I really enjoyed this book.
It was cute, sweet, and sad; all in the perfect amounts.

That Secret You Keep
Brenda Benny
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh wow! What a great story. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a young adult novel.

“Love is love, no matter who it’s between, or how it happens –we all have similar experiences.”

This is a story about a young man that was adopted by 2 men. And his best friend was also raised by 2 men. So rumors had been spread that Max and Hayden were together. But Max was straight and had a huge crush on Serena.

Serena experienced a very traumatic car accident last year where she lost her mother. She blames herself and feels so guilty.

“We can let our secrets define us, cage us, or peck away at us, bit by bit. But if we can admit them, even to ourselves, we might spread our wings and take flight: it can set us free.”

This is a story of secrets. Everyone has secrets. But you can’t let your secrets take over your life. And both Max and Serena find that out as they find love for each other.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to like this book, however I just couldn’t get into the plot and I didn’t care much for the writing style. That being said I can definitely see how someone would really enjoy their time reading this book!

This book follows Max, a shy awkward bassist and Serena, a once bright, but now grieving singer. Max has secretly had a crush on Serena for a long time and Serena is trying to cope with the loss of her mother.

I have to start off by saying that this book was adorable. The characters and their stories were so diverse and believable. There are so many messages in this book, from sexuality to mental illness to grief. I loved the way everything was handled, especially with issues as delicate as the ones listed above. This was a great read. I am hoping that Benny continues on with the stories of Max and Serena. I'm really curious as to how their lives unfold. I have to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.

That Secret You Keep was a fabulous YA title. Issues that I could see teens having in common, all woven together with the pressure & simplicity of high school. Max & Serena were complex characters, with their own trials, that came together beautifully, loved how it was written. The supporting characters were just the right amount of detail, especially with the surprise mini dramas. Wonderful.

To find that the title was Brenda Bunny’s first YA & self published was a treat, I expect to read more greatness from her!

Max has two dads, and that’s one of the best and most unique things about him. He’s also shy — has had a crush on the same girl for a long time. Serena, his longtime love, has experienced a major loss in her life. Ever since her mom died, her life hasn’t been the same, and things have gotten worse. Max and Serena are meant to be together. There’s a spark between them, but they also have secrets. You can’t keep a secret forever. Once it’s out, the consequences may be catastrophic.

“Some secrets are too hard to tell — even to yourself.”

Max and Serena are sweet and relatable. You feel for them and their angst, because we’ve all been there. Who hasn’t had a horrible secret? I also like that it deals with serious mental health issues without treating them like plot clichés. Love the diverse characters, including the gay parents. This book has lots of heart and soul, and I was emotionally invested throughout the book. Downsides? The ending is too abrupt, and there are various plot holes. Some things go unanswered. The opening chapters are also slow. Too much information dump. These things are negligible compared to the storytelling quality in this book though. Brenda Benny is a talented writer. I give That Secret You Keep four out of five Vanilla Cupcake iced coffees.

I was very pleasantly surprised by That Secret You Keep, by author Brenda Benny. After a bit of a slow start, I was pulled in by the budding romance between the characters and by their lives.

Max has had feelings for Serena since the first time he saw her at their arts high school. Adopted and raised by his dads, Max is kind, sensitive, polite and open-minded. He can’t bring himself to speak to Serena until he runs into her at a Halloween party and is able to use his costume as inspiration. After another chance meeting at a coffeehouse, he asks her out for coffee and she accepts. Max delights in getting to know her and making her smile. Serena hasn’t been herself since losing her mother during their junior year. Both of them have secrets they’re keeping, and secrets have a way of coming out.

I liked Max and Serena very much. I thought Benny did a great job with their voices and characterizations. Their story felt real and relevant to today’s world, not to mention poignant. There were times, especially at the beginning, where being inside Max’s head in particular felt very stream-of-consciousness. For me it felt wordy, obscuring the more important thoughts with inconsequential noise. I enjoyed the musical references, and it was a great way for them to find common ground. I had mixed feelings about Hayden, Max’s best friend, as well as Vanessa, the leader of Serena’s group of friends. The reader doesn’t really get to know the rest of the group, but I found Serena gave Vanessa the benefit of the doubt far too often and abundantly. Vanessa often didn’t seem genuinely sincere and deserving of Serena’s faith. As for Hayden, even though I often understood where he was coming from, he didn’t seem to treat anyone all that nicely, especially Max. I wish I’d been able to see more of what had made their relationship so strong and resilient. To me it felt like Max just put up with Hayden’s shortcomings, making their relationship lack the balance of a good, strong friendship.

There were some interesting twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, which added to the overall enjoyment of the book. The writing in the second half of the book really showcased Benny’s talent, and I’ll be looking for more of her books in the future.

I would recommend this book to everyone, especially those who enjoy YA.

This one was a fast and enjoyable read. It has some great representation of gay and bisexual as well as POC characters although I wish this diversity would have included more women. The author treated some rather serious topics in a light way, which perfectly fit with the overall tone of the book. While I didn’t quite connect with the main characters Max and Serena, I liked getting to know more bits and pieces of the side characters.
There were a few things left open so they’ll hopefully be answered in a sequel, otherwise I’d be quite disappointed with all my open questions towards the end.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this.

I really enjoyed this book. Like other said, the first half was sort of slow, but I stuck with it and it paid off. Seeing as I love music, this was basically the book for me. I cannot wait to see what else the author writes.

