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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Kate Hewitt for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
My rating is actually 4.5 stars but since there aren't half stars I always round up.
First of all, Trigger Warning for self harm and child sexual abuse.
Keeping yourself safe is most important, so make sure you’re in a healthy place before reading, my lovelies.
Feel free to send me a message on here, or a DM on Twitter for more privacy, if you want to know more about content that may trigger you.
Now onto the book review.
It seems as if everyone is keeping secrets from those around them. Pretending that they’re okay, when they’re anything but. I think we all can relate to this.
Over summer vacation 2 moms, Tessa and Rebecca, take their kids to summer vacation cottages. They didn’t know each other before the summer, but they end up neighbors, friends, and changing each other’s lives forever. They say it’s because their kids need playmates, but both moms know they need each other’s help more. Tessa has 2 kids, is in dire need of a makeover, constantly doubts herself, and has enough money but still must live by a budget. Rebecca has 3 kids, a glamorous lifestyle, a seemingly perfect life, more money than she can spend, and some serious issues going on. Hence the trigger warning. People are jealous of how well put together she seems, but inside she’s a wreck, just trying to get through the day.
I appreciated that self harm in adults is discussed. And not as a one off conversation. As a legitimate mental health concern that is featured throughout the novel. If you’re looking for good representation of self harm in adults, this is your book.
The overall story the author tells of moms as people first that also care fiercely for their children is refreshing. And you can’t go wrong with a summer cottage on the lake story.
The only caveat that I have is the weird situation that is thrust upon one of the moms about halfway through the story. I can’t give away any spoilers, but it’s kind of a you need to go with the flow story line and not critique that it probably isn’t realistic. Oh, also the ending completely wrecked me. So I can see how some people might have an issue with it.
Overall, The Secrets We Keep featured some truly broken adults who are trying to hold it together to care for their children. A wonderful authentic representation of adult self harm. I highly recommend, as long as you won’t be too triggered.
My rating is actually 4.5 stars but since there aren't half stars I always round up.
First of all, Trigger Warning for self harm and child sexual abuse.
Keeping yourself safe is most important, so make sure you’re in a healthy place before reading, my lovelies.
Feel free to send me a message on here, or a DM on Twitter for more privacy, if you want to know more about content that may trigger you.
Now onto the book review.
It seems as if everyone is keeping secrets from those around them. Pretending that they’re okay, when they’re anything but. I think we all can relate to this.
Over summer vacation 2 moms, Tessa and Rebecca, take their kids to summer vacation cottages. They didn’t know each other before the summer, but they end up neighbors, friends, and changing each other’s lives forever. They say it’s because their kids need playmates, but both moms know they need each other’s help more. Tessa has 2 kids, is in dire need of a makeover, constantly doubts herself, and has enough money but still must live by a budget. Rebecca has 3 kids, a glamorous lifestyle, a seemingly perfect life, more money than she can spend, and some serious issues going on. Hence the trigger warning. People are jealous of how well put together she seems, but inside she’s a wreck, just trying to get through the day.
I appreciated that self harm in adults is discussed. And not as a one off conversation. As a legitimate mental health concern that is featured throughout the novel. If you’re looking for good representation of self harm in adults, this is your book.
The overall story the author tells of moms as people first that also care fiercely for their children is refreshing. And you can’t go wrong with a summer cottage on the lake story.
The only caveat that I have is the weird situation that is thrust upon one of the moms about halfway through the story. I can’t give away any spoilers, but it’s kind of a you need to go with the flow story line and not critique that it probably isn’t realistic. Oh, also the ending completely wrecked me. So I can see how some people might have an issue with it.
Overall, The Secrets We Keep featured some truly broken adults who are trying to hold it together to care for their children. A wonderful authentic representation of adult self harm. I highly recommend, as long as you won’t be too triggered.
Wow! I just finished reading The Secrets We Keep and my mind and emotions are still reeling! This novel touched upon so many troubling psychological topics, and was so powerful and moving. The characters were amazing and I was incredibly drawn to them, and I felt so many emotions while reading about their lives and what they were going through. I was enthralled right from the beginning and read every chance I got. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I loved this book and will definitely be reading more by this author!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Started this book thinking it was a summer thriller and it ended up being a summer drama between two moms from different backgrounds. Lots of childhood trauma that adults unpacked while the children in the book tried to enjoy a summer. Halfway through, I still wasn’t sure where the story was going or what the plot truly was-left me feeling sad and disappointed.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to review this book.
This story was complex, riveting and I enjoyed it. It's the story of two women, both struggling with their past, and the longing for what they may not have. Tessa and Rebecca couldn't be more different, yet they form an unlikely friendship even as Rebecca's life is spiraling out of control. There is a barely suppressed manic energy about the words on the page at times, but that fits the novel well.
I felt like I got to know the characters, their stories, and the struggles they had. The novel held my attention all the way through, and I appreciate that with a book.
This story was complex, riveting and I enjoyed it. It's the story of two women, both struggling with their past, and the longing for what they may not have. Tessa and Rebecca couldn't be more different, yet they form an unlikely friendship even as Rebecca's life is spiraling out of control. There is a barely suppressed manic energy about the words on the page at times, but that fits the novel well.
I felt like I got to know the characters, their stories, and the struggles they had. The novel held my attention all the way through, and I appreciate that with a book.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one read fast and I definitely will read more by the author. I didn’t like where this book went at times, but I needed to find out what would happen based on the very beginning of the book. I look forward to the book club discussion about this one to hear what other people think.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Seems like some pretty mixed reviews of this book, and I completely understand that. This book is a little out of my wheelhouse, although to be honest I'm not sure whose wheelhouse it would belong to.
This book starts out with two women and their respective families. There are some clear differences between the women and how they interact with their children (and each other). Rebecca seems like a manic drunk. Tessa seems like a pushover. There's a pretty straightforward comparison of socioeconomic status (over and over again). And then things go incredibly wonky.
So a big theme of this book is, of course, secrets. Keeping things from each others, from our partners, children, friends, etc. Both women claim to have pretty superficial relationships with... well, anyone. Their marriages are negatively impacted, and they don't seem to have great relationships with their children. So yes, there's some of that "you don't really know what the other person is going through", as Tessa fails to learn time and time again.
What makes this book a little more interesting to me is the trauma each woman experiences, and that both of them have blocked those traumas for as long as they possibly can, until absolutely everything is a terrific mess at the end. I think a lot of things about this. I think it says a lot about how we address mental health in our country, especially women and mothers. And I think it says a lot about how we see trauma as something we "get over" in a short period of time and not something that we may have to live with for the rest of our lives. I think it says a lot about how we talk about mental health with children, and how we may think they don't realize that something's wrong, or how they can internalize that trauma to deal with their pain and uncertainty. You see that with these children who really don't understand their mothers or what they've gone through, but it's impacted their relationships, and the children have no idea how to cope with a parent who won't speak to them about what's happening.
There's one thing that left me extremely dissatisfied in this book, and it was the husbands. They are constantly painted in bad lights (granted, this is from the perspectives of their wives, so you could argue this is the unreliable narrator). They don't join their families (which, again, you could make an argument about our work culture, lack of understanding of mental health, OR that they themselves need a break of their own [which, again, THEIR KIDS]), they are flippant or irritated when they talk with their wives on the phone. Rebecca's husband, Josh, is awful. When Tessa is watching all of the children (which is just a really weird plot device, to say nothing of a really awful IRL decision), there's just a really, really ick setup with Tessa and Josh. Now, you could say that it's completely all right to have two awful husbands to two women (you have to admit, though, it's incredibly convenient), except that both husbands almost redeem themselves by their actions in the end. (Except for Josh. To heck with him.) Their wives don't remember because they've blocked their trauma, and this is where we learn what Rebecca had to deal with, as well as what Tessa's family experienced. So... the husbands were awful until they weren't.
The book gets into some pretty heavy topics. I'm not opposed, but I wasn't prepared. There were some pretty deep secrets, to say the least. In that way it was a hard read, and perhaps also because I really didn't care for either narrator.
This book starts out with two women and their respective families. There are some clear differences between the women and how they interact with their children (and each other). Rebecca seems like a manic drunk. Tessa seems like a pushover. There's a pretty straightforward comparison of socioeconomic status (over and over again). And then things go incredibly wonky.
So a big theme of this book is, of course, secrets. Keeping things from each others, from our partners, children, friends, etc. Both women claim to have pretty superficial relationships with... well, anyone. Their marriages are negatively impacted, and they don't seem to have great relationships with their children. So yes, there's some of that "you don't really know what the other person is going through", as Tessa fails to learn time and time again.
What makes this book a little more interesting to me is the trauma each woman experiences, and that both of them have blocked those traumas for as long as they possibly can, until absolutely everything is a terrific mess at the end. I think a lot of things about this. I think it says a lot about how we address mental health in our country, especially women and mothers. And I think it says a lot about how we see trauma as something we "get over" in a short period of time and not something that we may have to live with for the rest of our lives. I think it says a lot about how we talk about mental health with children, and how we may think they don't realize that something's wrong, or how they can internalize that trauma to deal with their pain and uncertainty. You see that with these children who really don't understand their mothers or what they've gone through, but it's impacted their relationships, and the children have no idea how to cope with a parent who won't speak to them about what's happening.
There's one thing that left me extremely dissatisfied in this book, and it was the husbands. They are constantly painted in bad lights (granted, this is from the perspectives of their wives, so you could argue this is the unreliable narrator). They don't join their families (which, again, you could make an argument about our work culture, lack of understanding of mental health, OR that they themselves need a break of their own [which, again, THEIR KIDS]), they are flippant or irritated when they talk with their wives on the phone. Rebecca's husband, Josh, is awful. When Tessa is watching all of the children (which is just a really weird plot device, to say nothing of a really awful IRL decision), there's just a really, really ick setup with Tessa and Josh. Now, you could say that it's completely all right to have two awful husbands to two women (you have to admit, though, it's incredibly convenient), except that both husbands almost redeem themselves by their actions in the end. (Except for Josh. To heck with him.) Their wives don't remember because they've blocked their trauma, and this is where we learn what Rebecca had to deal with, as well as what Tessa's family experienced. So... the husbands were awful until they weren't.
Spoiler
I will say I did not in any way expect the ending. I was stunned when Katherine died. What an awful scenario. Makes absolutely sense that Rebecca and Tessa will not see each other again; they were not great for each other, to say the absolute least. It was also heart-wrenching to see these women and their relationships with their children, particularly the daughters. The daughters are so impressionable and, especially in the case of Katherine, seem so wounded. They are the daughters of women who really need support to heal themselves and their families. There really are no winners here, but you do get the impression that both women have learned from the experience and are moving forward.The book gets into some pretty heavy topics.
Spoiler
Drinking, depression, child/family sexual abuse, suicide, cutting.
2022 Popsugar reading challenge, prompt #25- a book about a secret.