I loved the characters. They seemed all the more real for their foibles. I found myself slowing my reading to savor the book & to delay leaving these people behind.
Lots of food for thought on the lies, omissions & general spin we use in our lives.
June 9, 2023
Miranda has failed to tell her fiancé, Russ, that she was arrested for kidnapping. It all comes out as he is being vetted for his dream job at the U.S. attorney’s office. Her sure future now looks less sure and her life is now in shambles. But, she is determined that Russ understands her reasoning and save her engagement. But, the more she works to prove herself the more secrets she discovers about her life.
Well, Miranda has found herself in a mess! Even though she makes things worse on more than one occasion, she never gives up. She fights!
Not only did I enjoy Miranda but I love how this author takes you through so many amazing historical events, the civil rights and the Iraq war, just to name a few. And the secrets…this is a maze of a tale and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Need a good family saga…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
Well, Miranda has found herself in a mess! Even though she makes things worse on more than one occasion, she never gives up. She fights!
Not only did I enjoy Miranda but I love how this author takes you through so many amazing historical events, the civil rights and the Iraq war, just to name a few. And the secrets…this is a maze of a tale and I enjoyed every minute of it!
Need a good family saga…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
September 2, 2024
Family drama and secrets
"I Meant to Tell You" by Fran Hawthorne delves into the complexities of secrets within relationships, particularly marriage. Miranda Isaacs grapples with her own deceit towards her fiancé, triggered by her fiancé's job application process, which uncovers hidden truths. As Miranda navigates her future marriage, she becomes entangled in her family's long-held secrets, including her father's mysterious past. The novel shifts between Miranda's modern-day struggles and her parents' experiences during the 1960s, offering insights into generational relationships. Despite initial difficulties relating to Miranda, the intertwined timelines and vivid settings captivate, prompting reflection on universal themes of truth, deception, and family legacies.
"I Meant to Tell You" by Fran Hawthorne delves into the complexities of secrets within relationships, particularly marriage. Miranda Isaacs grapples with her own deceit towards her fiancé, triggered by her fiancé's job application process, which uncovers hidden truths. As Miranda navigates her future marriage, she becomes entangled in her family's long-held secrets, including her father's mysterious past. The novel shifts between Miranda's modern-day struggles and her parents' experiences during the 1960s, offering insights into generational relationships. Despite initial difficulties relating to Miranda, the intertwined timelines and vivid settings captivate, prompting reflection on universal themes of truth, deception, and family legacies.
January 30, 2023
I Meant To Tell You explores the toll that is taken when you keep secrets, and when you reveal them.
The story is comprised of three women’s stories: the protagonist Miranda and, sandwiched between Miranda’s chapters, her old friend Ronit and her mother, Judith.
The novel opens with a high-impact flashback as Miranda and Ronit are arrested while Ronit and her young daughter Tali are attempting to flee the country and Ronit’s abusive husband, Tim. It then settles into a slower-paced rhythm as we learn about Miranda’s job at a D.C. think tank studying health insurance costs, and her engagement to Russ, who is as socially conscious as she is.
When Miranda neglects to tell Russ about her prior arrest for attempted kidnapping, it threatens his security clearance and his career, and drives a wedge between them. So begins Miranda’s slow spiral into subtly self-destructive behavior based on an ever-growing web of lies.
Nearly half-way into the book, the author jumps to Ronit’s story for a good chunk of time. It might have been less jarring to enter Ronit’s world earlier in the novel, but I understand the 3-part structure the author was going for. This section depicts Ronit’s and Tali’s everyday life, and Tim’s horrifying transgressions against Ronit.
Judith becomes an increasingly important character, and I was excited to read her section near the end. It did not disappoint. Judith reveals a long-held secret about Miranda’s father that throws Miranda for a major loop. This part of the plot drives home how important it is for kids to know where they come from, and how much our home lives shape our identities whether we acknowledge it or not.
Miranda comes from a long line of activists and changing the world for the better is her passion. I enjoyed the exploration of the power and, paradoxically, the impotence, of fighting for equality through protests and other peaceful demonstrations.
The story is also a wonderful immersion into Washington, D.C., culture, from the politics and history to the tourist attractions and natural beauty. Much of the writing is lovely, with strong analogies and memorable voices, especially the obnoxious Tim’s.
