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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
An easy read with some good plot twists and secrets to discover. Romance, family ties, death, suspense. It’s got it all really!
I found Sarah's work because we have the same name, but I love it because her characters are all so fully realized, with such heartfelt sympathy and understanding and insight. I am not a fan of a lot of the genre labels for female authors, so it's only grudgingly that I say that this is a move away from "romance" to "chick lit" for her. It's a lovely story, full of twists and turns, about people you feel like you could know, or be. Like all of her other work, I'm looking forward to rereading it again soon!
Having read some dark thriller during my holiday, I picked up this book to get connect to a different world.
Two sisters, their mother and a granddaughter and years of secrets. First of all, I don’t think the title gives the justice the book. Yes, the story is about keeping the secrets, but more how we deal with the unknown, with unexpected “stuff” happens in our life and if we are able to share all that with our family and friends. Because when something bad happens, when life crashes on us, no-one should be alone.
To tell the truth I didn’t find this book funny (as it was mentioned in some reviews). It is so close to reality, there is no room for fun. All the women in the book got to the point where they have to make very serious decisions. Upon the past and these decisions, depends on their future.
I liked both sisters Lauren and Jenna, but my favourite characters are the sisters' mother Nancy and the granddaughter, Mack. Nancy with her life full of ups and downs and Mack for being such a lovable teenager.
It is certainly an easy read but with the depth. Really good when you want to get to another world.
Two sisters, their mother and a granddaughter and years of secrets. First of all, I don’t think the title gives the justice the book. Yes, the story is about keeping the secrets, but more how we deal with the unknown, with unexpected “stuff” happens in our life and if we are able to share all that with our family and friends. Because when something bad happens, when life crashes on us, no-one should be alone.
To tell the truth I didn’t find this book funny (as it was mentioned in some reviews). It is so close to reality, there is no room for fun. All the women in the book got to the point where they have to make very serious decisions. Upon the past and these decisions, depends on their future.
I liked both sisters Lauren and Jenna, but my favourite characters are the sisters' mother Nancy and the granddaughter, Mack. Nancy with her life full of ups and downs and Mack for being such a lovable teenager.
It is certainly an easy read but with the depth. Really good when you want to get to another world.
'How to keep a secret' was a bit of a slow burner compared to similar beach reads, but I ended up really enjoying it. While there is romance at the heart of the story, this is really a family saga, one of four women who are not as close as their family bonds would suggest. The twists and turns of their reunion are enjoyable and kept me interested all the way through.
The main setting is an East Coast island, which really adds to the beach read feel, but because it starts in London that wasn't initially apparent. I also liked the age range of the main characters, which was developed through different narrative perspectives - this also helped build a bit of suspense as the secrets were gradually revealed.
I'd really give this 3.5 stars, but that wasn't an option!
The main setting is an East Coast island, which really adds to the beach read feel, but because it starts in London that wasn't initially apparent. I also liked the age range of the main characters, which was developed through different narrative perspectives - this also helped build a bit of suspense as the secrets were gradually revealed.
I'd really give this 3.5 stars, but that wasn't an option!
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Secrets have a way to come out. Sooner or later. Secret also have this quality to get in the way of really knowing somebody. But a shared secret can also make a bond stronger. You can find secrets in each of those capacities in Sarah Morgan's new story.
We meet three generations of women:
- Nancy - mother of Lauren and Jenna
- Lauren and Jenna - the sisters
- Mack - Lauren's daughter
I wish I could have given this story five stars. The one thing that just kept me from doing it is the way it was written. We get four different point of views and time gaps in between each chapter and that is one hell of a trick to pull off. I wish the author would have stuck with one or two characters for this story and told the others' stories through their eyes. It felt a little too fragmented and took away from the depth it could have had.
It was never too late to move forward.
The characters we meet are:
- Lauren, who fell into a hole when her husband died and left her with a mountain of debt. I liked her well enough and felt sorry for the things that were happening to her. While there was a lot of yearning and pining for the hero described, I didn't feel she really wanted to be with him. There were weeks without interaction.
