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katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
I always enjoy Rea Frey’s women’s fiction for its well-drawn characters and dark, twisty situations.
The players:
Desi designs houses and has just moved from Chicago with her husband Peter and teenaged daughter Jules to the small town of River Falls. Peter is ex-military and now is into the survivalist life. His marriage with Desi is strained. Jules is dating Will, whose mother is sick with end stage cancer. Jules had been planning to attend college in New York, but now wants to forego school in order to stay in River Falls and be close to Will. Desi’s estranged brother Tommy shows up in town. Like Peter, he’s ex-military. Carter is Desi’s ex. He also served with Peter and Tommy in the Marines and has been trying to contact Desi.
The action of this book takes place over the course of a year. Many people in the book are under stress because of big life events. Will Jules and Will be parted when Jules goes to Columbia in the fall? Will and Ava’s mother continues to grow sicker as her cancer advances. Some characters are keeping secrets and have been for years. The marriage between Peter and Desi made me shudder to read at times. I wouldn’t really call either of them particularly likeable characters. Peter was cold and controlling and Desi was meddling and manipulative, but from a drama standpoint, watching their marriage self-destruct made for terribly interesting reading. Several huge medical events happen in the book and they were very well written with nail biting action and excellent pacing. My favorite thing about this book was the description of the setting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for review purposes.
The players:
Desi designs houses and has just moved from Chicago with her husband Peter and teenaged daughter Jules to the small town of River Falls. Peter is ex-military and now is into the survivalist life. His marriage with Desi is strained. Jules is dating Will, whose mother is sick with end stage cancer. Jules had been planning to attend college in New York, but now wants to forego school in order to stay in River Falls and be close to Will. Desi’s estranged brother Tommy shows up in town. Like Peter, he’s ex-military. Carter is Desi’s ex. He also served with Peter and Tommy in the Marines and has been trying to contact Desi.
The action of this book takes place over the course of a year. Many people in the book are under stress because of big life events. Will Jules and Will be parted when Jules goes to Columbia in the fall? Will and Ava’s mother continues to grow sicker as her cancer advances. Some characters are keeping secrets and have been for years. The marriage between Peter and Desi made me shudder to read at times. I wouldn’t really call either of them particularly likeable characters. Peter was cold and controlling and Desi was meddling and manipulative, but from a drama standpoint, watching their marriage self-destruct made for terribly interesting reading. Several huge medical events happen in the book and they were very well written with nail biting action and excellent pacing. My favorite thing about this book was the description of the setting.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for review purposes.
kelizakreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This domestic drama / suspense is narrated by mother, Desi, and daughter, Jules, over the course of a year - beginning the summer before Jules goes to college. I really loved reading Jules POV as she is deciding whether to go to college or become an EMT and falling in love for the first time. Seeing her use her skills to become an EMT was really cool. Desi is a tough character to connect with as she wants everything done a certain way, which isn’t always how life is. Seeing the parallels between her and Jules were quite interesting. This story didn’t lack suspense or action either. There are multiple chapters with life or death situations with secrets to share. It was an overall easy read and at times predictable. Once I hit halfway, I couldn’t put it down.
• TW: Death of a parent due to cancer, life/death situations with blood.
• TW: Death of a parent due to cancer, life/death situations with blood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Blood
bookphile_belle's review against another edition
4.0
This is a domestic drama about a family with many secrets. Set mostly in a beautiful mountain town in North Carolina, this book explores the bonds of family, the thrill and heartache that comes with first love, paths not taken.
This book was fast paced like a thriller, but it wasn’t a thriller at all - but instead a domestic family drama. And boy was it well done. I was hooked from the first page. I found myself often thinking about the book even when I couldn’t be reading it (pesky life getting in the way!).
This book had me intrigued - by the concept and because I could not figure out what would happen next! I loved the characters - especially Jules and Lenore.
This was my first ever Rea Frey novel, but I can assure you, it will NOT be my last.
This book was fast paced like a thriller, but it wasn’t a thriller at all - but instead a domestic family drama. And boy was it well done. I was hooked from the first page. I found myself often thinking about the book even when I couldn’t be reading it (pesky life getting in the way!).
This book had me intrigued - by the concept and because I could not figure out what would happen next! I loved the characters - especially Jules and Lenore.
This was my first ever Rea Frey novel, but I can assure you, it will NOT be my last.
mpauley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
5.0
Will I read anything Rea Frey writes? Yes, yes I will! I would describe this book as family drama/ suspense! One thing I admire about her books is how she can make her characters so authentic and dealing with actual problems the emotions just pour off the pages and they grab me!
Desi along with her family have a gorgeous dreamy getaway home that sits in the mountains of North Carolina, the family visits in the summer and they just arrived to start their vacation. Desi and her husband Peter are dealing with some major marital problems, deep down Desi is hiding a dark secret that causes her to be distant and second guess their marriage, and it appears Peter feels the distance but isn’t making an effort to sit down and talk. Their hoping this getaway will help. Right away their vacation hits a bump
when Desi’s brother Tommy arrives , he and Peter served together in the military. Soon someone from Desi’s past arrives and she begins to panic. Desi’s daughter Jules is experiencing her first love with a local boy named Will. Jules wants to stay in North Carolina and give up going to Columbia and Desi is not happy. Jules has her own secret she isn’t sure how to to deal with, and soon this family will experience a tragedy and will it pull them closer or tear them apart. I give this five stars I loved the entire story line and the characters made this entire story five stars!!
Desi along with her family have a gorgeous dreamy getaway home that sits in the mountains of North Carolina, the family visits in the summer and they just arrived to start their vacation. Desi and her husband Peter are dealing with some major marital problems, deep down Desi is hiding a dark secret that causes her to be distant and second guess their marriage, and it appears Peter feels the distance but isn’t making an effort to sit down and talk. Their hoping this getaway will help. Right away their vacation hits a bump
when Desi’s brother Tommy arrives , he and Peter served together in the military. Soon someone from Desi’s past arrives and she begins to panic. Desi’s daughter Jules is experiencing her first love with a local boy named Will. Jules wants to stay in North Carolina and give up going to Columbia and Desi is not happy. Jules has her own secret she isn’t sure how to to deal with, and soon this family will experience a tragedy and will it pull them closer or tear them apart. I give this five stars I loved the entire story line and the characters made this entire story five stars!!
meganwhitis's review against another edition
4.0
SECRETS OF OUR HOUSE was my first Rea Fray book! It's safe to say I'm a fan now.
My thoughts:
-fast paced and enjoyable writing style
-loved the family drama & mother-daughter relationship aspects
-a hint of romance mixed in with the drama
-a few good
My thoughts:
-fast paced and enjoyable writing style
-loved the family drama & mother-daughter relationship aspects
-a hint of romance mixed in with the drama
-a few good
murphy_overbooked's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rigel's review
2.0
I've seen this book be called a "thriller" or "suspense"... but it just wasn't that. It's more of a family drama in which none of the family members are particularly likeable so it's difficult to root for anyone. Unfortunately, it also felt like next to nothing happened for 70-80% of the book.
So, if you're into that kind of thing this book is for you, but if not... avoid.
So, if you're into that kind of thing this book is for you, but if not... avoid.