The Secrets We Keep: A gripping emotional page turner (Powerful emotional novels about impossible choices by Kate Hewitt)

I read this in one night . Simple but kept me engaged . You will all enjoy it ! Give it a read

“The Secrets We Keep” by Kate Hewitt We all have secrets. Some we hold that others have shared with us. Some we hold within ourselves because they are personal. And some are there that we are unaware of until something happens and it comes to the surface. Some are so damning one doesn’t know if they are real or not or why they have suddenly arisen or why they are suddenly taking over your life without your control. When do secrets become memories? Or are they always a form of a memory? Thus some memories are secrets? Rebecca has secrets. But one is a memory she wished would have stayed locked away instead of consuming her. It has been eating her up from the inside out more and more everyday. Tessa has secrets. Some she are aware of some she will come to find she has hidden and locked them away. Someone else holds the key. Rebecca and Tessa have chosen to spend the summer in Upstate NY. Their cabins are as complete opposites, as are their personalities, their backgrounds, and their children. Yet, they strike up a friendship, of sorts, that benefits each of them in very different ways. When an incident occurs affecting Rebecca, Trisha is there to help. Yet, when status quo is to reign again, can it really happen? Or does one incident affect not just the other friend but all the family members? Short term and long term? Are there still secrets and questions and insecurities that still exist or complicate things as versus helping? What happens if they are revealed? Two women away for the summer to try and get their lives, their selves, and their families back on track, find that achieving that goal will take a lot more work and revelations than they were ever prepared for and the outcomes of those goals weren’t what they hoped to achieve or in the manner that they would have ever chosen. A novel about family, friends, self preservation and self seeking. About the tangled web we weave when we hold back certain things and when when we let them go. When is it beneficial and when is it harmful? And where do the lines of friendship, family and forgiveness get drawn? A fascinating novel that is both complex and simple in its storyline. The author has written her characters so that they truly fit the novel and the role they each play. It was realistic and relatable. Engaging and enthralling. The reader will root for the characters and question them and their choices and become so involved in the novel, you may be surprised where it ends. Rating: 4.3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It is no secret that being a parent is probably the most rewarding job and the most challenging job a person will ever have. We may find amazing joy as well as unspeakable heartbreak as we nurture our children and keep ourselves grounded in relationships with spouses and other family members. In “The Secrets We Keep,” by Kate Hewitt, we are pulled into the story of two families who happen to meet on summer vacation at a lakefront resort. Both families are women with their children trying to get away from everything at home and find themselves and peace of mind. Tessa and Rebecca appear to be totally opposites: Rebecca living a wealthy life and staying in a luxurious beachfront house; and, Tessa just making it and staying in a cabin next door further from the lake. But they discover they are more alike than what appears. They both face the same challenges with communicating with husbands and raising children while defining their own roles and responsibilities. This is a beautifully written story that transports the reader into the two family dynamics as they bond over the summer. Kate has a keen eye for the subtle thoughts, emotions and actions that make us who we are and the motivations behind those actions. Envy, jealousy, compassion and kindness are all shared by both mothers. It was a delight to read. I laughed at the silly things the parents did like skinny dipping in the lake while the children were asleep. I marveled at the bond of friendship that developed between Tessa and Rebecca in one short summer. I cried for their trauma and loss and their final separation. In her own words, Kate tells us what she hopes we get from this book. “I wanted to write a story about forgiveness and grace, because as parents we are trying our hardest to do right by our beloved children, and sometimes – even often, we make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes have consequences, even terrible ones, but I do believe there is still grace and hope to be found, and ultimately that is what “The Secrets We Keep” is about.” This story is all about grace and hope under extreme pressure and perseverance. Rebecca and Tessa show us that as parents, when we do our best for ourselves and our children; we can give the gift of promises kept and peace of mind.

Great read right up until the very end. Ordered for a book club read. I was captivated by the plot. However I got to the end and was so disappointed, I felt like the author just gave up or didn’t know how to close the story. It just didn’t match the book and it was a bit of a disappointment. Otherwise it was a good read.

As a mom, i related to both women in this book. So much so, that I googled to see if it was made into a movie. Which it has, but in 2020 so I’m not positive if I watched it. I will. It’s like I knew what was going to happen, the reasonings behind things said or done. It even, at one point, encouraged me to send an apology text to my oldest about something that we went through a few years ago. It was touching and realistic. I couldn’t understand the entire time I read this, why it all seemed soooo familiar. Until at end, I read a note from the author, to the readers. That’s when I began to understand and the tears finally flowed. I would definitely recommend this book to any mother that doesn’t feel she did a perfect job.... at her job of being a mother. Which reminds me, I also at one point told apologized to my youngest about another issue. This book has wanted me to strive better as a wife and mother. Showing my husband appreciation and asking (my now grown kids) what they would like to do as a girls day, or individually if they prefer. (Both daughters) This book gave me hope. That even though things weren’t perfect, and even though bad things happened during their childhood. It’s in the past. And all we can do now, is accept life can be hard throwing obstacles in your way, but you must rise above, not place blame, and move on trying to learn from it.

