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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
In a month of, so far, cosy Christmas reads, Our Little Secret was just the psychological thriller that I needed.
We meet Angela in a police interrogation room, being questioned about the disappearance of someone called Saskia. The story of who Saskia is and what has really happened to her unfolds through Angela giving her statement to the police.
This one is a slow burn, but one that I was hooked by instantly and I found myself completely unable to work out how the story was going to end, which I loved! And oh wow that ending gave me actual goosebumps......
We meet Angela in a police interrogation room, being questioned about the disappearance of someone called Saskia. The story of who Saskia is and what has really happened to her unfolds through Angela giving her statement to the police.
This one is a slow burn, but one that I was hooked by instantly and I found myself completely unable to work out how the story was going to end, which I loved! And oh wow that ending gave me actual goosebumps......
Roz Nay needs to write more books!
Now I have read both of hers and quite honestly, we are ready for some happiness in 2021. (Note: her third book, The Hunted, is for release this July.)
Our Little Secret is her first novel and it is a great debut. Starting off in a police interrogation room, Angela is being questioned about the disappearance of Saskia; her best friend/ex-boyfriend's wife.
From there, she takes the story to the beginning - school years spent with HP, leading to university abroad and the appearance of Saskia and unbeknownst to the beginning of our mystery.
Chapters alternate between Angela's retelling of the past, to the present questioning with Detective Novak.
We know something is askew, but it's a slow burn to discover what going on and what's to come.
The ending gave me shivers! Recommended!
Now I have read both of hers and quite honestly, we are ready for some happiness in 2021. (Note: her third book, The Hunted, is for release this July.)
Our Little Secret is her first novel and it is a great debut. Starting off in a police interrogation room, Angela is being questioned about the disappearance of Saskia; her best friend/ex-boyfriend's wife.
From there, she takes the story to the beginning - school years spent with HP, leading to university abroad and the appearance of Saskia and unbeknownst to the beginning of our mystery.
Chapters alternate between Angela's retelling of the past, to the present questioning with Detective Novak.
We know something is askew, but it's a slow burn to discover what going on and what's to come.
The ending gave me shivers! Recommended!
Okay, wow. This book surprised me for sure. Initially, I had no idea what was going on or what I was getting myself into. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to finish this book because I didn’t totally love the beginning of the book, but holy crap am I so glad I persevered. This is exactly what I wanted Our Kind is Cruelty to be and more. You completely sympathize with Angela at the beginning because of the fact that she starts her story that way, when she had HP and was in heaven. I was even mad at Saskia for ruining her life and I totally didn’t understand what happened with Angela and HP and whether they even officially ended. That was honestly pretty shitty of HP to not give Angela closure. Typical men behavior honestly with the whole “I still want you in my life” bullshit when they clearly never had a clear ending and had been in love before. But then when he did try and then she started doing super weird things like trying to make Olive like her more than Saskia (Olive’s loving mother for crying out loud), I started to feel unsettled. When Angela told the story about the witch and then when she put Saskia’s underwear on, I officially was like “this girl is fucking deranged.” I’m so glad I finished this book. The ending is great. I almost want to give it 5 stars, but I didn’t love it in the beginning. Strong 4 stars, leaning toward 5. But we’ll leave it. Wow.
Interesting. A great quick read. It captures your attention and holds it right to the end of the story.
"What he doesn't understand, though, is how steadily people decay. We all look the same on the outside while sadness eats at our core." Angela Petitjean aka Little John (LJ) has spent her whole love in love with one person, HP, who she truly believes is her soulmate. She has planned her whole life around him and when he breaks her heart and marries Saskia, who he met while visiting her at Oxford, her world begins to unravel. She moves back home but never gets closure because her life remains connected to HP and his new family. The author does a great job building up to the climax and her writing style was perfect for the way the ending finally unfolds. The story is told from Angela's perspective as she is being questioned at the precinct. Angela switched back and forth between stories of first love and events from the present she deems relevant to the disappearance of Saskia. It was heartbreaking to hear her speak of her love for HP as you see him still holding on and not allowing the closure. The author was amazing at illuminating how many times people see someone in agony and despair and don't intervene when they need to. Intervention often times comes when it's too late. If you have ever grieved a relationship that you couldn't move on from, this is the tale for you. This book definitely taught me not to ignore the warning signs. Thanks @stmartinspress for the ARC to review and the opportunity to give honest feedback.
Everything I disliked about The Sinner is flawlessly done in this, Our Little Secret. Interestingly told as a one-sided conversation, this unique and intriguing story swirls us around like a sophisticated red wine in a connoisseur’s tasting glass. This book will unquestionably be well regarded and highly spoken of throughout 2018, and rightly so.
A trippy love story that shows us first love never leaves, just ask Angela Petitjean. Our Little Secret will screw with your mind as Angela’s one-way conversation sucks you to her side, her point-of-view and her truth. Led through her version of history as told to the detectives on her case, you are left scratching your head and flipping through pages, trying to find out what exactly happened and where it all went wrong.
Buckle up, this is one you won’t want to miss.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A trippy love story that shows us first love never leaves, just ask Angela Petitjean. Our Little Secret will screw with your mind as Angela’s one-way conversation sucks you to her side, her point-of-view and her truth. Led through her version of history as told to the detectives on her case, you are left scratching your head and flipping through pages, trying to find out what exactly happened and where it all went wrong.
Buckle up, this is one you won’t want to miss.
