Is the grass really greener on the other side? This novel centres around Tessa, Rebecca, and their respective families. The dynamics between summer neighbours is certainly realistic - one woman is wealthy and the other living a modest life. The story that unfolds as secrets are revealed is heartbreaking. What would you do if you had known someone all of two weeks and are asked to take care of their three children, along with your own two, for four weeks? I can’t say I would be as willing as Tessa to take on the challenge given th circumstances.

There were some twists and turns in the story that I didn’t anticipate, though that could have been because of my mood while I was reading. I was captivated by story and had a love/hate relationship with the characters at various points in the story.

I’m still processing the ending, but I’m leaning toward disliking how it ended. This is the first novel I’ve read by Kate Hewitt and I’m looking forward to reading other works by her. Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Tessa arrives at the little house by the lake with her two children Ben and Katherine, it is an escape. For all of them. Never mind that the rental house is a bit small – it’s theirs for the summer. A place to hide…

Their isolation is disrupted when they meet the family from the big house next door. Three children Charlotte, Zoe and Max and their glamorous mother Rebecca – who seems absolutely determined to invite Tessa in to their lives.

But Rebecca is harbouring a dark secret of her own. One that will put not only her family at risk, but Tessa’s too. And when she discovers she has no option but to leave her children for several weeks, Tessa feels like the only person she can trust.

Suddenly Tessa finds herself living a life she could only have dreamed of. Wealth, a large brood of children, and Rebecca’s handsome husband Josh visiting at weekends.

But even as powerful bonds are forming between them, secrets have a way of catching up with people. And as the summer comes to an end, who will learn to love again and who will risk losing everything?

Wow! A very emotional read. First of all both of the women in this book needed each other at this time to deal with whatever their demons are. Rebecca's problems get worse and her husband puts matters into his own hands and Tessa is the one to pick up the pieces. The children all had some kind of emotional baggage because of their moms and they have to deal with that. One frightful evening turns both of their lives upside down. Can they get through this and keep the relationship they formed.
The author kept mentioning the finger lakes but never what lake it was but since I went to school to Geneseo and lived on Conesus Lake during that time then I knew that had to be the lake she was talking about. SO yes Geneseo has a big Walmart and a Bear fountain in the middle of main street. The only things they don't have is a yacht club or a country club that was described. There are only 2 country clubs and they only have golf and restaurants, No pool or tennis so I did have to remember this book was also fiction. Also the mention of Seabreeze amusement park and the Jack Rabbit roller coaster brought back childhood memories. Why they had to go to a spa all the way in Syracuse that was 2 hours away instead of Rochester, which is 30 minutes away didn't make sense either but then again I was thinking of things I would do that was closer.

'The Secrets We Keep' is a character-driven story exploring the complexity of familial relationships and the pressure upon women in family and in female friendships. Two families take up residence in neighbouring summer houses on the lake, and their lives become intertwined over the course of the season. The book started slowly and the plot seemed to get going in the second half, with lots of twists and turns, and an uncompromising ending. I struggled to identify personally with either of the main characters, but enjoyed the readability of the writing and found myself turning pages, so I would read more by this author. Thanks to Bookouture for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know where to start. Although the first half of the book was good it wasn’t till the second half that it really got going. An excellent emotional heart wrenching story

Secrets, secrets, don’t tell anyone

Live the life, pretend the fun

Keep them covered, keep them hidden

They can be one, they can be ten

Pretend they don’t bother

They will come out, one way or the other

Secrets, secrets don’t tell anyone

Live the life, pretend the fun…

And this was exactly what happened with Rebecca and Tessa. Summer vacation for three months, cottage rented by the lake, friendship blossomed, some true, some false, some as a crutch, some pretense.

This book by Kate Hewitt showed the human psyche where a movement could trigger memories and sometimes an event could erase memories. A beautiful heartwarming story where the secrets hidden led to drastic results.

I felt bad for both Rebecca who drank to forget and Tessa who wanted to make memories yet forgot important ones. Both the women had their own stories and both were linked as the summer progressed.

They were neighbors who had come to spend the summer by the lake, became friends, started over depending, soon leading to consequences. I liked how Kate showed me this by slowly developing the women’s characters with their ever puzzled, enigmatic husbands.

The only thing that niggled me was that I wanted the women to be proactive, but that was just transference. (transferring my personality on to them)

The book worked well as it presented the emotional side of the secrets we hold so dear, it dealt with certain tough topics. And the story taught me to make as many memories as I can in the present time.

A quote from the book when secrets brought life threatening effects

“We are all going to move past this. By staring this on the face, by looking into our weaknesses and failures and finding the strength to admit when we were wrong, and then to change.”

