More Than You’ll Ever Know audiobook

Happy book birthday 🥳🎈🍾Wow! Some books can truly rock your world! Make you think everything twice, question your own life story and the choices you’ve made! This was one of those thought provoking, captivating books that haunts you forever! Lore Rivera might be one of the most unforgettable fictional characters: an international banker, a woman married with two men, living two double live, having two families: she’s married with Andres Russo who is recently divorced with two teenage children living in Mexico City and she is married with childhood sweetheart Fabian Rivera in Laredo/ Texas, raising twin boys who are at the same age with Andres’ children from his first marriage. But when Andres decides to make a surprise visit to Texas for introducing himself to his wife’s coworkers, he realizes he’s not the only man his wife is married. And the same night he’s get killed by Fabian Rivera who is sentenced to 30 years in prison. All those events take place in 1985. And as we move forward to 2017, we are introduced to Cassie Bowman, young true crime writer, blogger, who encounters the article includes Andres’ kids ( now they are nearly 50 years old adults) telling how Lore used their family and threw them like trash. She gets intrigued and decides to talk with Lore to write her side of story. Lore is not only one struggles with her past demons. Cassie is about to get marry with Duke: lovely farmer, working on his food truck with a big and caring family. She hides her own family history from him. The history contains domestic violence, neglect, alcoholism, abandoned little brother she’s left to save herself. Lore accepts to talk with Cassie because she thinks she can manipulate her to write everything she wants and Cassie needs this story for her new start as a true crime novelist. But as soon as she starts digging out more, she realizes she starts confronting with her own secrets she’s buried for years! Normally this book started too slow and at the first third nothing particularly happened. But the back stories of two women, their circumstances, their inner voices were told so realistically and it still picked my interest. I couldn’t stop reading it. And of course a few chapters later when I started learning more about two women’s pasts, I was hooked! Was Lore sociopath who could lie about her life and gaslight people without feeling guilty? What kind of woman was she? A pathological liar, a user, a hedonist or simply selfish woman who thought she was too wise to get away with everything she’s done or was she just dreamer who wanted to live in two parallel universes with two different families. Lore might be all of them and also none of them! This book made me think a lot. I didn’t approve any actions Lore took but I accept who she was and I didn’t hate her. The pure realistic approach to the flawed, broken characters’ stories were truly impeccable. It took more time for me to finish this book because this is whirlwind, mind bending historical journey telling the compelling parts of America and Mexican history: recession, devaluation, earthquakes, people’s struggle to keep their jobs, keep a roof over their family’s head. I enjoyed to read both women’s stories and the big twist was a little foreseeable but it was still heart wrenching. Overall: even though the book is a little longer and slower for me, I enjoyed each chapter and easily resonated with each character so I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5 double life, finding yourself, secrets we kept stars!Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

More Than You'll Ever Know is a uniquely ambitious tale of domestic fiction with a hint of mystery at its core, and as long as you go into this book knowing it is NOT a thriller or suspense novel, the reader can wholly embrace it to the fullest. The changing POV between modern day Cassie and Lore's past provide a compelling narrative that ties in true crime to the identity of women, and in Lore's case a woman of color. The story weighs the precarious balance of motherhood against the career life, and brings up many thought provoking aspects as which is more important and how society tends to demonize women who value their career after they become mothers. I've yet to come across another story in my reading that has tackled polygamy from the female standpoint in contemporary fiction, and I found it fascinating to watch how Lore finds herself in this predicament. Highly recommended if you're looking for a thoughtful, prose-filled, slow burning novel that intricately details the female identity and discusses timely issues that have affected women in the past, and still do in the present. *Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.

“How can shame exist without remorse ?”This sounded so cool when I read the description, and although it was quite slow-paced, I still found it to be an interesting experience. Lore is incredibly manipulative. She really had us all fooled. I thought this story was just going to be her recollecting her past for Cassie, but she certainly wasn’t going to make it that easy for us. The twists and turns in the remaining pages helped make up for the pace of this one. The exploration of having a sense of dissatisfaction as a mother and wife was so real and this was the part of Lore that had me connecting with her and holding back some judgment. I usually don’t like stuff like this being romanticized so I think Gutierrez did well with keeping that balance of telling a story with great emotion but exposing the burdensomeness of such decisions. Honestly, the idea of having two marriages just sounds exhausting and I don't really understand why anyone would do that, but I really wanted to hear her out.I’m glad that we got a complicated journalist as well and I like how she and Lore connected over the complicatedness of their lives. I wouldn’t say their complicatedness was similar but they were both women of secrets. Her secrets also help make up for the slow-placed storytelling. I really connected with her and wanted to hug her because she was really hard on herself for some personal decisions she made. Like every mystery book with a journalist, she has some talents to be a detective. Her suspicions and questions were definitely what make me want to keep reading. Suddenly, I had questions I didn’t know I had and I needed answers too!