For the full review, please visit: https://fortheloveofthepageblog.wordpress.com/
*Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is my least favorite kind of story - two people in love then some idiot comes between them and steals one of them away while the other is left totally like wtf?
I hate it. But then again I’m a jealous person and definitely hate reading about this stuff. So avoid it if you also hate them.
I hate it. But then again I’m a jealous person and definitely hate reading about this stuff. So avoid it if you also hate them.
This was an okay psychological thriller, but not one of my favorites. Through the medium of a police interrogation, Angela takes us through the history of her relationship with her high school boyfriend, HP, and his now wife, Saskia, who is currently missing. The police suspect Angela in Saskia's disappearance, and Angela insists on starting her story at the beginning, so we go through her life as she meets HP, falls in love with him, and how everything changes when he meets Saskia. I did relate to Angela in some uncomfortable ways, and found get an interesting character, but was not totally compelled by her story nor did I find this to be an especially thrilling thriller. But it's gotten some rave reviews from other people, so I'd suggest checking it out for yourself if it sounds interesting.
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book. I am still shaking my head thinking about where it went wrong for me. I loved the beginning, couldn't get enough and then somewhere in the middle my love affair started to fade and at the end I guess I felt betrayed. Maybe that is what the author is going for, I don't know. Maybe much like Angela I thought HP's choice was just a little blip, but it turned out to be so much more so. Perhaps the problem is I am too much like Angela. :) 3.5 stars Read it and see what you think!
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book!
LOTS OF SPOILERS BUT I'M TOO LAZY TO TAG THEM ALL OR SEPERATE THEM OUT IN ANY KIND OF REAL WAY SO SCROLL ON BY UNLESS YOU REALLY WANT THEM.
Pros: I was drawn in pretty quickly, which is no small thing considering I've just lost my mom and my attention span has been more suited for 20 minute episodes of Parks and Rec and less suited for reading. And I liked Angela... at first.
I liked the set up, of being in an interrogation room and Angela slowly spinning the story of the last 11 years or so. I liked the promise of the story answering questions and possibly buying time for something else to happen.
I even liked that my feelings changed the more Angela talked about her life. I don't mind unlikeable protaganists, especially if I'm drawn to their story. And I was totally on board with disliking the missing Saskia at first.
Cons: The ending just had me disappointed. I kept waiting for Angela to live up to her potential (although, really, wasn't everyone?). I though Angela (although, to be honest, I prefer Little John for her name) had a GAME PLAN. But she didn't. And that makes me a little angry. She repeatedly talks about her intelligence, but it's not on display.
Like, at all.
Is it twisted that I wanted her to either A. Not be the killer or B. Get away with it?
Instead, the book bummed me out. I love a good thriller, and I can deal with sad, messed up endings, but in the end the thing that made me most sad was all the lost love. Her parents marriage, Angela and HP, Freddy and Angela, Saskia and HP... everything was just depressing.
Also, it was hard to tell what was fact and fiction about HP's relationship with Angela. If he wasn't still in love with her, I totally don't get why he kept such a close relationship with someone who was a total drag (seriously, Angela is a bummer), clearly hated his wife and had no respect for his marriage, and said some effed up shiz to his kid.
And I get why teen Angela loved HP so much, but after he pretty much ditched her, I don't know why she still considered him so perfect. It's so clear that her life was revolving around some dude that only kind of existed. Same with Freddy and his obsession for Angela (although again, the end was so weird).
Verdict: I'm still mixed, but it did keep me reading, even if the ending was a let down.
LOTS OF SPOILERS BUT I'M TOO LAZY TO TAG THEM ALL OR SEPERATE THEM OUT IN ANY KIND OF REAL WAY SO SCROLL ON BY UNLESS YOU REALLY WANT THEM.
Pros: I was drawn in pretty quickly, which is no small thing considering I've just lost my mom and my attention span has been more suited for 20 minute episodes of Parks and Rec and less suited for reading. And I liked Angela... at first.
I liked the set up, of being in an interrogation room and Angela slowly spinning the story of the last 11 years or so. I liked the promise of the story answering questions and possibly buying time for something else to happen.
I even liked that my feelings changed the more Angela talked about her life. I don't mind unlikeable protaganists, especially if I'm drawn to their story. And I was totally on board with disliking the missing Saskia at first.
Cons: The ending just had me disappointed. I kept waiting for Angela to live up to her potential (although, really, wasn't everyone?). I though Angela (although, to be honest, I prefer Little John for her name) had a GAME PLAN. But she didn't. And that makes me a little angry. She repeatedly talks about her intelligence, but it's not on display.
Like, at all.
Is it twisted that I wanted her to either A. Not be the killer or B. Get away with it?
Instead, the book bummed me out. I love a good thriller, and I can deal with sad, messed up endings, but in the end the thing that made me most sad was all the lost love. Her parents marriage, Angela and HP, Freddy and Angela, Saskia and HP... everything was just depressing.
Also, it was hard to tell what was fact and fiction about HP's relationship with Angela. If he wasn't still in love with her, I totally don't get why he kept such a close relationship with someone who was a total drag (seriously, Angela is a bummer), clearly hated his wife and had no respect for his marriage, and said some effed up shiz to his kid.
And I get why teen Angela loved HP so much, but after he pretty much ditched her, I don't know why she still considered him so perfect. It's so clear that her life was revolving around some dude that only kind of existed. Same with Freddy and his obsession for Angela (although again, the end was so weird).
Verdict: I'm still mixed, but it did keep me reading, even if the ending was a let down.