5-STAR REVIEW: THE THINGS THEY DIDN’T SEE by Angela Shaeffer

Publication Date: June 4, 2025

Raised on sunny days at Lake Koda, Jill piloted a speedboat long before driving a car. Her husband and three boys share her love for boating—until a surprise storm and tragic accident change everything.

As grief settles in, Jill and her family are drifting apart. Her relationship with teenage Jake grows strained when everything she says or does seems to be wrong. Her husband, Matt, takes Jake’s side, and even her sweet youngest child doesn’t trust her judgment.

Jake is trying to be a good kid but doesn’t know where to turn when his head and heart are constantly racing, and Matt just wants peace between his wife and son. Tensions build as they bump and bang into one another. There’s too much extra space for a family of four living in a home built for five.

Emotional and ultimately hopeful, The Things They Didn’t See is the story of a family’s love for each other clouded by misunderstandings, guilt and blame as they struggle to overcome unprecedented loss and find connection again.

A boating tradition designed to kick off summer takes a tragic turn after a surprise storm.

Author Angela Shaeffer tells the story of the Miller family in The Things They Didn’t See. Their family, fractured by a terrible loss, Jill and Matt try to pick up the pieces.

The family’s pain in the aftermath unfolds as each member tries to adjust. For Jill, the challenge is two-fold. Not only does she have to deal with the impact the accident has on her relationship with her father, but she must survive the crippling grief.

The grieving process impacts the surviving family in different ways, from young Henry to teen Jake. Matt grapples with the loss but also watches helplessly as Jill spirals.

The healing process, while bumpy, offers a fresh perspective that strengthens family bonds. The emotions depicted are raw and sometimes ugly, but they offer a true representation of grieving.

The Things They Didn’t See celebrates the small things that matter during a family’s struggle with grief.

Angela Shaeffer is a mother to four grown children, two children-in-law, and Grammy to two adorable granddaughters. She lives in Utah with her husband when they’re not escaping to Colorado’s San Juan Mountains or exploring New York City. She loves to hike, road bike and travel but also cherishes solitary hours to read and write. The Things They Didn’t See is her debut novel.

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