Book Summary and Reviews of Everything We Never Knew by Julianne Hough

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Kathleen Q. (Quincy, MA)

The Complexity of One's True Self
This book was difficult to put down. One woman's journey to find her true authentic self through healing was very powerful. The power of our pasts and the complexities of the present can work together to help us confront, heal and grow. Past and present are not mutually exclusive. The author draws you in with such clear connections to the characters, and you feel you are right there with them. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to explore different types of connections in life.

Susan U. (Waukesha, WI)

A New Perspective
I'll start by saying I enjoyed the book. I started out being skeptical of the premise and was left with a new insight and belief in powers that I don't understand. The writing style flowed and provided for comfortable reading of a somewhat unusual topic. The characters are well developed and while not all of us have the "skills" described, they are relatable.

It is easy to understand Shane's confusion and fear of what he sees happening in his wife's life. Lexi is thrown by the changes in her and what had been a well thought out plan for her life. Bea's quirkiness along with her practices and patience teach the reader while at the same time teaching her student.

And finally the supporting cast of friends, family and other round out the narrative that is Lexi's ever changing reality.

I definitely recommend this book and think it will lead to some great discussions.

Gail H. (Live Oak, FL)

Intriguing
The first line of "Everything We Never Knew" almost scared me from continuing the novel. "The form fitting mermaid dress….hugs my curves in all the right places." Uh oh, is this going to be a book filled with cliches about shallow characters? Luckily, I kept reading and my initial impression was turned upside down. Although I do think that the joint authors, Hough & Goodlett, could have fleshed out their characters a bit more thoroughly than they did, I truly enjoyed the narrator's, Lexi, explorations into energy fields. There are really so many occurrences in life for which we have no explanations. Personal energy fields are as valid and fascinating reason as any other. I liked, too, how Lexi changed as a person and how she moved beyond past sorrows. All in all, this was a very worthwhile read and a book that I would recommend to anyone who is open to looking beyond traditional explanations of life.

Susan S. (Springdale, AR)

Everything We Never Knew
I must admit, I wasn't a fan of all the woo-woo stuff, but Hough and Goodlett's descriptive writing had me sucked in from the get-go. I could see, hear, feel, taste and smell right along with Lexi. I could sympathize with her frustrations and saw myself wanting to do battle with my own repressed feelings. Wouldn't it be wonderful if healing from our own "stuffed" emotions was as easy as Lexi made it seem? Simply snip an invisible cord and childhood trauma goes away. Sign me up! I absolutely had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened, even if I had reservations about the methods. An emotional rollercoaster for sure, inspiring a surprising amount of self-reflection. Recommend this book!

Claire M. (Wrentham, MA)

Living Her best Life
Alexis Cole has a problem. She's on the verge of 30 and she's achieved everything she'd worked for, save one. On the night of her latest triumph, she experiences a moment of connection with a stranger that lifts the lid on the repressed trauma of her formative years.

Hough and Goodlett have shaped a seeker's tale into a journey of everywoman. As perfect as her life seems from the outside, their protagonist Alexis Cole knows she has achieved her initial adult life goals by shaping her outward success in response to society's demands. She has ignored aspects of her inner life and no longer feels authentic.

Honoring her own feelings and pursuing healing of her childhood trauma leads her into conflict with those she loves. She must weigh her need for acceptance by others against her self-acceptance. The choices she makes to address her inner conflict in turn impact her dearest relationships. As the novel reveals Alexis' inner struggle, she is also must face the turmoil of loved ones who feel betrayed and shaken by her actions.

Unintended consequences will affect well-intentioned people. Can Alexis make positive choices for herself and protect those she loves? Can loved ones look past their own needs and beliefs to offer her compassionate acceptance? Will her community reshape itself to accommodate change? Beyond the story of one woman's journey, the novel asks the reader larger questions of how to achieve reconciliation of individual and society.

Karen G. (Norfolk, MA)

Really liked this book
I wasn't sure what to expect as I used to watch the author as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. I realized just because she's a wonderful dancer doesn't mean she can't write a good book. I was happy to find out she can. From the cover it seems that there is a co-author which hadn't been mentioned but I would love to know how they divided up the process. Energy healing is not a topic I am familiar with but I enjoyed the thorough and entertaining way the topic was developed. I liked the character development and the descriptive phrasing. I actually barely put it down once I received it! Well done Julianne and Ellen

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