NOW AVAILABLE!looking at the cover of this book, you might think, as i did, that this was going to be another domestic thriller/psych suspense-y kind of thing, but this is something entirely different. there is a mystery at the center of the story, but it takes a backseat to a more robust, multilayered character-driven story centered around motherhood, marriage, and the secretive inner lives and desires of women.it's the story of dolores (lore) rivera and cassie bowman; two women whose lives intersect when cassie—a true crime blogger with journalistic aspirations, discovers a juicy subject in lore—a woman whose secret polygamy was exposed decades earlier when one of her husbands was incarcerated for murdering the other.people who lead double lives are inherently fascinating, and the first and most obvious question is always "how did they get away with it?" in lore's case, the mechanics of how she managed to keep her marital-double-dipping a secret is the least interesting part, although the way she maintains the precarious jenga-balance of her secrets is fascinating to watch unfold:She hasn't yet told him an outright lie...and she doesn't want to start. Once she does, she sees how the lies will build, brick after brick into a fortress designed to protect, but protection means separation, means they will never be as close as he thinks or she wants, and one mistake, one misremembered detail, will be enough to take down the whole thing, burying them both beneath its rubble.the real hook here is the novelty of a woman carrying on two separate lives, because the world is a little less forgiving towards women—towards mothers—trying to have it all: Sometimes it still shocked me, the way Lore didn't seem to see what she'd done as unforgivable in the eyes of those she'd hurt. How did she learn to judge herself so gently in a world that taught women to nail themselves to the cross for any tiny infraction?i know, right? lore eventually agrees to be interviewed by cassie, against the wishes of her family, with the stipulation that she won't talk about the night of andres' murder. lore's story unfolds in a series of flashbacks of her past and what drove her to risk her happy life in texas with fabian and their twin sons gabriel and mateo by marrying andres in mexico. during the course of these interviews, lore and cassie's relationship develops into a familiar quid pro quo dynamic; lore becoming a sort of lady-lechter forcing cassie to excavate and take a hard look at the shame she's been marinating in over the secrets of her own past—her alcoholic father, the death of her mother, and the brother she left behind—and both women are profoundly affected by the emotional clarity that comes from revisiting their life's most painful choices. lore proves to be a somewhat unreliable narrator, giving cassie a version of the truth while holding on to some of her secrets. however, cassie is a highly motivated amateur sleuth, hoping this story will kickstart her journalistic career, and once she susses out the whole truth behind andres' death, she is faced with a difficult choice that makes her reevaluate her own long-held beliefs about her chosen profession. When it's done right, true crime tells us who we are, who we should fear, who we are always in danger of becoming. Under a careful investigative eye, someone opaque briefly becomes transparent. Even if what's revealed is ugly, it's true. And nothing is more beautiful than the truth.like so many books seem to be nowadays, the reader (and cassie) are invited to consider the sticky nature of our fixation with true crime as entertainment, commodifying other people’s secrets and blanketing epicaricacy-nosiness under the noble banner of truth.and there’s the looming "there-but-for-the" of:...someone who had killed under a set of specific circumstances. And couldn't that be true for most of us? If true crime had taught me anything, it's that if we never see that version of ourselves, it's only because we're lucky.so it's basically two excellent character-studies smooshed together in a story of sacrifice and secrets, perspective and the justification for tiptoeing that fine line between selfishness and self-preservation. lore is a deliciously complex paradox of a character—she loved her family, but felt that, given a different set of circumstances, she could have become a different kind of woman—she needed two separate lives to become the best version of herself. lore's was an extreme, unconventional form of personal growth—happy with her life, but inquiring what else what else...it wasn't the recession or loneliness that brought her here. It wasn't that she no longer loved Fabian or wanted their marriage to end. It was a different kind of yearning. A nameless suspicion that there was more to herself than she'd ever accessed, and only by falling in love could she discover it, for only then do we become new to ourselves again.instead of getting a room of her own she got a whole 'nother husband, and she felt she became a fuller person enriched by both of her lives. ...perhaps not every affair is about lack in the primary relationship; perhaps some are about a complement. Perhaps multiple relationships can illuminate different parts of the self, like a prism turned first this way, then that, toward the light. Perhaps to love and allow love from only one person at a time is to trap the self into a single, frozen version, and it's this that makes us look elsewhere.however, there's always a price of a woman knowing herself, of wanting more than she has, and in her case, it was ruinous to both of her lives. Lore had never been blameless to me. That was the point. She was so hungry to know her own heart she was willing to destroy those she loved most, including—paradoxically—her children.this is a perfect summertime book—a richly descriptive slow-burning page-turner that delivers more to consider than the average suspense-genre novel. lore is a beautifully flawed character and cassie is a fine counterpoint to her larger-than-life personality. it is a spectacular debut full of deft insights that doesn't skimp on the rough fallout of domino-consequences.i'll let lore play this review out with her musings on the cost of motherhood to a woman's sense of self:Now the idea of more children is unthinkable. Lore lost herself in those early years with Gabriel and Mateo. If you'd asked her then what her favorite meal was, her favorite movie, her favorite hobby, she wouldn't have known. It was as if Lore—the person, the woman—had disappeared, consumed by Lore the mother. The idea of taking maternity leave again, molding her life around a baby's insatiable need while also making sure the cuates were fed and clean, their homework done, chauffeured on time to school and sports—and the house livable, groceries bought, bills paid, her marriage nurtured: quicksand. By the time she clawed her way out, she wouldn't recognize herself. Motherhood is the thief you invite into your home.come to my blog!