An emotionally charged book. I particularly enjoyed the second half by which time I was ready to join the main characters in their rollercoaster ride.
Kate Hewitt writes with insight into Motherhood both from the perspective of the mother, and of the offspring. She also writes with a clear understanding of friendship between women, and between young girls.
With great skill Kate Hewitt surprises the reader with, in some ways, an nexpected ending. There is however an echo of how when children are exposed to the behaviour of adults their own behaviour is influenced....their own secrets are woven.....some having heartbreaking conseqiences.
I will be sure to watch out for other books by Kate Hewitt.

We all put on a brave face at times but do not think others do. Elizabeth works hard to create the perfect family, perfect life and most of all perfect self. It all works until...... Being banished to a remote vacation spot because she caused a scene at a company party. Her husband is worried but doesn't know what to do. Thus the perfect vacation away from it all. Only, her mental health keeps deteriorating and comes to a breaking point. What happens to her perfect life - can someone else step into her shoes?

Really enjoyed it.

I read this book in one afternoon. I really enjoyed the two main characters and thought they were nicely developed. really showed the joys and struggles of being a mom/wife/friend. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for giving a enjoyable read and a new author to put on my list.

Why do we keep secrets from others? Are we embarrassed by ourselves, our families, our lives? Secrets can be difficult to maintain and when you have a best friend, it's even more difficult. Even more difficult are the secrets that we keep from ourselves - those little truths that we don't think about or realize are really true. This is a novel about secrets - secrets from family, from friends but mostly from ourselves.

Tessa and her two children have rented a cabin for the summer to get away from NYC, to get away from the husband she is growing further apart from and the life that she doesn't seem to fit into. The cabin is a tiny dilapidated house in the midst of huge lake mansions. Next door is the very rich and beautiful Rebecca with her three children, also escaping from her life. Despite the huge difference in their lives, Tessa and Rebecca become friends as do their children - though the children become friends very reluctantly. As Rebecca starts to shower Tessa with things like make- overs and new clothes, it also becomes apparent to Tessa that Rebecca is harboring a deep secret about her life. As the secrets come to light who will be most hurt by the truth - friends, husbands or children or will the real harm be to Tessa and Rebecca?

This is a novel about friendship and secrets and family. It's a story of two woman, though leading very different lives,who are still very much the same because of the secrets in their lives. Both women are very well written - flaws and all - and I found myself rooting for both of them from page 1. This is a wonderful character driven book and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This is a powerful and insightful novel, written with great sensitivity, perception and covering a lot of modern issues. There is an excellent portrait of self-harm, which I found uncomfortable at times as I’m squeamish. With such a personal zero pain and blood tolerance, I struggle to understand it. Given that, I haven't suffered like them, so can't judge. I found the plot slow with emotional overkill, excessive introspection and repetition of facts and feelings. However, it makes the point well that as a mother you have to be strong and resilient for the sake of your children. The characterisation is excellent with well-executed family issues and concerns. There are a lot of wounded souls in this novel. Two women form an unlikely friendship during summer vacation because they are neighbours. It is an uneasy matching as the adults and children are strained with each other and from different social groups. Rebecca is full-on. She’s wealthy, smart, elegant, confident and everything Tessa would like to be. But, is Rebecca quite what she seems or is that her protective veneer? Behind that façade of confidence lurk secrets and insecurities like gaping sinkholes. Nonetheless, Tessa feels threatened by what she perceives as the woman-with-everything and ends up striving to emulate Rebecca. The dynamics shift, and it’s almost as though the women swap places. A sad, doomed ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

“What kind of mother am I? That’s a question I try not to ask these days, much less answer”.

The Secrets We Keep is a deeply moving tale concerning two women who meet up over one summer but are from very different social circles. Both women have escaped to a summer lake, minus their husband, for a bit of a stocktake of their life. This is an engaging tale about how events evolve and how choices made have a dramatic and life changing impact for both women.

“Why is this world so hard, so brutal and unforgiving, that we can’t navigate it without hurting ourselves?”

I had been eager to try a Kate Hewitt book and did not really know what to expect. The chapters alternate between the two women - Rebecca and Tessa - and it is fascinating to see both perspectives to the same event. This is a slow build tale, thus allowing you to really form an opinion about the character of both these women, or more pointedly, who you find them to be. Of course there is a twist, with things not seemingly as they are and you never really understanding (at times) the reason for a person's actions. I did, however, find it a little slow and frustrating at times - the angst of both main characters and their inner dialogue.

“ I don’t have the energy to perform anymore today. But somehow I plow through the lessons, the meaningless chit chat”.

There are most certainly some serious and heavy issues broached here (not wanting to give anything away) and the title is therefore most apt. Let me state right now, this is not a light, whimsical read. One thing done well here is the prologue - it gives you a small taste of what is to come and not until the novel is done, will you find yourself revisiting it to read once more in an effort to ascertain whom it was referring to. From page one you are hooked.

