Half of What You Hear audiobook

4 stars!Greyhill, Virginia is known for its old money and old traditions and old…gossip. Bess Warner, along with her husband Cole and their children, move to Cole’s small hometown of Greyhill. Bess will now live across the street from her mother-in-law, and she’s excited to take over the family’s inn. Fitting in is not easy in a small town, especially as an adult with secrets to hide, and Bess has her share from her former career in Washington. She can feel the gossip spreading, and it hurts. Not only does she have to adjust, but so do her children. Bess is given the opportunity to write an article of a “famous” resident of Greyhill for the Washington Post, and she scoops it up. Susannah “Cricket” lane is a native of Greyhill and from an old, established family, but she’s been living in New York for years when she decides to return. Why she left has been gossiped about, and now the town is talking about why she is returning. As Bess interviews Susannah, she can’t get a read on whether Susannah is sincere, or if she’s trying to expose Greyhill’s community on all sides, good and bad. All small towns aren’t like Greyhill by any means. I live in a tiny town now and have never experienced the drama or gossip; however, I also know what it’s like to move to a small town as an outsider where everyone knows each other. It IS hard to start over in a town where everyone knows your business. It also can be hard to figure out just who you are. Kusek Lewis has written a thoughtful and illuminating take on secrets and (some) small towns. I connected to the story and its characters, and it was entertaining and well-written. It can be hard to fit in, and the author captured those feelings with authenticity and sides of drama and gossip for fun. Thank you to Harper Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

3.5 This was an engaging read that was chock-full of small town scandals and gossipy woman with way too much time on their hands. Bess Warner was fired from her job as social secretary to the First Lady in Washington and she has decided to trade it all for a much slower paced town.  At least that is what she believes when she decides to move back to her husband's hometown of Greyhill, Virginia.What is the saying? From the fire to the frying pan... She finds herself living across the street from her controlling mother-in-law, learning how to run the family's Inn, her teenage twins trying to fit in at the elite private school, and  battling some women who don't mind spreading rumours.I was invested in the characters and learning what Greyhill's secrets held. The author did a wonderful job creating a realistic plot with some compelling ladies that I had to follow through until the end to "figure" them out.  I didn't know who to trust and couldn't stop turning pages until I learned more.I enjoyed the small town drama, mysterious backgrounds of some of the residents, their history, and the secret that caused so much finger pointing. I was completely pulled into the story.Fans of women's fiction with a hefty side of small town drama, will fall in love with this novel and getting to know these characters. Okay, you may also dislike a few of them!Thank you to Harper Paperbacks  for sending me a review copy.This book is out on December 31,2018  and will be posted to my blog.

Bess and Cole Warner arrive in Greyhill, Virginia from Washington, DC. Ostensibly they've come to take over the local inn from Cole's parents, Diane and Bradley, but they are also fleeing the city. Bess is leaving behind her job as a social secretary at the White House, which she left in disgrace. Greyhill, meanwhile, is a beautiful town, but also one of old money, tradition, and gossip. Bess literally lives across the stress from her in-laws, allowing Diane to pop in anytime, bringing with her her trademark mixture of judgement and condescension. Bess soon realizes that it's not easy to assimilate into Greyhill if you're deemed an "outsider." Her husband seems happy among his old friends--many of whom are more than glad to spread gossip about Bess. Her twin children are figuring out their way at the local private school--a challenge that seems harder for her daughter than son. When she's offered a chance to write an article on a local figure, Susannah Greyhill Lane, Bess jumps at the chance. She soon realizes Susannah is a bit of a kindred spirit: the town doesn't seem to like her much either. Susannah also has a lot of secrets, some of which involve Bess' in-laws. As Bess learns more about Greyhill's past, she starts to wonder exactly what she's gotten herself and her family into. This was a really engaging, easy-to-read book that expertly captured the small town dynamic. Bess was a likeable character, struggling as an outsider in her husband's town. She's trying to put a mistake behind her at her former job, giving her even more trust issues. The novel is told mainly from Bess' point of view, but we also get snippets of town gossip, too. Ugh, having lived in such a town, I can tell you that Lewis really gets it right. I was wrapped up in the story from the beginning and felt awfully sorry for Bess--moving away from all she knew and having to deal with those hateful small town busybodies (sometimes there's nothing worse, really). "It's like living in Stars Hollow, the charming small town on Gilmore Girls... Although honestly, so far, Greyhill feels a little more Desperate Housewives. The star character being me." I was initially drawn to reading this book because the fake town of Greyhill, as written, is practically in my backyard. It frequently mentions my hometown of Madison (which, believe me, *never* shows up in books - it's not that big), as well as where I currently live. Even better, Lewis captures both quite well, as well as the moneyed, snobby atmosphere of Greyhill that will be intimately familiar to anyone who lives in Virginia. There's always something fun about reading about a place (or places) you know. My favorite sports team even gets a mention! Bess is also a very realistic mother. The book does an excellent job of capturing how hard it is being a mom when your kid is going through a hard time, for example. Honestly, it does a good job of portraying parenthood in general--it's real and true throughout. I very much appreciated that. None of the sugarcoated parent/child relationships we get in some books. This one was not completely what I expected. While it's character-driven and portrays Bess' struggle to fit in in Greyhill, it is almost a mystery at times. You can't really trust what you read and it's twisty, with some surprises thrown in. It makes for a fast, interesting read that delves into the history of Greyhill and Bess' family. Overall, this was a really captivating book. I enjoyed the characters and the story--and the setting was a real bonus. This is the first book I've read by Krusek Lewis, but I definitely would like to read more. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Harper Collins, via LibraryThing in return for an unbiased review - thank you! Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram

Moving to her husband’s small home town was something Bess always wanted to do because of the lovely homes, and because she thought it would be good for the twins.The move wasn’t without problems. Two of a number of problems were that she would be across the street from her mother-in-law, and they would be taking over the inn that had been in the family for years.Little did she know about the problems that would come up dealing with the residents. One of the residents who was quite famous because of an accident is Susannah Lake. Susannah is someone that Bess is asked to interview. Susannah is a woman who moved back to this small town after many years, lives in a forty-room house, and is the talk of the town as well as a former girlfriend of Bess’s father-in-law.Susannah is also a woman that you can’t really be sure if what she says is the truth.The other residents were nosy, catty, and loved to gossip - the beauty of a small town, right? Everyone knows everyone’s secrets and pasts.Poor Bess became the target of all the women....not what she expected when she moved to this quiet, small town. She thought everyone would be kind, but they all knew the history she and Cole shared and made sure they commented on it. The problem with commenting on their history was that Cole seemed to side with the people from when he was growing up instead of Bess....not a good thing.HALF OF WHAT YOU HEAR addressed social issues as well as personal issues of fitting in.There are secrets that the residents of Greyhill have kept for many years, and as the mystery unravels, the book's interest picks up and ends up with a few surprises. There also are a few very unlikable residents. 4/5This book was given to me by the publisher via Edelweiss as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly intriguing, Half of What You Hear is a must-read that artfully delves its way through the layers of gossip, secrets and lies of the small and seemingly charming town of Greybill, where everyone knows your name, and oh so much more. Buckle up for a fun ride and one thing is for sure: you won’t know who to believe until the very end.

A small town, a new family trying to fit in, an eccentric old lady, and gossip that never stops. Greyhill, Virginia is a small town with lifelong residents. Cole grew up in this town and is ecstatic to be moving his family back. His wife, Bess, is not so sure. Behind this idyllic setting is a web of gossip that fuels the residents. As Bess tries to find her way in this new town of hers, the women make it hard with their judgements and backhanded compliments. Bess is feeling insecure and on edge, so when she’s given the opportunity to write a story about the mysterious Susannah Lane she jumps at it. Told in multiple perspectives, it was fun to read the actual events and then follow along with different townspeople as the story was altered or perceived differently in the subsequent rumor mill. Half of What You Hear was a fun Southern tale with a side of mystery that left me turning the pages. For me, Half of What You Hear was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @harpercollinsus for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

A juicy book that took place in a small town embedded with secrets including a death. I devoured this book and highly recommend reading the insights and interview at the end. I loved Little Fires Everywhere & of course this book had a spark that reminded me of Big Little Lies, so fans of both books rejoice! There was depth to this book because there was the normal domestic drama and Kristyn took it in so many interesting directions. No Monday Blues here & I highly recommend this book!! Looking forward to her next book.

I enjoyed this a lot. The meeting of new blood and established folks is always fascinating to me. I hope to read more.

Half Of What You HearByKristyn Kusek LewisWhat it's all about...When Cole and Bess return to Cole’s small Virginia town to run his family’s inn they have no idea of what living in a small close knit community would be like. Mean girls, mean women, gossip...lots of gossip...surround them. Not only does Bess have trouble trying to fit in but her daughter does, too. Why I wanted to read it...I love books like this one...there is lots of mystery and intrigue mixed in with growing up in a small town that has lots of secrets. Susannah is one of those mysteries. After living in NYC she returns only to shake this small town up again! She is quite a character. And a character that Bess gets involved with right away. What made me truly enjoy this book...I tend to forget just how nasty mean girls can be and how difficult it is to stand up to them. Bess not only has issues with women her age but also her daughter and her mother in law. Why you should read it, too...Readers who love small town mysteries with a Southern twist will love this book. I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.

When Bess and Cole leave DC for Greyhill, VA to take over Cole’s parents’ inn, the picturesque town seems like the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of their old life. However, small town southern life is a whole different ball game. As Bess dives into the intricacies of what makes this town tick (and the rumor mill run), she discovers that not everything is as it seems in Greyhill. Kristyn has managed to capture life in a southern town...where everyone knows your name and your business before you do! This book was a charming tale filled with just the right dash of suspense and intrigue to keep the pages turning!

I expected this book to be mildly entertaining and I was happily surprised when I found it very addicting. It grabs your attention and pulls you in before you know it and you find you’re invested in what happens to each character and why. There were a few storylines I wish would’ve been tied up better. Overall a good 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down! The story is compelling and takes some interesting turns. The characters are complex and nuanced, and many are so relatable. I love that the town is a character as well - the author does a wonderful job creating a sense of place. I highly recommend this book!

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars with this book, only because it seemed a little slow at times throughout the book. Towards the end though- I couldn’t put it down, because I wanted to know if there was truth behind the town gossip.

Is gossip ever harmless? Can you outrun your past? What's the line between needing to belong and refusing to compromise who you are? These are questions that hunted me after I finished reading HALF OF WHAT YOU HEAR, a page-turner about a strong woman facing a major turning point in her life, and the mercurial older woman who befriends her. Scandal swirls around both women when their cross paths in the seemingly idyllic town of Greyhill. But Greyhill has a dark underbelly, and town gossip is a competitive sport that treats both women as outsiders. Layers of family secrets and lies add many twists and turns to the fun 'gossip' chapters woven throughout the novel, and those twists keep coming to the last few pages. Bookclubs are going to love this one!

Bess is elated to be leaving Washington with her husband Cole and their twins to begin a new life in old quiet Greyhill Virginia just across the road from Cole's mother. Soon Bess is rethinking her decision as she unravels the dark secrets of Susannah Lane, a prominent figure in Greyhill!!!! Thankyou Goodreads for this free book.