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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
Definitely a page turner
I did not want to stop reading this book. Relatable in ways, very sad, interesting story. Would definitely read another book by this author!
I did not want to stop reading this book. Relatable in ways, very sad, interesting story. Would definitely read another book by this author!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story starts off with a mother whose daughter's life is hanging in the balance. We are then taken back to when Tessa arrives at a holiday home and becomes friends with Rebecca who is also renting a holiday home leading back to where the story starts off.
Tessa and Rebecca are very different women. I wasn't to sure about Rebecca to start with. She doesn't come across as a very nice person but as we get to know her she is battling with her own demons and my feelings soon started to thaw towards her. Tessa I found myself relating to more and was interested to see where this friendship was going to go.
The story deals with some harrowing subjects of which I think the author handled really well. They are certainly topics that readers will easily be able to empathise with.
This was such an intense and compelling read. There is an amazing build up throughout the story as you don't know quite what to expect or how things are going to end. I struggled to put the book down and picked it up at every opportunity. By the end I was an emotional wreck as I had been so wrapped up in these two women's lives.
The Secrets We Keep is a powerful and emotional read that had me totally transfixed. A moving and well written story that will pull on every readers heart strings. Loved it and will certainly be reading more by the author.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Tessa and Rebecca are very different women. I wasn't to sure about Rebecca to start with. She doesn't come across as a very nice person but as we get to know her she is battling with her own demons and my feelings soon started to thaw towards her. Tessa I found myself relating to more and was interested to see where this friendship was going to go.
The story deals with some harrowing subjects of which I think the author handled really well. They are certainly topics that readers will easily be able to empathise with.
This was such an intense and compelling read. There is an amazing build up throughout the story as you don't know quite what to expect or how things are going to end. I struggled to put the book down and picked it up at every opportunity. By the end I was an emotional wreck as I had been so wrapped up in these two women's lives.
The Secrets We Keep is a powerful and emotional read that had me totally transfixed. A moving and well written story that will pull on every readers heart strings. Loved it and will certainly be reading more by the author.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked how this book explored concepts of class, though as someone from NYC, I thought it was kind of laughable to imply Park Slope as anything other than upper class. This book had some strong moments and touched on some important themes, but ultimately I struggled with the ending a lot. I liked how in the end it showed that both moms were problematic and self-absorbed. But I did not like how the Park Slope Mom's daughter died while the Upper East Side Mom's child lived. I thought it was a cheap way to pull at our heartstrings. I do think there was something to be said for how the less wealthy woman had her life turned up upside down while the wealthy woman was able to move forward as if nothing happened, I do think that is in many ways a strong statement of how our society works. So for that I gave it 2 stars, even though I really disliked both children getting harmed as the ending. I also thought it was too easy that the UES mom's molester was just her uncle, and not her Dad, and that upon learning that fact, she could just move on. I don't think that was an accurate portrayal of how people who were molested grapple with the issue, even if the person that assaulted them ended up not being their father.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This one has been difficult for me to rate. I found this book impossible to put down and I was so invested in the first 3/4 of the book.
It follows Tessa and Rebecca who become fast friends when they rent lake houses next to each other for the summer. Even though their lives are completely different, they still form a friendship and start spending alot of time together with their children as well.
We know throughout the book that Rebecca is harboring a secret which is causing her to act recklessly. Both women are unhappy in their marriages and worried about their children.
So, why three stars since I couldn't put this book down? The last quarter of the book made me angry. I felt like some completely unnecessary and unbelievable things happened.
While I appreciate the themes in this book, I felt like there would've been less dramatic ways (and those more in line with the story) to accomplish getting them across.
It follows Tessa and Rebecca who become fast friends when they rent lake houses next to each other for the summer. Even though their lives are completely different, they still form a friendship and start spending alot of time together with their children as well.
We know throughout the book that Rebecca is harboring a secret which is causing her to act recklessly. Both women are unhappy in their marriages and worried about their children.
So, why three stars since I couldn't put this book down? The last quarter of the book made me angry. I felt like some completely unnecessary and unbelievable things happened.
While I appreciate the themes in this book, I felt like there would've been less dramatic ways (and those more in line with the story) to accomplish getting them across.