If You Tell

sheldon_rapoza shared a tip "This true story, of 3 sisters in rural WA state, and what they endured from their mother growing up is heartbreaking. I read a lot of true survival stories but nothing has ever compared to this. It sounds weird to say, but what these 3 girls went through reminded me of what I’ve read in Mans Search for Meaning...except it was their own mother doing the torturing. Ultimately, I read this because I believe life is not about how we start but how we end up, and these 3 women are living proof that strength of the mind can beat anything. Hard to read so you may want to research a little before deciding to buy."

tiffany_wysbeek shared a tip "This is a dark and shocking read. The depth of Shelly's depravity will stay with you. I had a hard time putting the book down, but a harder time coming to terms with this being non-fiction. Torture and extreme child abuse are detailed, proceed with caution if you are triggered by them."

olivia_huie shared a tip "This is a very well written story that’s absolutely devastating. Extremely frustrating to see yet another situation with so many warning signs, and no one stepped in to intervene in the situation."

wajwilliams shared a tip "She’s up for parole this year and doesn’t need to be free, ever. #serial_killers_true_account #murder_and_mayhem_true_account #biographies_of_serial_killers"

w_t shared a tip "Oh my. I keep having to take little short breaks from reading this one. This is beyond disturbing. I feel sick reading it. It's almost giving me a panic attack. I want to finish this book because I think it's important that we learn things like this happens more than we would like to admit. I will finish reading it. Just need to take lots of deep breaths."

elisha_dehaan shared a tip "Oh my goodness! Well written, fast read but oh so sad. I can’t believe her girls turned out as well as they did. It just goes to show you can recover from the worst childhood ever. The mother should not be released from prison. As of now, she doesn’t have any remorse and doesn’t feel like she did much wrong. Prison is a good place for this one. Terrible. Heartbreaking story. But also resilience!"

megamus.maximus shared a tip "So poorly written, disappointing. I feel like those women that survived their horrific upbringing deserved their story to be told better."

katie_martin_7014 shared a tip "SO SICK!!! Gahh it will make you angry reading it, but such a wonderfully written true crime!! The authors purpose of the book was to tell the story of the daughters and to also protect others from their mother. I do not like to say people are evil and I always want to see good in others but man…Michelle Knotek may make me question that. I could not put this book down!!!"

dallis_terc shared a tip "Incredible true crime story about the emotional and physical abuse suffered by three sisters at the hands of their own mother and their journey to the decision to tell their stories. So well written."

katie_braaton shared a tip "I couldn't put it down. A shivering true tale about probably one of the most gruesome experiences of a child. I read this fast and it now haunts me."

cassandra_leal shared a tip "such a heartbreaking story. i actually cried. every time i tried to take a break, i just couldn’t put it down. it made me feel nauseous, angry, disgusted… highly recommend for my #truecrime fans!"

emily_gramaglia shared a tip "There wasn’t a storyline - more like events that happened in chronological order - didn’t realize it was a true story at first. I still recommend this!"

anna_vaagen shared a tip "VERY dark, and a true story. Be ready for a whole book of abuse and psychological manipulation. I read it more as a true crime book, and parts of it admittedly kept me up at night."

kendra_mae_workman shared a tip "I could not put this book down! I finished it in 3 days which is an accomplishment when you have a toddler. A must read if you like true crime."

kate_savage shared a tip "It takes an interesting outside, yet personal connection to the story. Trigger warning of severe child abuse, violence, and murder."

jamie_patasin shared a tip "Mind blowing what an abusive mother can get away with. This book is addicting and when you think it might be done, it keeps going with more insanity i though possible."

dani_derose shared a tip "It’s a true crime. Need I say less? It had me feeling all the feels. I had no idea this truly happened until this book. This was so addicting, I had read it in less then 2 days! It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s brutally honest, which i can respect.. that’s the point of a book, put you somewhere else in someone else’s shoes. Love this book. Great job Gregg! Highly recommend!"

nicole_hostetler shared a tip "As a child I remember reading "Boy Called It" and this book is in the running for equally as disturbing. Almost like a train wreck, you don't want to look, but you can not look away. I don't want to finish, because I have grown to hate the mother of this book, but I have to. I have to know what happens, and the victims need their story to be heard, may they rest in peace. ❤️"

alisha_mccarthy shared a tip "This book is not for the faint of heart, there are some parts where I physically felt sick reading true events. I did enjoy this book because of the raw truth and the detail."