In the end, I Meant To Tell You is about secrets. It pushes the reader to question which type of secrets are valid to keep and why. And it’s a stark reminder that we all have secrets of one kind or another. As one character says, “No one over the age of two is ever one hundred percent honest with anyone else, no matter how close they are.”
The story is comprised of three women’s stories: the protagonist Miranda and, sandwiched between Miranda’s chapters, her old friend Ronit and her mother, Judith.
The novel opens with a high-impact flashback as Miranda and Ronit are arrested while Ronit and her young daughter Tali are attempting to flee the country and Ronit’s abusive husband, Tim. It then settles into a slower-paced rhythm as we learn about Miranda’s job at a D.C. think tank studying health insurance costs, and her engagement to Russ, who is as socially conscious as she is.
When Miranda neglects to tell Russ about her prior arrest for attempted kidnapping, it threatens his security clearance and his career, and drives a wedge between them. So begins Miranda’s slow spiral into subtly self-destructive behavior based on an ever-growing web of lies.
Nearly half-way into the book, the author jumps to Ronit’s story for a good chunk of time. It might have been less jarring to enter Ronit’s world earlier in the novel, but I understand the 3-part structure the author was going for. This section depicts Ronit’s and Tali’s everyday life, and Tim’s horrifying transgressions against Ronit.
Judith becomes an increasingly important character, and I was excited to read her section near the end. It did not disappoint. Judith reveals a long-held secret about Miranda’s father that throws Miranda for a major loop. This part of the plot drives home how important it is for kids to know where they come from, and how much our home lives shape our identities whether we acknowledge it or not.
Miranda comes from a long line of activists and changing the world for the better is her passion. I enjoyed the exploration of the power and, paradoxically, the impotence, of fighting for equality through protests and other peaceful demonstrations.
The story is also a wonderful immersion into Washington, D.C., culture, from the politics and history to the tourist attractions and natural beauty. Much of the writing is lovely, with strong analogies and memorable voices, especially the obnoxious Tim’s.
In the end, I Meant To Tell You is about secrets. It pushes the reader to question which type of secrets are valid to keep and why. And it’s a stark reminder that we all have secrets of one kind or another. As one character says, “No one over the age of two is ever one hundred percent honest with anyone else, no matter how close they are.”
January 10, 2024
I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne is a contemporary women's fiction with some forays into the history surrounding the demonstrations during the Vietnam War era. More importantly, it is about a woman named Miranda who must come to terms with her past - both the past she has tried to keep secret and the past that has been kept secret from her.
Hawthorne made me think about what I would do to keep my mistakes hidden from others or what others might do if they found out about my skeletons. She also made me consider how I would handle learning about someone else's secrets - especially if those secrets were meaningful to me.
Can love survive the past? And when is it okay to tell a few white lies to gloss over the details of the past? I Meant To Tell You may just have the answers.
Hawthorne made me think about what I would do to keep my mistakes hidden from others or what others might do if they found out about my skeletons. She also made me consider how I would handle learning about someone else's secrets - especially if those secrets were meaningful to me.
Can love survive the past? And when is it okay to tell a few white lies to gloss over the details of the past? I Meant To Tell You may just have the answers.
December 6, 2023
"How many secrets could a marriage survive?” Miranda Isaacs asks herself this question when she faces a situation where she isn’t yet married but already a liar. Still, although the fact that she hasn’t been open with her fiancée is undeniable, she can’t reconcile with being called a liar. What she hadn’t told the man she plans to marry could have never surfaced at all. If he hadn’t been aiming at the job of his dreams in the U.S. attorney’s office, he and those close to him wouldn’t have been subjected to the strictest check. Alas, such checks are performed by high-class professionals from whom you can’t hide a needle in a haystack, let alone an arrest for child kidnapping.
“How many arrests could a marriage survive?" Miranda asks herself next. But before she can submit to despair – with her upcoming marriage being a fraction from cancelling and the man she loves requesting they take a break – she is drawn into the whirlpool of family secrets her mother had been keeping from her all three decades of her life.
“Forever nineteen and a half. Itching to rev the engine and join the Revolution. Summer of 1968, so he would’ve been heading to Chicago, to the big demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention.” This is the image Miranda has of her father whom she’d never met. The father who died when she was six months old. The father whom her mom has raised her to worship as a hero.
