All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash

This novel by Bruce Nash is relatively short, at 240 pages, and yet he successfully creates Rose’s world. She is an older woman (in her 80s) who resides in assisted living. Her days are pretty routine and include meals, medications, visits from her family, time spent with another resident who is a friend, and time spent observing the life of the home. Rose also must deal with dementia.

Nash does what feels like an accurate job of portraying Rose’s inner life. He shows how unnerving dementia can be. Readers watch as Rose often says a word that is not the one that she wants although, often, she is able to make a correction. She also, for example, has a unique way of playing scrabble.

One day, her friend and neighbor is found dead. Will Rose be able to figure out what happened to her and why? Readers will watch as Rose tries to figure things out.

Readers who want to get a sense of the world of someone like Rose may want to give this title a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 July 2025

From the Publisher