More Than You'll Ever Know: A Good Morning America Book Club Pick
3.5/5
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About this ebook
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK
"Fantastic . . . A sweeping novel, unflinching and evocative in its engrossing study of love, motherhood, sex, Mexico, journalism and more." — WASHINGTON POST
"Masterful . . . Elegance, darkness, even fear are deftly intertwined . . . A wonderful read." — LUIS ALBERTO URREA, Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author of The House of Broken Angels
Recommended by New York Times Book Review • Los Angeles Times • Washington Post • Parade • Good Housekeeping • NBC News • Today.com • Goodreads • Audible • The Millions • Popsugar • Tribeza • CrimeReads • Library Reads • She Reads • and more!
An evocative drama about a woman caught leading a double life after one husband murders the other, and the true-crime writer who becomes obsessed with telling her story—this masterful work of literary suspense marks the debut of an extraordinary new writer
The dance becomes an affair, which becomes a marriage, which becomes a murder...
In 1985, Lore Rivera marries Andres Russo in Mexico City, even though she is already married to Fabian Rivera in Laredo, Texas, and they share twin sons. Through her career as an international banker, Lore splits her time between two countries and two families—until the truth is revealed and one husband is arrested for murdering the other.
In 2017, while trawling the internet for the latest, most sensational news reports, struggling true-crime writer Cassie Bowman encounters an article detailing that tragic final act. Cassie is immediately enticed by what is not explored: Why would a woman—a mother—risk everything for a secret double marriage? Cassie sees an opportunity—she’ll track Lore down and capture the full picture, the choices, the deceptions that led to disaster. But the more time she spends with Lore, the more Cassie questions the facts surrounding the murder itself. Soon, her determination to uncover the truth could threaten to derail Lore’s now quiet life—and expose the many secrets both women are hiding.
Told through alternating timelines, More Than You’ll Ever Know is both a gripping mystery and a wrenching family drama. Presenting a window into the hearts of two very different women, it explores the many conflicting demands of marriage and motherhood, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing someone—especially those we love.
"A seductive, urgent tale about desire, family, the pursuit of truth, and the art of storytelling, More Than You’ll Ever Know will astonish readers with its vastness, romance, tragedy, and abundant heart. I didn’t want this book to ever end." — JESSAMINE CHAN, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good Mothers
"A gripping and thoughtful exploration of motherhood and marriage, the complexity of female desire, and the consequence of our obsession with true crime . . . One of the best suspenseful dramas I’ve read in years. An exceptional, stunning debut—I absolutely loved it." — ASHLEY AUDRAIN, New York Times bestselling author of The Push
Katie Gutierrez
Katie Gutierrez has an MFA from Texas State University, and her writing has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, The Washington Post, Longreads, Texas Monthly, and more. She was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and now lives in San Antonio, with her husband and their two children. More Than You'll Ever Know is her first novel.
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Reviews for More Than You'll Ever Know
63 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5For a first time novelist Ms. Gutierrez seems to have the skill of an established author. The novel has a great premise - a woman with two husbands - one in Texas and one in Mexico City she meets and falls in love with on a business trip p for r her employer. Since she travels for her job this gives her cover for her double life, Things eventually blow up and her Texas husband is in jail for killing her Mexican one. There is a second story about a young author who wants to write a true crime book on it all. This young author has issues of her own. A neat book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Okay so I was going to give it 3 stars but then it got more interesting toward the end when I became more invested in the story and wanted to know the answers to what really happened with Lore, Fabian, and Andres on that dreadful night. I was very into the story and trying to figure out the puzzle right along with Cassie and when the truth comes out, I saw parts of it coming from a ways away, but the last twist at the very end threw me a little bit.
This is about Dolores “Lore” Rivera who marries Andres Russo in Mexico City, even though she is already married to Fabian Rivera in Laredo, Texas, and they share twin sons. Through her career as an international banker, Lore splits her time between two countries and two families—until the truth is revealed and one husband is arrested for murdering the other. Then in 2017, Cassie is immediately enticed by what is not explored: Why would a woman—a mother—risk everything for a secret double marriage? Cassie sees an opportunity—she’ll track Lore down and capture the full picture, the choices, the deceptions that led to disaster. Soon, her determination to uncover the truth could threaten to derail Lore’s now quiet life—and expose the many secrets both women are hiding. Told through alternating timelines, More Than You’ll Ever Know is both a gripping mystery and a wrenching family drama. Presenting a window into the hearts of two very different women, it explores the many conflicting demands of marriage and motherhood, and the impossibility of ever truly knowing someone—especially those we love.
Cassie and Lore form some kind of close relationship/bond and find a friend in the other it seems, but it's a weird situation with Cassie looking into the murder of Andres and questioning Lore digging into her life, everyone's lives, and everything. Going through this investigation and questioning Lore brings things to the surface for Cassie to have to face and deal with as well as for Lore and her family also. It starts a bit slow but then picks up and then at the end I was racing through the pages to find out all the answers to what happened with Lore and her double life back then and everything. It's a rollercoaster ride that has a bit of a surprise twist right at the end.
I would put content/trigger warnings for abuse, miscarriage, a few instances of a bit more on the page discussion, or a description of intimacy/spiciness and such.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Scene of the Crime early reads for letting me read and review this intriguing story. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5At 14 hours this was a bit longer than my preferred audiobook length, but it sounded promising.And the plot is promising--Lore, married with twins in Laredo, Texas, meets and marries a man (and gains 2 stepkids) in Mexico City. Her job with a bank allows this charade to continue for a coupe of years. Certainly an interesting idea--but a couple of years before her Mexican husband decides a surprise visit to Laredo is in order?In 2017, true crime journalist Cassie Bowman reads an article with a very unflattering portrait of Lore and decides she wants to write a book about how this can happen--and about how husband #1 is in prison for murdering husband #2. The story goes back and forth between modern Cassie and Lore and historic Lore. And it goes on and on and on. I found it just too long. In many ways--tone, modern researcher/historic characters, believable bu also unbelievable history--this book reminded me of The Lost Apothecary.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel, because it is a intricately woven novel with layers that are slowly peeled back and revealed to the reader. When Cassie Bowman, a true crime writer, reads a story that Lore Rivera was leading a double life. 30+ years earlier in 1986, Lore was married to 2 men at the same time, and when they found out, one killed the other. Cassie is intrigued and wants to find out more. She contacts Lore, who agrees to speak with Cassie. As the details of the story come out, and Lore tells of her love for 2 men, Cassie is drawn into the story. Is Lore manipulating the truth? Is Cassie too close? Will Cassie discover what really happened on that fateful day in 1986? This is a slow build, with a love story, revealing the lengths you will go to protect those you love. Very good, I look forward to her next book.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The dance becomes an affair, which becomes a marriage, which becomes a murder. In 1985, Dolores “Lore” Rivera marries Andres Russo, even though she's already married to Fabian Rivera . Lore splits her time between two families until the truth is revealed & one husband is arrested for murdering the other. In 2017 true crime writer Cassie Bowman is determined to uncover the truth even though it could threaten to derail Lore’s now quiet life & expose the many secrets both women are hiding.
This is definitely a slow burn but it was still a great read! The characters in this story are what kept me turning the pages! Their back stories are interesting & they are broken & flawed which gives them a realistic feel. It's a thought provoking read that would be great for a buddy read or book club that likes historical fiction with domestic drama and suspense!