- Jenna, who wanted to get pregnant so badly, it bordered on obsession. She invested a ridiculous amount of time to observe her cycle, take pregnancy tests and be miserable when she found out that it hadn't taken.
- Nancy, who never really built a relationship with her daughters. Out of the women I loved her the most because there was some real growth there.
- Mack, who I thought was the least likable because of the teenage angst and passive aggressive and melodramatic attitude. Somebody should have taped her mouth shut. Verbal diarrhea isn't pretty. Also, her point of view was the most unnecessary.
- Add a broody, quiet ex-lover to the mix, who so obviously still loved Lauren and who didn't get nearly enough page time and this could have easily been a new favorite. Scott was everything.
- Greg, Jenna's husband, who deserved so much more than Jenna's obsession to become pregnant. He was a sweet, level-headed man whose feelings were treated so negligently.
“You think I sailed into the sunset and forgot about you? It didn’t matter where I was, you were still there with me along with the knowledge that I screwed up the most important decision of my life.”
While I found most of them likable some of them seemed ridiculously focused on their misery.
I would classify this story more women's fiction than romance because that was handled more like a subplot. The main theme is how each of those people handle secrets, how they separate and unite, how they hurt but also heal when you get them out in the open.
I loved Ms. Morgan's description of the island life. I felt right at home and could picture the coastal scenery vividly. I adored the bond between the sisters, their mother Nancy was refreshing with her no-nonsense attitude and the truths she spoke.
The story itself is, while a little predictable, still heartwarming and lovely with its small town charm, the message poignant and meaningful, so it kills me to not be able to give this a 5-star rating. As a first time reader of Sarah Morgan I'm still impressed with her beautiful words though,. I'm looking forward to discovering more books by this author!
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Three generations come together in this one. We have the grandmother, her two daughters, and her sole granddaughter. Suddenly, her daughter (who is living in England) has her world turned upside down and she ends up back in her hometown of Martha's Vineyard.
Each of these women have their own secret. The only question is when they will all be revealed. As living in the same area goes on, the closer they become and the more the secrets start to slide out on their own. Of course, the first big reveal comes untimely, in the middle of a funeral. Did that grab your attention?
This book tugged at my heartstrings. There was so much growth in everyone. It also made me happy because no matter how their relationship was at the end of the day, family was still there for one another. It had the ever so gracious plot line of romance conjoined with family happenings; sometimes I was smiling and sometimes I was sad. This book really pulled me in and had me rooting for everyone.
4.5 stars for me, rounded up to 5 on rating sites. I love a good chick lit book and this was a prime example of a GREAT one. It wasn't cheesy or overly romantic, it had an amazing balance of just life happenings. If you're looking for a great contemporary read, put this on your radar!
Each of these women have their own secret. The only question is when they will all be revealed. As living in the same area goes on, the closer they become and the more the secrets start to slide out on their own. Of course, the first big reveal comes untimely, in the middle of a funeral. Did that grab your attention?
This book tugged at my heartstrings. There was so much growth in everyone. It also made me happy because no matter how their relationship was at the end of the day, family was still there for one another. It had the ever so gracious plot line of romance conjoined with family happenings; sometimes I was smiling and sometimes I was sad. This book really pulled me in and had me rooting for everyone.
4.5 stars for me, rounded up to 5 on rating sites. I love a good chick lit book and this was a prime example of a GREAT one. It wasn't cheesy or overly romantic, it had an amazing balance of just life happenings. If you're looking for a great contemporary read, put this on your radar!
This was quite a good read for me. Told from multiple perspectives, I found each one was distinct and the tone of the characters stayed the same throughout the book. Sometimes I find myself drawn to one point of view over another but in this book I enjoyed them all the same.
I don't always like open-ended story arcs but didn't mind how this one unfolded. Perhaps we'll revisit this family in the future.
I don't always like open-ended story arcs but didn't mind how this one unfolded. Perhaps we'll revisit this family in the future.