3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free review copy of That Secret You Keep!

"Love is love, no matter who it's between, or how it happens--we all have similar experiences."

Holy moly this book is cute! I was really wowed by the incredibly diverse cast of characters and all the friendships and relationships going on. That Secret You Keep is a very well written book with multiple powerful messages about everything from sexuality to friendships to mental illness to grief.

All of the characters in this novel are believable and so fleshed out; even the minor character like Emily, or like Malik, who I think only had a handful of lines in this book. But even he was REAL and THERE, if you get me.

And, get this, a bitchy redhead character but NO GIRL HATING. Oh, thank you Brenda Benny, my mind has been blessed by the words you have written. You give me faith! Honestly, Serena and Vanessa's friendship and their struggles and rebuilding was a highlight for me! Same with Hayden and Max; seeing them grow up over the course of the book and develop what seems an even stronger bond and friendship--despite certain differences--was a really nice touch to the story.

The only reason why I rated this novel low while raving about it at the same time is that I just didn't connect with the characters personally, or really share any of their dilemmas. I have never questioned my sexuality and (thankfully) have never lost a loved one so close as Serena did. So while I deeply appreciate this book and all it conveys, it just didn't hit me as hard as it probably would for many others.

I definitely recommend that everyone check out this book by this brilliant author, Brenda Benny. I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future!

(P.S. Just gotta pop this quote in here real quick because it is HIGHLY IMPORTANT.

" 'Although your symptoms may have improved, I'm wondering if Don might be serving as a distraction from the real issue here,' he muses. "

YES BECAUSE BOYS MAY DISTRACT YOU BUT THEY DO NOT SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS AND CURE YOUR DEPRESSION OR ANXIETIES AMEN LADIES.)

There is an addictive quality to this book that makes one keep reading, even if it's not the best book book in the world. I wanted to know what would become of Max and his best friend! But the plot is all over the place, and I would have rather had a story about Max and his friend than having Serena as main focus. I didn't care at all about Serena. Max was mostly an annoying person. The dialogue is unrealistic and unemotional. But for some reason I read and read and finished the book in two days; I didn't want to stop until Max realized he really did love his best friend. It would have been a wonderful love story. This author has SO MUCH potential for future stories.

"Everyone is always trying so hard to be unique- to prove their individuality, and how different they are from others; yet they all so desperately want to be accepted as part of some group-
whatever group that may be. I guess we all want to be chosen by someone."

This was a precious, Canadian, YA romance that maintained its happy-go-lucky vibe while handles serious themes. Think Stephanie Perkins meets Becky Albertalli.

I always love starting the new year on a good note and this did not disappoint. It was just so cutesy.

And now for a more serious note; the loved how this book explored Max's relationship with his dads and his openly gay best friend Hayden. While Serena and Max's budding romance was definitely a headliner in this, the relationships that really shined for me were the platonic ones.

Overall, great romance for a free afternoon or even when you're just in the mood for something to make you happy.

3.5 stars

A sweet and tender debut by author Brenda Benny.

Follow awkward, gangly bassist Max and quietly grieving singer Serena stumbling their way through first love while trying to overcome and deal with heartfelt subjects such as loss, trauma, secrets, adoption, sexuality and self-discovery.

I loved the music-themed background, all those amazing father figures and Benny's light way of tackling rather serious subject matters.
I did struggle a little with the first half of the book, though, due to its slow pace and lack of tension. However, as soon as the first conflicts started to arise, I was all in.

This definitely deserves a lot more attention.

I loved this book! I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. Very realistic YA love story about two teens who slowly fall in love despite the difficult situations they are both in. Ties in grief, healing, love and discovering each other. Highly recommend this one! Great writing, story and characters!!

A good read for a lazy day but the story lines were not very challenging.
Whilst it is great to read a book that has key characters in it who are gay, and especially great to see it in parenting roles, the book focused heavily on sexual orientation of the teenagers with little benefit
The were lots of lovely coming of she cute awkward situations built in which were amusing and portray teenage years well

It's no secret I love YA. That Secret You Keep seems to be a well kept secret though. This sweet coming of age story has some rough situations, plenty of secrets, and tons of awkward.

it also has some hilariously awkward, cringe inducing conversations. Don't forget...being a teen is awkward. Brenda Benny makes you revert to the awkward teen you were or highlight the potential for shame.

That Secret You Keep is a perfect example of the pressure, pain, and "uncomfortableness" that all teens feel at one point or another!I recommend it to fans of all ages.

I read this in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed both Max and Serena as fully fleshed characters. The romance that grew between them wasn't rushed and wasn't without its complications. I don't want to spoil too much of the pot, but the issues of grief, identity and how secrets can hold you back from healing are brought in the story. I would definitely recommended this book.

‘The Secret that you Keep’ is a layered, love story, full of wonderful perspective shifts which keeps you entwined with the protagonists. The musical theme that runs parallel with the relationship of Max and Serena suits the turbulent and realistic twists and turns of how young love blossoms and finds trouble at every turn. This story will make you laugh, sob and empathise with the realities of teenage struggles. This atypical protagonist family structure allows the reader to see an alternative dimension to family life and empathise with their experiences. The ending of the story, though happy provides an avenue for a sequel, which the readership would be excited to see where Max heads off to and whether he follows through with his plan. Great read, great characters, great ending.