“How do you keep your chili safe when you can’t even protect yourself?” That line on the front cover spoke to me. I have a blended family of 4 kids, but when my 2 oldest were little, it was just the 3 of us. For years it was like that. There were many times a thought like this crossed my mind, single a single mother, so I can definitely relate. Right away, I was intrigued by this book. The story follows 2 women, Tessa and Rebecca. The chapters flip back and forth from each woman’s point of view. I really enjoyed this form of storytelling because it gave me a wife view of what’s going on from all angles and I felt like I was really there. I could easily picture myself there. These women are from different worlds, but they find themselves neighbors for summer break when they rent houses in Upstate New York right next to each other. Rebecca is a rich housewife, and Tessa is a SAHM from Brooklyn. They are each trying to get away from their lives, but what back hime is so bad? So much happens in their 3 months as summer neighbors. To say this story was drama filled would be an understatement. The female friendship that was formed at the beginning was intense and special. I was so drawn to their stories, that I legit enjoyed this book. It’s one of the first times a book has made me cry. The final heartbreaking twist at the end is one that I did not see coming. The writing was so well written. And jt flowed so beautifully together. It was a gripping novel to say the least.

I don't know what to say about this novel without offering up spoilers. Other than to say it was one of the best novels I've read in the "women's fiction" category. I didn't like Rebecca at first. I thought she was a typical "rich b***h". She was such a narcissistic snob. She thought she was such a well put together woman with her expensive clothes, high end cosmetics & her country club airs. She thought she was being so well-intentioned when she befriended Tessa, like she was doing Tessa a favor when she befriended her. Tessa was a "poor me" woman. She was feeling sorry for herself, feeling guilty for everything she did. She spent her time apologizing for being alive, as if she was in the way. She wasn't a bad person; she was really a nice person, too nice. She felt that everything she did was wrong, and she was forever apologizing. Both women become friends, and their worlds change dramatically. Ms. Hewitt's writing was wonderful and beautiful. The characters, including the children come alive under the author's pen. I felt like her characters were real people living real lives. By the end of the story, both woman are transformed by the other. Their lives are permanently changed, their personas changed by life and circumstances. Good things and horrible things occur. This was a wonderful story. I have a number of Ms. Hewitt's novels in my TBR pile, and I plan on reading another of her novels next. What a terrific writer Kate Hewitt is!

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I liked both of the main characters, Tessa and Rebecca - both interesting in their different ways, both of them well-written. I did not like Rebecca's youngest daughter, Zoe. She did not really bond with anyone, but the most annoying part to me was she was always "just there", lurking in the background and intruding in private conversations and moments. I wanted to tell her, go away! The story was so good, and there she was, once again, which brought the scene to a screeching halt. I was waiting with great anticipation for the big reveal, Rebecca's secret. The chapters went on and on, still no reveal - and then finally, there it was. It was not the "biggie" secret that I had been waiting for, so it was a let down for me. Tessa's reveal towards the end of the book was not jaw dropping either. I felt that Tessa's interactions with Josh, Rebecca's husband didn't ring true to me. I didn't know how I wanted the book to end - happily ever after for everyone or a stunner of an ending. For that, you will have to read the book.

Once I started reading I could put it down! I was hooked and loved every minute about it, it is a read I would recommend to anyone who loves beautiful human stories

Engaging plot! A bit hard to relate but the interest to know the rest of the story never dwindles!

This story started slow for me but after the first few chapters I was hooked. The writing is sensitive and the story is sad. There are moments of joy but mostly it is about the loneliness of motherhood and mental illness. Be prepared for tears.

I've never read an 'emotional' book before but really enjoyed this one from the first page. I found it interesting, pacey and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the exploration of the senses and sensitivities, through the emotional turmoil, of the two main characters, both women. I liked the style as it was quite an uncomplicated linear read and the plot had a couple of twists at the end. It was the small nuances and details that kept adding to the deep characters that I really enjoyed. It was refreshing not to have a traditional happy ever after ending. I recommend trying this if you like character driven tales. I'm going to buy another Kate Hewitt book now.

4 stars. This was a first book for me of Hewitt's and I enjoyed the read. The front cover of the book has the blurb : how do you keep your children safe when you can't even protect yourself?" The book tells the story of two women from totally different backgrounds who meet while they are renting cottages on the same lake. Each of them is there with their children and the husbands have stayed behind in New York City. Tessa rents an old and somewhat small cottage, the best that she can afford. She is there to spend time with her two children and hopefully help heal from the blow that her mother's death has dealt her. Rebecca is renting a large and opulent home with her three children and she is fleeing a bad time in her life with a lot of excess drinking and some embarassing situations. She also has a secret that is haunting her. The two families meet and become summer friends with Rebecca taking Tessa under her wings, setting her up with an expensive club membership so their kids can hang out together and even giving her a makeover to help with Tessa's lack of self confidence. They all become closer over the summer until one explosive situation happens that changes everything for everyone. This is a very interesting read and Hewitt did a good job of telling the story of each woman and the choices they make. A good read.