Book Details:
Book Title: THE THINGS THEY DIDN'T SEE by Angela Shaeffer
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 358 pages
Genre: Women's Fiction, Family Saga
Publisher: Wander Lane Press
Release date: June 2025
Content Rating: PG + M: Mild profanity with some mature themes (self harm, suicide attempt)
“Exquisitely crafted . . . [an] emotive tour-de-force.”
— Publishers Weekly BookLife (Editor’s Pick)
— Publishers Weekly BookLife (Editor’s Pick)
Book Description:
Raised on sunny days at Lake Koda, Jill piloted a speedboat long before driving a car. Her husband and three boys share her love for boating—until a surprise storm and tragic accident change everything.
As grief settles in, Jill and her family are drifting apart. Her relationship with teenage Jake grows strained when everything she says or does seems to be wrong. Her husband, Matt, takes Jake’s side, and even her sweet youngest child doesn’t trust her judgment.
Jake is trying to be a good kid but doesn’t know where to turn when his head and heart are constantly racing, and Matt just wants peace between his wife and son. Tensions build as they bump and bang into one another. There’s too much extra space for a family of four living in a home built for five.
Emotional and ultimately hopeful, The Things They Didn’t See is the story of a family’s love for each other clouded by misunderstandings, guilt and blame as they struggle to overcome unprecedented loss and find connection again.
Raised on sunny days at Lake Koda, Jill piloted a speedboat long before driving a car. Her husband and three boys share her love for boating—until a surprise storm and tragic accident change everything.
As grief settles in, Jill and her family are drifting apart. Her relationship with teenage Jake grows strained when everything she says or does seems to be wrong. Her husband, Matt, takes Jake’s side, and even her sweet youngest child doesn’t trust her judgment.
Jake is trying to be a good kid but doesn’t know where to turn when his head and heart are constantly racing, and Matt just wants peace between his wife and son. Tensions build as they bump and bang into one another. There’s too much extra space for a family of four living in a home built for five.
Emotional and ultimately hopeful, The Things They Didn’t See is the story of a family’s love for each other clouded by misunderstandings, guilt and blame as they struggle to overcome unprecedented loss and find connection again.
Buy the Book:
Amazon
B&N ~ BAM
Bookshop.org
add to Goodreads
Amazon
B&N ~ BAM
Bookshop.org
add to Goodreads
Meet the Author:
Angela Shaeffer is a mother to four grown children, two children-in-law, and Grammy to two adorable granddaughters. She lives in Utah with her husband when they’re not escaping to Colorado’s San Juan Mountains or exploring New York City. She loves to hike, road bike and travel but also cherishes solitary hours to read and write. The Things They Didn’t See is her debut novel.
connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Angela Shaeffer is a mother to four grown children, two children-in-law, and Grammy to two adorable granddaughters. She lives in Utah with her husband when they’re not escaping to Colorado’s San Juan Mountains or exploring New York City. She loves to hike, road bike and travel but also cherishes solitary hours to read and write. The Things They Didn’t See is her debut novel.
connect with the author: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Enter the Giveaway:
I found that The Things They Didn’t See to be a great introduction to the works of author Angela Shaeffer. I really enjoyed this story of love, hope, healing, loss, grief, and peace. It is one that played with my emotions at times and I had to keep those tissues handy at all times. The family went through so much and had to learn how to come together again before it was too late. I know from first hand how tragedies can change a person and families. The author did a great job in perfectly showing the turmoil and struggles during the difficult times in life. I personally felt a connection to the characters and found them to be relatable. For me, it was an important reminder that there is hope and peace when choosing to heal and moving forward to keep living. I thought this was a beautiful novel.
I would have given The Things They Didn’t See one hundred stars if I could. I have no doubt that lovers of Women’s Fiction and Family Sagas that are portray true to life events will love it as much as me. I would love to read more from the talented Angela Shaeffer in the near future. I believe this one is worth reading and not to be missed.
I received a paperback copy of Angela Shaeffer’s The Things They Didn’t See from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
It sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
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