Everything We Thought Was True

A Novel

De: Lisa Montanaro

Narrado por: Annalee Scott

Los Angeles lawyer Lena Antinori has dedicated her career to fighting discrimination, including for the LGBTQ community, but her own family's secret haunts her. At thirteen years old, she made the startling discovery that her father, Frank, was gay and her mother, Teresa, knew. Fearing social stigma, Teresa instituted a code of silence meant to protect their Italian Catholic family—a code Lena adhered to for decades.

Now, Frank plans to marry his partner, and he wants Lena to help plan the wedding. Lena is torn between maintaining loyalty to her mother and supporting her father's newfound happiness. As her father's wedding approaches, Lena learns her childhood wounds run deeper than she thought, and failing to heal them might sentence her to a life of hypocrisy and the inability to discover the true meaning of coming out.

Told by Lena in the present, and her parents in the past, Everything We Thought Was True examines how the truth doesn't set you free until you embrace it.

©2025 Lisa Montanaro (P)2025 Tantor Media

Emotional, Heartwarming, and Deeply Personal

I loved this book. It was emotional, heartwarming, and deeply personal for me. As a white woman married to an African American man, I know what it’s like to be in a relationship that some people see as wrong. I couldn’t imagine being told I couldn’t be with—or marry—the person I love.

I listened to the audio version, and Annalee Scott did an amazing job of bringing the story to life. Her narration added so much depth and emotion—I felt every moment.

This book explores family, truth, and the pain that silence can cause. I resonated with all the characters in some way, and their journey toward healing and authenticity was powerful. If you’re looking for a meaningful LGBTQ read for Pride Month—or any month—I highly recommend this one.

WOW, what a debut!

I adored this story!

The care taken with the characters was amazing. I felt like they could be friends of mine.

The premis is so amazing and so relevant. I love that the story captured the love and hurt, and healing of the characters.

I am so appreciative of the care that was taken with the subject matter. I think it brought to the forefront something we as a society have ignored/purposely put aside. The emotions and experiences of those who have been forced to live a double life because of the lag of understanding from society.

as I said I adored the story and the presentation. can't wait for more from Lisa Montanaro!!!