I won’t lie: most of all, I enjoyed the story of Miranda’s parents. I’ve always been fascinated by family secrets that get uncovered by unsuspecting descendants. And the story of Judith and Jerry, living their youth during the turbulent epoch of the 60s in America, is absolutely fascinating.
I couldn’t really relate to Miranda, for the reasons why she lied to her fiancée didn’t become clear to me. But I found it extremely intriguing to follow her – often erratic and unreasonable – actions while she desperately tried to sort out the troubles in her own life and come to terms with revelations about her parents.
In "I Meant to Tell You" by Fran Hawthorne, timelines and characters’ lives interweave, making the reader look at the events from different angles and reassess them as they read on. The settings – New York of the 60s and Washington of the 2000s – came alive on the pages for me. I walked the streets of New York with protesters against the war in Vietnam and trudged the alleys in the US capital with anti-Iraq war demonstrators, feeling how similar every generation’s aspirations and worries are.
“How many arrests could a marriage survive?" Miranda asks herself next. But before she can submit to despair – with her upcoming marriage being a fraction from cancelling and the man she loves requesting they take a break – she is drawn into the whirlpool of family secrets her mother had been keeping from her all three decades of her life.
“Forever nineteen and a half. Itching to rev the engine and join the Revolution. Summer of 1968, so he would’ve been heading to Chicago, to the big demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention.” This is the image Miranda has of her father whom she’d never met. The father who died when she was six months old. The father whom her mom has raised her to worship as a hero.
I won’t lie: most of all, I enjoyed the story of Miranda’s parents. I’ve always been fascinated by family secrets that get uncovered by unsuspecting descendants. And the story of Judith and Jerry, living their youth during the turbulent epoch of the 60s in America, is absolutely fascinating.
I couldn’t really relate to Miranda, for the reasons why she lied to her fiancée didn’t become clear to me. But I found it extremely intriguing to follow her – often erratic and unreasonable – actions while she desperately tried to sort out the troubles in her own life and come to terms with revelations about her parents.
In "I Meant to Tell You" by Fran Hawthorne, timelines and characters’ lives interweave, making the reader look at the events from different angles and reassess them as they read on. The settings – New York of the 60s and Washington of the 2000s – came alive on the pages for me. I walked the streets of New York with protesters against the war in Vietnam and trudged the alleys in the US capital with anti-Iraq war demonstrators, feeling how similar every generation’s aspirations and worries are.
November 30, 2022
Fran Hawthorne's new novel, I Meant to Tell You, starts with the disclosure of a little secret and follows the ripple effects of that disclosure back through years and relationships.
Miranda and Russ are engaged to be married and Russ is ready to start a new job in the U.S. Attorney's office. As part of a routine FBI background check, both must disclose any criminal history. Miranda had never told Russ that years earlier, she tried to help a friend and her child leave the US for Israel during her friend's nasty divorce. Although Miranda did not know this trip was illegal, is was, and she and her friend were arrested at the airport. Miranda was sentenced for a misdemeanor, which was later expunged. Because the conviction was not on her record, she didn't mention it to Russ or the FBI. Big mistake.
The story unspools from there. Other family and marital secrets come to light. The characters wrestle with the ethical dilemmas created by balancing secrecy and honesty. Hawthorne narrates the book through the multiple voices of those involved. The story remains upbeat and it is a fairly quick read, but provides food for thought. It would be a terrific book club pick.
I Meant to Tell You launched this month, in time for holiday gift giving. It is Fran Hawthorne's second novel after her 2018 debut, The Heirs.
Miranda and Russ are engaged to be married and Russ is ready to start a new job in the U.S. Attorney's office. As part of a routine FBI background check, both must disclose any criminal history. Miranda had never told Russ that years earlier, she tried to help a friend and her child leave the US for Israel during her friend's nasty divorce. Although Miranda did not know this trip was illegal, is was, and she and her friend were arrested at the airport. Miranda was sentenced for a misdemeanor, which was later expunged. Because the conviction was not on her record, she didn't mention it to Russ or the FBI. Big mistake.
