I Never Told You Paperback – October 1, 2019

I read about this debut novel in a Facebook group and pre-ordered it from Amazon so that I could have it on the day it was published. I love reading books by debut authors and I love reading books by NC authors and this book was all that I hoped for. Bernie Brown wrote a terrific first novel and I am definitely looking forward to her future novels.Anna and her daughter Katya live in a small town in Iowa where Anna owns a dress shop. It's just been the two of them for years and they are best friends. Anna is sad when Katya moves to Chicago to go to college but realizes that its part of growing up. At the same time, Anna is also excited to know that she'll be able to spend more time with Dave, her married love. They've had to sneak around for years because she didn't want her daughter to know. Katya soon has secrets of her own when she finds herself attracted to girls and her biggest fear is that her mother will find out and hate her. When the inevitable happens and they find out each other's secrets, they both claim that they never want to see each other again. Can they become a loving mom and daughter again or will their bitterness and hurt totally end their relationship with each other?This is a beautifully written novel about family and love; betrayal and forgiveness. This was a thought provoking book that is as applicable today as it was in the 1960s - people are still trying to be who they are without guilt and without prejudice.

The mother-daughter relationship is the theme of many books. In this story, however, the two were extremely close, as they were each other's only family. Therefore, the realization that her mother was an imperfect human, an inevitable part of growing up, was especially painful for the daughter Katya. For the mother Anna, however, the revelation that her daughter was different, in a way scarcely understood by the daughter herself, or by society in general at the time and place of the story, was an event with which she was unable to cope.In this moving narrative, Bernie Brown has vividly depicted life in a small American town in the 1960s. Details of fashions, entertainment, and sense of community will likely evoke pleasant memories for readers who experienced it and possibly enlighten younger ones about their own mothers' early lives.

Set in the 60s, this story has beautiful details and bittersweet rift between mother and daughter.

I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. The story was about the relationship between a mother and her daughter and how difficult it can be to accept those who we love when we learn that there are secrets about the other person that we never realized. Very engaging!

Bernie didn't just tell a story. She invited us into the world of a mother, daughter and their communities. She showed us about life as I had not experienced it. She brought us details of designing clothes for movies and owning a clothing shop. I was blown away by the details. I took this book on a cruise and looked forward to reading every word. I truly didn't know how it was going to end. Strangely, I would have been content with any way the story took us. Thanks, Bernie!!!!

I Never Told You is a novel by up and coming author, Bernie Brown with twist and turns and unimaginable situations, ... but are they unimaginable? I could hardly put the book down as Bernie’s writings always leave you wanting to know more and this book did not disappoint. It’s a must read and I will never tell if you find yourself relating or perhaps daydreaming of similar plights of a single mom.

Engaging read with new twists throughout! Once I started to read, didn't want to put the book down. Enjoy!

Bernie Brown's debut novel, I NEVER TOLD YOU, is an emotional mother-daughter story that moves geographically from a small town in Iowa to a competitive art school in Chicago to the glitz and glam of Hollywood in 1965. Anna and her daughter Katya love each other, but there are important parts of their lives they can’t share with each other, moving them apart emotionally as well. The chasm between them deepens, and only tragedy can bring them together.The strength of the story comes through Katya’s transformation from a teen with a dream to a woman navigating the ups and downs of the dream realized. The setting is accompanied by what – if committed to disc – is a wonderful and nostalgic musical play list, an accessible reminder that music crosses all strata of life despite our differences. Pop culture references of the era root the story and help to recall American life from over a half century ago, which in the case of this reader brought back fond childhood memories. Secondary characters are delightful, especially Chubbs (an interesting name for an interesting character with an interesting marriage). Perhaps Chubbs deserves a companion novel of her own *wink*wink*.

A great story and must read.