madison_lewis_1148 shared a tip "Finished this book in 3 DAYS, while being a single mom of 2 & holding a full time job. That’s pretty big for me! I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t want to put it down. #greatread #favorite"

allison_delgado shared a tip "It was rough the way it reads but the story is so intriguing and the way it’s being told is almost like in current and past tense and you want to find out why and to who the story is being recounted. Can’t believe she’s getting out of jail this year mind blown"

berrybrosa shared a tip "Just finished this book. Honestly it is a disturbing read, it is also based on a true story which makes it even more chilling. I couldn’t put this book down."

ksquared shared a tip "A page-turner. This read is one that is sure not to disappoint, as three sisters navigate their murderous, abusing mother and how to move on."

emily_8601 shared a tip "Being a true crime & documentary obsessed person, I had never heard of this family. I forced myself not to research anything about the case or people and my goodness that was a good idea. This book was so disturbing you forget it was true. It’s been 2 weeks since I finished this book and I still find myself thinking about it, and shaking my head in disgust - that being said, it’s a must read if you like true crime :)"

tangy_thomas shared a tip "I read in 5 days but that’s because I’m a slow reader, but if you like true stories this is a heartbreaking story and hard to believe someone can be that mean. However it was so good I didn’t want to put it down. I needed to know how they overcame this or didn’t they. Must read"

jordan_hunt_5154 shared a tip "This book absolutely broke my heart, made me angry. I was visibly upset while reading this but it resolves in the best way. Continue through even if it gets difficult to read"

anna-belle_eherer shared a tip "This book I really enjoyed reading. However, it really stuck with me for weeks after. The mother was such a vile creature, and was really disturbed. It was an easy read, and I found it hard to put down"

laicee_eichler shared a tip "I loved this book and may read it again. I thought I had heard of most stories like this in the US. Not this one #thriller #memoir #"

melody_gamble shared a tip "I love the way the author told the story. I wanted it to keep going -to share the victories of the three sisters and how their lives are different and how their choices in life are based on their upbringing. And if Michelle was ever diagnosed with a mental illness or if she was just mean. Thank you to all the Knotek sisters for allowing their story to be told."

sara-brooke_frey shared a tip "It’s really hard to get through but truly does display the bond between sisters can be incredibly strong. Caution while reading you will feel sick and a bunch of emotions."

shelly_cross shared a tip "Heart stopping, heart breaking…at times hard to read, hard to comprehend….at the same time I had to know how they/if they all survived."

stephaniepegg shared a tip "HIGHLY recommended for anyone who likes true crime. It’s very heavy and I’ve heard that others have needed to take breaks because of how heavy it is, but I couldn’t put this book down. Finished it in just over 24 hours."

amanda_morris_7143 shared a tip "I absolutely love true crime and the fact that I had never heard of this case blows my mind. 10/10. Gregg Olsen did fantastic with this."

stephanie_garyait shared a tip "Really twisted story but extremely well written. Gregg Olsen really pulls you into the story and keeps you reading until the end."

kassidy_groves shared a tip "This was an incredibly well written book. Although the story was tough to read, if you are a true crime fan this is as deep as it gets."

lacey_griffin_9237 shared a tip "Couldn’t put this book down. Set a personal record for how fast I read it. It’s a disaster you can’t look away from. It’s heart wrenching and fascinating."

jess_dotson shared a tip "This book broke my heart and infuriated me at the same time. The mom is pure evil and deserves to rot in jail for life but instead thanks to our superb Justice system she is getting out next year. #IhopeShellyKnotekrots"

william_kluge shared a tip "Super hard book to read, but so worth it. It's left me in tears sometimes with how sadistic the mother in this book was. But totally worth the read and great job on the writer."

hannah_smith_7466 shared a tip "Such a well written book. I had a lot of emotions reading this, mostly frustration and anger, I also cried a few times. This is not for people who do not like or cannot handle true crime."

sue_atkins shared a tip "This was a hard read. The depths of punishment meted out in this family was unbelievable, and the controlling behaviors were awful. It's a story that needed told, but it was painful to hear."

katelyn_harper shared a tip "I really enjoyed this book because it is based off of true events and the actual victims a.k.a. the sisters did play a part in this book, it was very detailed and I felt like I was watching a movie. 10/10"

amanda_bocook_kiser shared a tip "It’s was disturbing on so many levels that parents could do this to their children and other people. But I think important to know that stories like this are happening around us, that the signs are there (even if we think insignificant)."