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.

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!

“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.

*****May be some spoilers*****I think this book was well written and a story that wasn’t far-fetched at all- it could have happened in real life- which are the kinds of books I like to read. If a book keeps me interested to the point that I don’t want to put it down when I have to, and I look forward to getting home from work to read it again, I give it five stars. This was a five star ⭐️ book. I’m not sure what the “lesson” was that readers were supposed to take away, but I still enjoyed it, nonetheless. There were a few things I thought were unrealistic, such as the rehab that Rebecca went to stay at. No rehabs allow patients to lay in bed, sleep, & watch TV all day, and participate only “if they want to”. Also, once she made the discovery that she did during her stay, just because the situation may not have been what she first thought it was, it was still something that most people wouldn’t just get over as quickly as she did. Also, one of the doctors in the book told Tessa “not to worry”, and that her daughter should be just fine. Doctors don’t do that. However, those things, although glaringly inaccurate to me, didn’t take away from the story. I’ve read most of Kate Hewitt’s books, and I thought this was one of the best ones. I would recommend.

This book is about two women whose paths cross when they rent lake cottages next to each other in upstate New York for the summer. The story is told in alternating chapters by the two of them. Tessa, who lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two kids, is looking to escape her everyday life for the summer. She’s feeling out of sorts and wants a short reprieve from her critical husband. Even though money is tight, her husband reluctantly agrees to let her and the kids spend the summer on a lake, and he will visit if he can get away. When they arrive at the lake, there are two cottages next to each other. One is big and beautiful, the other is small and shabby. The kids are disappointed when they realize theirs is the small and shabby one. Tessa notices a luxury SUV next to the big cottage, and an attractive woman and three kids walking towards them. The woman introduces herself as Rebecca. Tessa immediately notices Rebecca’s expensive clothes, impeccably done hair, nails, and makeup, and million-dollar smile. And her air of total confidence. Tessa wants to run and hide. She’s wearing frumpy clothes, no makeup, has neglected her hair and nails for months, and has zero confidence. She can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a life like Rebecca, with fists full of money and no problems. But of course, just because she has lots of money and a million-dollar smile, doesn’t mean Rebecca has a charmed life, as Tessa will eventually discover. The two women form a friendship of sorts. Little do they know, their lives will be changed forever before the end of the summer. There will be personal growth. There will also be tragedy. This was easy to get into. Four stars might be a little generous, but three stars doesn't seem like enough.