The story unspools from there. Other family and marital secrets come to light. The characters wrestle with the ethical dilemmas created by balancing secrecy and honesty. Hawthorne narrates the book through the multiple voices of those involved. The story remains upbeat and it is a fairly quick read, but provides food for thought. It would be a terrific book club pick.
I Meant to Tell You launched this month, in time for holiday gift giving. It is Fran Hawthorne's second novel after her 2018 debut, The Heirs.
May 5, 2023
Did you ever tell a little white lie, or perhaps an omission of the truth to someone? Did you ever embellish the truth of something? In “I Meant to Tell You” by Author Fran Hawthorne, these are the themes in this fictional novel. The author writes with compassion and empathy. This is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that shows cause and effect.
The genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past regarding the events or characters. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. The author discusses loyalty’s importance in friendship, honesty, and communication. When the protagonist of the story, Miranda Isaacs’s fiance. The FBI is investigating Russ for a job, and an omission of the truth from her past surfaces. Miranda had been helping her friend, Ronit, and her baby to escape an abusive relationship. The problem was that Ronit wanted to go home to Israel, leading to Kidnapping charges for Miranda and Ronit. Miranda tries to explain the situation to Russ or feels betrayed.
Fran Hawthorne shows us secrets, omissions, and embellishments through the story that show the effects. It was intriguing when the author brought us back to the Vietnam demonstrations. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel to others.
The genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past regarding the events or characters. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. The author discusses loyalty’s importance in friendship, honesty, and communication. When the protagonist of the story, Miranda Isaacs’s fiance. The FBI is investigating Russ for a job, and an omission of the truth from her past surfaces. Miranda had been helping her friend, Ronit, and her baby to escape an abusive relationship. The problem was that Ronit wanted to go home to Israel, leading to Kidnapping charges for Miranda and Ronit. Miranda tries to explain the situation to Russ or feels betrayed.
Fran Hawthorne shows us secrets, omissions, and embellishments through the story that show the effects. It was intriguing when the author brought us back to the Vietnam demonstrations. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel to others.
June 5, 2023
What a thought provoking book. When our main character Miranda withholds one truth, all the secrets that come to surface in her life. We all keep things to ourselves, but at what point is a secret a lie and when does it go from a white lie to whopper? At what point do these lies become our truths and stop being lies to us?
Frannie has a moment with a stranger and this passage gave me pause. "How many (lies) do you tell over a lifetime? Scores of little white ones, but the whoppers? Probably no more than one or two. And they are so big and outrageous that that no one would dream you are capable of something like that, so there's no suspicions, no confrontation. It's those scores of little lies that you can't keep track of, week after week, that erode your relationships." Wow, is that ever the truth. I am sure this will come to mind the next time a white lie pops out of my mouth.
When it came down to it, I am not sure I liked any of the characters. They were all quite judgey and hypocritical as they judged each other while still holding fast to their secrets. But without all that, you don't have the book.
This one could spark a great book club debate without ever asking a question about specific secrets. It really does have me thinking about the lies I hear and the secrets I keep.
Frannie has a moment with a stranger and this passage gave me pause. "How many (lies) do you tell over a lifetime? Scores of little white ones, but the whoppers? Probably no more than one or two. And they are so big and outrageous that that no one would dream you are capable of something like that, so there's no suspicions, no confrontation. It's those scores of little lies that you can't keep track of, week after week, that erode your relationships." Wow, is that ever the truth. I am sure this will come to mind the next time a white lie pops out of my mouth.
When it came down to it, I am not sure I liked any of the characters. They were all quite judgey and hypocritical as they judged each other while still holding fast to their secrets. But without all that, you don't have the book.
This one could spark a great book club debate without ever asking a question about specific secrets. It really does have me thinking about the lies I hear and the secrets I keep.
December 15, 2022
All of us keep secrets, even from those closest to us, those who think they can trust us. Miranda Isaacs’ trouble is that her secrets are big—like a felony kidnapping charge and a DUI. When fiancé Russ Steinmann almost loses a much sought-after government job because of her security clearance problems, Miranda discovers a truth about all secrets—not only do they tend to spiral wider and wider, but she is not the only one with secrets. Big ones. How, she wants to know, did the secrets begin, and how do they shape her life? Where does she find out?