I've been hearing buzz about Katie Gutierrez's debut novel More Than You'll Ever Know for a few months now, so I was really excited to push my TBR aside when a copy arrived in the mail for me to read. The story is part of this newer type of mystery genre that I've seen blowing up lately—mystery with a true crime atmosphere. I've seen it successfully done in other very fun mystery novels, such as The Nothing Man and The Book of Cold Cases, so I definitely was ready for this journey that Gutierrez has in store for us readers!The book focuses on two protagonists, Cassie Bowman and Dolores "Lore" Rivera. Cassie is a struggling true-crime writer, planning her wedding with her fiance Duke, and trying to come up with new material to write about. It isn't until she hears about Dolores' past that she begins to find something she can work with. Dolores apparently was married to two different men, and consequently, one of them was murdered by the other. Cassie can't seem to understand why someone who lead such a double life, and she notices that the press did not take kindly to Dolores. This is the perfect story and Cassie believes she can write a book based on Dolores. Once she meets Dolores and tries to entice her into crafting this story, Cassie is now immersed into this family's drama that continues to painfully affect everyone around them. Is Cassie opening a door that was meant to be closed years ago? I kept battling on my thoughts for this book because its ultimately a family drama and that normally isn't my thing. However, I guess that's a bunch of BS because I really enjoyed More Than You'll Ever Know and should stop saying that I don't resonate with family dramas, because this is definitely a family drama I would recommend to readers. As mentioned above, there is a story within a story, which I found to be an engaging factor to why I resonated with this story. Cassie and Dolores' lives are showcased in an unapologetic way that you'll catch yourself turning the pages and realizing that you just spent hours reading and need to go to bed (guilty as charged!). This story is part detective / sleuth, part love story, and part family drama. If you like those types of fiction novels, More Than You'll Ever Know interweaves each of those elements perfectly. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

4.5/5I think it is important to note that I actually started More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez twice. The first time I was trying to work and listen to the audiobook at the same time, and it just wasn't working for me. I thought it was too slow and nothing was happening, but also had to acknowledge that I wasn't paying very close attention. So, I decided to restart it and give it my full attention and guess what, I loved it! The story alternates between Cassie in 2017 and Lore (Delores Rivera) in 1983, and I loved both stories equally. Cassie's viewpoint gave me that true crime/journalist quality while Lore's viewpoint gave me the backstory and character arc, I never knew I needed. Granted, Lore's backstory was more interesting for me, but I loved the way this allowed the reader to really get to know both of them.I thought the audiobook for More Than You'll Ever Know was tremendous, and I loved both of the narrators, Inés del Castillo & Yareli Arizmendi. They truly brought the book and characters to life for me and felt absolutely perfect for the story. This book is indeed on the slower side, so the audio with Castillo & Arizmendi's narration really helped me with pacing as well. There are some Spanish words used in the novel that don't get explained, so you may have to do some Googling if you feel like you're missing something. This did provide a very authentic feel for the characters though, and I can understand why Gutierrez made this choice. I was so invested in seeing how the story played out that I was basically blindsided by the end and wasn't mad that I didn't figure it out. So, who should read this? If you like literary fiction with an air of romance, intrigue, and mystery as well as potentially unlikeable characters (looking at you Cassie) - More Than You'll Ever Know is for you. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely could not put this book down! My head is still spinning!! Enthralling, breathtaking, and propulsive, More Than You'll Ever Know is the kind of book that only comes around once every decade. With hypnotic, shimmering prose set against a masterful plot, Katie Gutierrez has crafted an explosive modern classic--a groundbreaking, razor-sharp exploration of what it means to be a woman in all its complexity, as well as a deep dive into the morally gray areas of the double lives we all lead. Equal parts literary tour de force and domestic suspense, with a sweeping, sprawling narrative, More Than You'll Ever Know is poised to become the buzziest book of the year.