“It all happened so quickly - a blur, the blood, screams and shock. So much shock. My mind is still spinning”.

This is a story full of emotion and will really capture the attention of readers who like to not only analyse characters but also work out what hidden secrets there may be. Despite being slow in places, it is well worth reaching the heartbreaking conclusion. I challenge anyone to guess the twist as the gripping end is so very tragic.

“I hate the thought that my little girl is hiding anything, that she has something to hide, just like I do. Too many secrets. Far, far too many secrets”.


This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Tessa and Rebecca both are battling changes in their lives they cant control. Rebecca has rented a house with her 3 children while her husband is working in the city. He would have preferred she stay with her parents but she is trying to escape her life. Tessa rents a cottage with her 2 kids without her husband. She is also trying to escape her life. These 2 women meet the first day Tessa is there and are from 2 different life styles. Rebecca more social while Tessa is not. They become entangled in each others lives on many different levels. These 2 women are traveling down a road of destruction with their eyes wide open. The children are all a mess do to their mothers decisions and the mothers are not sure how to fix them. But you cant fix them if you cant fix yourself. I enjoyed this book with its twist and turns. It was amazing to see what their secrets did to their lives and families. I was given this book as an ARC for my honest review.

Two women take 3 months away with their kids, renting houses on one of the Finger Lakes. One, privileged, wealthy yet is displaying some serious addictive self-harming behavior. The other, the opposite on paper, mousy and anxious, seemingly worried about nothing. Yet both have secrets that they are trying to protect and overcome.

I don’t enjoy whiny insecure protagonists. I don’t enjoy having people like that in my own life and I certainly don’t enjoy being in their head for the hours it takes me to finish a book about them. This book is 50% Rebecca and 50% Tessa and only half of it was enjoyable to read.

Tessa is that stereotypical character that gets written into books because the author thinks they’ll be a good foil to the rich lady, and yet, she is so unbearably waifish and desperate. I kept expecting something else to be the reason Tessa was so sulky and insecure but the surprise never came. Rebecca’s big secret, the origin of all her destructive behavior, certainly wasn’t hard to figure out, but the reveal was well done, as was the writing of her behavior. Their husbands and children were background noise for the most part, with very little depth until the last few chapters.

I could’ve done with a bit less fretting from Tessa or a bit more of a punch on why she was the way she was, but overall it was a good read that felt consistent and that Hewitt knew where she was going from the start.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

This was my first book by Kate Hewitt and I really did not know what to expect. I loved getting to know the two main characters, Tessa and Rebecca, with the alternating chapters. It was easy to follow but you were able to see things from two, often very different, perspectives.

The story engaged me from the start but I enjoyed the slow build up that really let you make your judgments about who you "thought" these two women were. Most of the rollercoaster ride doesn't start until you are midway through the book and I loved how it totally threw me for a loop. I enjoyed the idea that things are not always how they seem and you don't always know the issues someone is facing at first glance. There were definitely some heavy issues weaved into their storylines and this book kept me guessing until the very end. The title was perfect and truly captured what this book was all about. I definitely recommend this one and am excited to read more from Kate Hewitt.

I was first put on Kate Hewitt’s radar when I read A Mother’s Goodbye which quickly became one of my top 2018 reads. Hewitt writes with such passion and a distinctive voice that pulls you right into the heart of a story. She breathes life into each of her characters making them seem honest, real and relatable. So, when I saw The Secrets We Keep, I just knew I had to read it. I will admit to being a little scared to start this story as I wasn’t sure if Hewitt could ever top A Mother’s Goodbye, but my fears were for nothing because The Secrets We Keep far surpassed anything I could ever have imagined.

We first meet Tessa and Rebecca at the lake. Both are getting away from their problems at home and from husbands that don’t understand them. While Tessa and her two children, Ben and Catherine are staying in a shabby cabin for the summer, Rebecca is living in a sprawling home next door with her three children, Charlotte, Max, and Zoe. While Tessa and Rebecca have nothing in common, they forge a friendship shrouded in secrecy and mistrust. Tessa is a homely wife and mother who is shy and unsure of herself, whereas Rebecca is rich, stylish, and seems to have the perfect life. When things come to a head and Rebecca needs to go away for awhile, she leaves Tessa in charge of her three children. Now faced with the life she has always wanted, Tessa seems to flourish. But, looks can be deceiving and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Secrets have a way of becoming exposed and some secrets have the potential to destroy lives. Will this be the summer that changes everything?