Is it meeting with Ronit, the long-ago friend who involved her in the kidnapping, and learning Ronit’s secret? Is it in the Brooklyn neighborhood where her mother grew up, fell in love with a peace protestor, and committed to living a lie for a lifetime? Is it the running path she and Russ shared and finding that he, too, has secrets? Fran Hawthorne is too good a writer to tie everything up in a neat package. She knows—and Miranda learns—secrets don’t just go away.
With compassion and insight, Hawthorne creates a believable, flawed cast of characters and invites you to explore their secrets with her. You may think differently about your own life and secrets after you read this absorbing novel.
November 27, 2022
This novel dives into how secrets and omissions can have a ripple effect and the ethical side of when someone might feel it is ok to keep a secret. Often secrets are not meant to hurt anyone and when is it really a good time to broach such a subject in a relationship or when confronting a past? Miranda discovers this when her fiancé needs high clearance for a job and what they find is a little shocking to Russ but is the charge really as bad as it is titled? Years ago, Miranda was only helping a friend out of a bad situation and go caught in the middle. While her and Russ are working on figuring out their next steps, she finds out that her mother had a few omissions of her own as well. Finding out about her mother's past is making her realize that everyone has secrets and omissions and what a ripple effect it can cause when found out. This novel dives into the ethics of how secrets and omissions can affect others, and years later and if there really is a right time to divulge these to others who they could hurt or affect. Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite and to the author for the free novel.
May 16, 2023
"I Meant to Tell You" is an exceptional novel that explores the struggles of a hard-working family across generations, while depicting significant historical events like the Civil Rights movement, The Triangle Factory fire, and the Iraq war. Fran's writing style is breathtaking, capturing the beautiful intricacies of the Jewish community with grace and poignancy. The themes of love, secrecy, deception, and forgiveness are masterfully woven into the story, and will leave readers gasping as layers of secrets and betrayals are exposed. Fran's use of vivid descriptions, such as "her flesh vibrated like a thousand harp strings" and "the highway guardrails glided by like ribbons unfurling," adds a poetic touch to the narrative. I was captivated from the first page and couldn't put the book down, reading it cover-to-cover during a five-hour flight. "I Meant to Tell You" is a true gem and showcases Fran's exceptional talent as a writer.
June 3, 2023
An engrossing read with lots of family drama, hidden secrets and a would be wedding all rolled into one! We sometimes thinks our pasts will stay in the past. Sometimes we feel so strongly about the reasons that the events that happened, or are not wrong! The author did a very good job detailing a family’s past events and secrets that start to make you wonder….what really is right or wrong. When and if, do the secrets need to be revealed? The secrets we keep are sometimes judged very harshly by others. This book is told through three person’s eye views. Once I started this book, I found it very hard to put down. What may be crimes to some, can be an act of compassion to another. Perceptions of secrets and lies can differ from person to person. After reading this book, I asked myself these questions… How important is it to be completely honest about our pasts? Who can we hurt or who will our pasts help? Thanks to the author for auch a captivating and engrossing book!
November 15, 2022
This book is full of drama, drama, drama in multiple timelines.
The book is mainly told in Miranda’s point of view from 2003, but we get two other timelines and points of view. Ronit, Miranda’s friend since college, and Judith, Miranda’s mom, both tell bits of their own dramas in earlier timelines that all wrap the plot together nicely.
The book has such a perfect title as there are secrets being guarded that most of us would see as crucial life information which most of the characters are holding out on those they love.
This book is a quick read and bring to the forefront many issues besides big secrets. The book touches on political protests, healthcare, abuse, infidelity, and family dynamics.
This would be a fabulous book club or buddy read because lots of great discussions could grow root from this book.
The book is mainly told in Miranda’s point of view from 2003, but we get two other timelines and points of view. Ronit, Miranda’s friend since college, and Judith, Miranda’s mom, both tell bits of their own dramas in earlier timelines that all wrap the plot together nicely.
The book has such a perfect title as there are secrets being guarded that most of us would see as crucial life information which most of the characters are holding out on those they love.
This book is a quick read and bring to the forefront many issues besides big secrets. The book touches on political protests, healthcare, abuse, infidelity, and family dynamics.
This would be a fabulous book club or buddy read because lots of great discussions could grow root from this book.