In 1985, Dolores "Lore" Rivera marries Andres Russo in Mexico City. even though she's already married to Fabian Rivera in Laredo, Texas, and they share twin sons. Through her career as an international banker, Lore split her time between two countries and two families - until the truth is revealed and one husband is arrested for the murdering another.In 2017, while trawling the internet, for the latest, most sensational news reports, struggling true-crime writer Cassie Bowman encounters an article detailing that final tragic act. Cassie is immediately enticed by what is not exposed: Why would a woman - a mother - risk everything for a secret double marriage?The story is told from Lore's point of view an the story alternates from the 1980s to the present day, 2017. The pace is slow to begin with but it soon picks up. By the third part of the story, the pace is racing. But we do need the slow pace to begin with because of the build-up to the main part. The authors writing style was a little different but it kept the book interesting.I would like to thank #NetGalley #MichaelJosephPenguin #RandomHouse and the author #KatieGutierrez for my ARC of #MoreThanYoullEverKnow in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book is going to end up in my top 10 favorites of the year; yes that’s saying something, I genuinely loved it THAT much. What a remarkable debut novel. And no, it’s not a thriller. So don’t get your hopes up going into it. But, it somehow has every single other genre merged into it beautifully, it’s suspenseful, there’s true crime, there’s romance, there’s family drama and lies and deceit, there’s big revealing twists, but it’s not a “thriller”- the way the author was able to craft this story just astounds me, you can see in so many sentences how carefully worded phrasing is, and just the art of storytelling that is present in the prose. I can’t wait to see this adapted into a limited series or movie; it will be so good!

There are some mystery aspects, but this story is definitely more of a character study than a thriller. The author did a great job helping us see how something unbelievable could actually be possible, maybe even understandable. I enjoyed both storylines, Lore’s & Cassie’s.. & what they brought out in each other. I listened to the audiobook & would recommend it when you’re in the mood for some storytelling.

I LOVED this.Elegance in the writing, beautifully atmospheric with two hugely engaging central characters and an emotionally charged plot that is wonderful to read.The story was thought provoking and very real, the settings popped and I loved both Cassie and Lore, drawn together by a long ago crime and the truth they are seeking I adored it first page to last. Another possible no 1 of the year for me.

A little slow in parts but overall I enjoyed this.

I love you… more than you will ever know.Katie Gutierrez’s debut novel More Than You’ll Ever Know would be best described as a domestic drama with some elements of thriller and mystery. It’s less whodunit, and more of a exploration of human relationships and personal motivations.In 2017, Cassie Bowman is a true crime writer, tired of living paycheck to paycheck, anxious about her unpromising future and unresolved past. While working on her blog, she comes across a sleazy news article written about Lore Rivera. In the mid-to-late 1980s, international banker Lore was a woman who seemed to have it all… until it came out that she, in fact, had too much. The revelation that she was splitting her time between two husbands and families in two different countries had deadly consequences, and the murder’s after effects are still felt thirty years later. In Cassie’s opinion, the article focuses too much on the gruesome death of one of Lore’s partners. She instead wants to explore, understand, and write about everything leading up to that fatal moment. She thinks the why and not the how of the crime makes a far better story. More Than You’ll Ever Know switches between different perspectives and timelines—Cassie in the present researching for her book, Cassie recalling her adolescence and explaining her obsession with true crime, elderly Lore juggling interviews with the writer and her responsibilities as the matriarch of her family, younger Lore embarking on an affair and then a double-life. It’s an interesting, compelling tale about a woman who was conflicted about her various roles—loving wife, nurturing mother, dutiful daughter, ambitious businessperson, passionate individual—and is now trying to right her previous wrongs. It’s hard not to empathize with Lore, a person too modern for her era, someone who wanted everything at a time when women still had so many boundaries drawn around them. And yet you also want to shake her, make her see “reason,” act “correctly.”The novel is not without fault. It does build up very slowly, and I feel like Gutierrez does a far better job writing Lore than she does Cassie. Lore, to me, was a much more fascinating, complex character, and I was more drawn to the study of relationships between man and woman, parent and child on her side of the narrative. But although I found Cassie less interesting, the exploration of the relationships between researcher and subject, journalist and truth during her sections are necessary other components of the novel.I would recommend More Than You’ll Ever Know to readers interested in true crime—though the crime here is a fictional one—or family dramas.

As addictive as a real-life who-dunnit, with thoughtful attention to the ethical implications of the true crime genre, More Than You'll Ever Know explores how we entangle ourselves one choice at a time, and what it costs to unravel the damage. Crystalline and multi-faceted, this is a page-turner brimming with empathy, a window into 1980's Mexico City and Laredo, and the ways community both buoys and pulls us under. Katie Gutierrez is a force, and she writes fabulously complicated, fully-realized characters who will linger with you long after the final page.