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pixieqirl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sambabiak's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mazza57's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. I am ashamed to say it has been on my shelf for a long while. Set in small town Texas it follows two women, old school friends, at one time inseparable but when Nora returns for her father's funeral she and Sophie have not spoken for 18 years. The narrative is unwound through these two characters and an ensemble cast. Young love, illicit relationships, teenage pregnancy, war and its after effects, alcoholism, lesbianism, desire all play a part in the story line which is explosive throughout.
The characters are so fully fleshed out and the storyline captures the reader from first to last but does not reveal everything at once. It asks the reader to examine social mores and approaches to "otherness", to not meeting the social norms.
It is difficult to describe without giving away the plot but it has shades of every colour in its brimming plot line. I loved it
The characters are so fully fleshed out and the storyline captures the reader from first to last but does not reveal everything at once. It asks the reader to examine social mores and approaches to "otherness", to not meeting the social norms.
It is difficult to describe without giving away the plot but it has shades of every colour in its brimming plot line. I loved it
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
A sweet story, full of emotions and engrossing.
I loved the characters, rooted for them, and the plot kept me hooked.
It's well written and the characters are fleshed out.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the characters, rooted for them, and the plot kept me hooked.
It's well written and the characters are fleshed out.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
kkop12's review against another edition
3.0
A better read than I had anticipated. Two main characters were life like. I have to admit that I teared up a few times. I was so attached to the characters and relieved for them at the end.
mxgancxtherine's review against another edition
this was like kinda not great but also really fun for right now. sometimes all u need is unrealistic small-town texas drama for emotional support y'know
jazsever's review against another edition
3.0
Pensé que esta novela me iba a gustar más de lo que me gustó. No estoy diciendo que fue mala sino que esperaba más.
Fue entretenida pero bastante predecible. Desde un comienzo yo ya sabía a donde iba a parar.
Me gusto leer una historia con protagonistas queer que no son adolescentes/jóvenes adultos.
Fue entretenida pero bastante predecible. Desde un comienzo yo ya sabía a donde iba a parar.
Me gusto leer una historia con protagonistas queer que no son adolescentes/jóvenes adultos.
_ninahannah's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty much every relationship depicted was extremely unhealthy, including the main romance where they'd be "forgiving" each other one minute and then yelling at each other about the things they supposedly forgave each other for the next. I also didn't think the characters were very consistent or fully developed. But also, I don't normally like romance novels but I guess this is how straight people feel when they read them. So like, three stars cause gay?
brewtifulfiction's review against another edition
5.0
This is a story of friendship, family and fueds.
Nora and Sophie, who secretly fell in love as teenagers. But living in a small, religious town in Texas meant that what they found beautiful, in the eyes of others was considered a sin. The day came when Sophie's mother caught them in the act shall we say and one such consequence for their actions was that they ended up separated. Nora forced to leave town by her father and for many years after there would be no contact between these women.
Fast forward eighteen years and Nora is back in her hometown for her dad's funeral.
A lot has changed since she left but some things remain the same, like her feelings for Sophie.
You always come back to your first love.
Sophie to everyone else has moved on. The secret of Nora kept all this time, the towns people none the wiser to her true thoughts and feelings. Now married to Nora's ex boyfriend Charlie, she is now a mother, a wife oh and a recovering alcoholic.
But after seeing Nora at Ray's funeral (Nora's father) she can't deny those feelings that she's tried to keep buried.
Will she be able to overcome her personal fears and begin to finally live the life that she desires and deserves?
I love that the protagonists in this story are both feisty and independent in their own ways. Both on a journey of discovery, opening minds and reinforcing that love is love no matter who it is with. A beautiful representation of just how complicated any relationship can be.
This isn't a disaster waiting to happen; it's a challenge. I'm Sophie F***ing Wyatt. Bring it on.
There is a real depth to this tale.
Each character with their own flaws, there is no perfection to be found here making the story all the more realistic.
This is a second chance romance that is emotional, exhilarating and explicit (but tasteful) at times. Be prepared to jump on a rollercoaster that you might not want to get off of.
The Secret of You and Me is a quick and easy read and although it might be a romance novel that is outside of some peoples comfort zones but I feel like it is a necessary read and I hope to see more like it in the near future.
Nora and Sophie, who secretly fell in love as teenagers. But living in a small, religious town in Texas meant that what they found beautiful, in the eyes of others was considered a sin. The day came when Sophie's mother caught them in the act shall we say and one such consequence for their actions was that they ended up separated. Nora forced to leave town by her father and for many years after there would be no contact between these women.
Fast forward eighteen years and Nora is back in her hometown for her dad's funeral.
A lot has changed since she left but some things remain the same, like her feelings for Sophie.
You always come back to your first love.
Sophie to everyone else has moved on. The secret of Nora kept all this time, the towns people none the wiser to her true thoughts and feelings. Now married to Nora's ex boyfriend Charlie, she is now a mother, a wife oh and a recovering alcoholic.
But after seeing Nora at Ray's funeral (Nora's father) she can't deny those feelings that she's tried to keep buried.
Will she be able to overcome her personal fears and begin to finally live the life that she desires and deserves?
I love that the protagonists in this story are both feisty and independent in their own ways. Both on a journey of discovery, opening minds and reinforcing that love is love no matter who it is with. A beautiful representation of just how complicated any relationship can be.
This isn't a disaster waiting to happen; it's a challenge. I'm Sophie F***ing Wyatt. Bring it on.
There is a real depth to this tale.
Each character with their own flaws, there is no perfection to be found here making the story all the more realistic.
This is a second chance romance that is emotional, exhilarating and explicit (but tasteful) at times. Be prepared to jump on a rollercoaster that you might not want to get off of.
The Secret of You and Me is a quick and easy read and although it might be a romance novel that is outside of some peoples comfort zones but I feel like it is a necessary read and I hope to see more like it in the near future.