September 4, 2022
Everyone has secrets. Miranda's fiance is up for a promotion. She has been keeping something from him. Years ago, she helped her friend , Ronit, try to leave the country with her daughter. They were stopped and the felony was dropped. He then finds out she recently had a DUI. It's too much. They need time apart. Back at her mother's home, she finds out more secrets.
I was really upset with Ronit. She was an awful friend. Miranda put her future in jeopardy and Don't never contacted her nor was she open about what happened after they were arrested.
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC.
I was really upset with Ronit. She was an awful friend. Miranda put her future in jeopardy and Don't never contacted her nor was she open about what happened after they were arrested.
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC.
November 28, 2022
This is the perfect title for this book. I’m guessing that most of us have things we should have shared with others along the way. This story was compelling and I was hooked right out of the gate. Withholding information or lie(s) of omission vs telling an untruth might not seem as bad on the surface but the longer it’s withheld the tougher it is to share. Miranda was such a likable and relatable character. Her occasional inability to tell the truth (even though her intentions were good) was frustrating at times. She and the other characters plus their actions made for an incredible read though! I thoroughly enjoyed this story about friendship, family and secrets and highly recommend it.
May 4, 2023
Few are ever completely truthful when dealing with family and friends: we often tell small lies – even if only to say we like a haircut – in order keep our relationship on an even keel. However, lies – whether of omission or commission – can also undermine relationships. That’s true for several people in “I Meant to Tell You” by Fran Hawthorne (Stephen J. Austin University Press). The question then becomes whether these relationships can weather the truth after it’s revealed.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/past...
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/past...
October 16, 2022
How important is it to tell the truth to the people in your life? Hawthorne adeptly explores this in an unusual story about an engaged couple in Washington DC. As lives fall apart and then secrets come out finally, we are taken on quite a ride with the main character. I liked this book simply because it is so unusual in both plot and character. So if you're looking for something different to read, this may be your book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It was quite enjoyable!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It was quite enjoyable!
November 12, 2022
I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne was a thought-provoking book that really made me think about secrets and the effect they have on relationships.
How well do we really know our friends and family?
The difference between secrets, lies or an omission.
I did like the main character Miranda was an interesting main character which I didn't know if I could believe or not. Again, that whole secret thing.
I was invested in the outcome of this book. The characters were well written with a nicely paced plot.
How well do we really know our friends and family?
The difference between secrets, lies or an omission.
I did like the main character Miranda was an interesting main character which I didn't know if I could believe or not. Again, that whole secret thing.
I was invested in the outcome of this book. The characters were well written with a nicely paced plot.
June 3, 2023
Do you ever read the blurbs on the back of a book before you buy it? I always get excited when I read them and realize I know the authors and love their books so I know I'll enjoy the book they are promoting. I Meant to Tell You is a story filled with lies, betrayal, and deep hidden secrets. It's also about the risks one will take for a friend even if it hurts you in the end.
Miranda has a past but who doesn't. Unfortunately her past can't stay a secret and she finds herself in a position where she must answer why she did what she did. The problem is that revealing one secret can cause many others to be discovered and this puts Miranda in a terrible position. She has made promises and doesn't want to hurt anyone but she risks loosing everything she has worked for if she doesn't come clean.
Love, friendship, and family
Miranda has a past but who doesn't. Unfortunately her past can't stay a secret and she finds herself in a position where she must answer why she did what she did. The problem is that revealing one secret can cause many others to be discovered and this puts Miranda in a terrible position. She has made promises and doesn't want to hurt anyone but she risks loosing everything she has worked for if she doesn't come clean.
Love, friendship, and family
November 7, 2022
I devoured I Meant To Tell You by Fran Hawthorne over the past two days. This book was such a hidden gem and I am so glad that @suzyapprovedbooktours put it on my radar. I Meant To Tell You was an engrossing read about lies of omission that can come back to haunt us. Hawthorne tackles a tangled web of three women’s lives with compassion. Miranda, Ronit, and Judith are all deeply flawed but so relatable and passionate. I found myself both cheering and other times shaking my head at their actions. They all felt relatable and I love a character with layers. I Meant To Tell You publishes on 11/15 and I encourage you all to add it to your shelves!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews