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

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.

“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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As the cover says, this is certainly an emotional page-turner. One might say it is certainly a women’s story as the primary characters are two females. But it’s definitely not only that. The chapters alternate between Tessa and Rebecca. Tessa, seemingly on the outs with her husband in Brooklyn, rents a very small, cheap and uncomfortable cottage in the Finger Lakes region of northern New York State. Rebecca on the other hand, who obviously comes from money, has, next door, a sumptuous large house. The two women, as unlikely as it may initially seem, become close friends and greatly support each other as the story unfolds. Rebecca Is extremely, or shall we say, overly generous providing memberships to a country club and arranges for swimming and tennis lessons for Tessa and her children and a whole lot of other things. Both women have children. Both women have “issues.” Rebecca has big-deal issues, one being that she seems to be an alcoholic. Tessa’s “issues” seem less severe, but they’re there. A “subtitle” at the bottom of the cover of my copy of the book asks, “How do keep your children safe when you can’t even protect yourself?” To say more here might be to spoil the story for others. Let’s just say in an emotional roller-coaster. And a wonderful book. I give it 5 stars!

The story was very slow moving and even halfway thru the book I was still wondering where it was going. It took forever to get to the drama and then it was glossed over and quick. This could have been a good story, the idea is solid. But it was just not really believable. Still, I did read the whole thing because it pulled me in enough to see how it ended.

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.

I loved this book. The children making freinds . Mother’s struggles and problems. Very touching. Very troubling an sympathetic for both mothers.

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.