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Last week, I finished Christie Month with a review of Towards Zero, a recent adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel published in June 1944.

Book: Should Have Told You Sooner by Jane Ward
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication date: 2026

Source: Paperback provide by Tina (thanks!)

Summary: Noel Enfield is offered a delectable career opportunity — several months in London that will move her career focus from museum collection to curation.

But, it comes at the worst time. Or, maybe it’s all for the best. Her marriage recently fell apart and her desire to maintain a relationship with her stepdaughter is being thwarted by both the girl and her father.

Noel lived in London before as a college student. Returning to the city means returning to her memories and the relationships that feel undone from that time of her life. There seems to be a pattern in Noel’s life and maybe going back to where it started will help her piece things together in a more functional and pleasing design.

Thoughts: When I mentioned that I added Should Have Told You Sooner to my TBR based on her review, Tina of Turn the Page offered to send me her copy of the book and I gratefully accepted.

One of my favorite plots is “American goes to England.” See The Oxford Affair and My Oxford Year and The Lost Apothecary.

I was mildly concerned about the title, although it intrigued me. Obviously, this is going to be a novel about secrets. One of my least favorite plots is when the tension of the story is artificially heightened because two characters won’t have an honest conversation.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case in this story. The secret-keeping felt natural and inevitable. It didn’t represent the best past behavior of Noel, but it made sense at the time and this book is about how she comes to grips with a better version of herself by confronting her past.

Besides the plot, I enjoyed that this book was set in the world of art and art museums. I learned a lot!

I read Should Have Told You Sooner in two rapid spurts, which is rare for me. I had to put the book down due to some pressing deadlines (overdue library books and blog calendar issues). I didn’t want to pick it up again until I could finish it quickly. I’m declaring that this book has “can’t put it down” energy, even though I put it down.

Appeal: Read Should Have Told You Sooner when you’re looking for an escape to another life (unless you happen to be an art curator in London, in which case, lucky you!).