I found myself relating to Tessa as she was down to earth, kind, and loving. Yes, she has problems, but who doesn’t? Tessa is just so real and like many of us in the working world. I can see how much she loves her children and how she would do anything for their happiness. Tessa tries very hard to fix the problems in her marriage, even if it means getting away for the summer so she can reconnect with her children who have grown quite distant as of late. Maybe the time spent away will leave her husband missing her and the marriage they once had. Rebecca on the the other hand, is not always likable. She looks down on Tessa, but wants to become friends with her as a sort of distraction from her own problems at home. Rebecca can be nasty at times to Tessa, but deep down inside Rebecca really needs Tessa in a way to make herself feel better. But, when it comes to her children, Rebecca pours all of her love and support to her children. She is a good mom even though she does not always show it. She wants what is best for her children, even though Rebecca is going through her own tough time. Even though Tess and Rebecca’s friendship had its difficulties you can see how they both relied on one another sometimes even in a twisted way. Their friendship dynamic is complicated and not always healthy, but it works for them. In a way, they were so much alike and yet they were worlds apart.

The pacing is nice and slow which gave me the opportunity to really get to know each of the characters, to grow to love them and sympathize with what they were going through. While I may not have always liked both Tessa and Rebecca, they do have their redeeming moments in little glimpses throughout the story. The build up is very intense and much of the secrets are kept hidden for most of the first half of the book which I found really helped in keeping me engaged with the story. I will say though that The Secrets We Keep does deal with a few heartbreaking topics and triggers, but they are done with compassion and understanding. Hewitt really has a unique way of making us relate to her characters in a heart wrenching way.

The Secrets We Keep is an emotional rollercoaster with many ups and downs and twists along the way. I can in all honestly say that I never saw that ending coming. It is a poignant story that is both moving and touching. This is another book I am adding to my keeper shelf and another addition to my top reads for the year. If you have not read a book by Kate Hewitt, you are really doing yourself a disservice. Hewitt is a fantastic author who will draw you right in and never let you go.

The feeling of suspense was never far away when reading this book.. Each character felt fully rounded, I felt the reader got to know them. I was willing Tessa to listen to Katherine when she wanted to go home. At that point I felt there was something going on, but we didn't know what. So many hidden secrets - i was quite shocked when we heard Tessa's at the end. You just don't know what hurts and sadness people are hiding. In Rebecca's case, her parents probably thought they were acting in her best interests. Very difficult to avoid spoilers here, but The Secrets we Keep is the perfect title. You may envy someone else's life, but is it always what it seems? A great read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

The story is about two women Rebecca and Tessa who with their children are on a lake holiday in upper state New York. The story is written from both Rebecca and Tessa's perspective chapter by chapter. This is a story about secrets and memories and how they affect relationships with husbands,children and the wider family.

The book was very well written and descriptive , a bit slow to start but once it got going it was unputdownable .

I highly recommend the book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very sad and complex novel at times, things were not always what they seemed. A very moving and tragic book at times but enjoyable.
Highly recommended.

I have heard of Kate Hewitt before, I had seen her books out there, but I don't recall reading anything she's written...... until now. I also know I want to go back and read whatever else she's written after reading this one.  I'm talking about The Secrets We Keep by Kate Hewitt. While I get the vibe that Ms. Hewitt is a contemporary romance writer, I felt that this book has an edge of suspense that takes readers through twists and turns in unraveling the secrets of each of the characters.

Readers meet Tessa and Rebecca, two mothers who come from very different worlds but end up as summer neighbors by the lake with their children. Tessa is grieving the loss of her mother and she's struggling to deal with her children.  She doesn't have a lot of money and she feels isolated. She takes her two children, Katherine and Ben, to the lake as her life with her husband is not progressing.

Rebecca, meanwhile, goes to the lake for the summer with her three children, Zoe, Max and Charlotte, as her life with her husband seems to be falling apart.  Rebecca is super rich, beautiful and seems to be effortlessly living her life and handling her children. Tessa and Rebecca are each jealous of how the other's life appears to be to them.

Ms. Hewitt writes the story using alternating chapters so that readers get the full point of view of each woman. I felt this technique worked really well as the women each shared their own mindset for the same events going on in their lives.  Both women are having trouble with their husbands and their relationships with them.  They develop a instant friendship and depend on each other.  Throughout this story, there is a fantastic build up as readers aren't quite sure what to expect or how to anticipate how things are going to end.

The Secrets We Keep explores the ways in which people are broken and reveals the doubts each of these women experiences as they question their parenting skills. The story brings readers to question exactly how a parent can care for her family if she cannot care for herself. I think the emotional struggles of both women shared in this story were very realistic and believable. Truth be told, I didn't expect the end to turn out the way it did, the last several chapters of this book gripped my attention to the very end.  

I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy of this book from Boukouture through NetGalley in exchange for my post.  I was not required to post a positive review, but have chosen to do so because it was such a great book!

The book begins,with a desperately ill child in hospital and a mum racked with guilt. This is a story of two women, Tessa and Rebecca and their children, who tell their stories in alternate chapters. Both have problems and meet up as neighbours where they are renting holiday homes for the summer without their husbands. They are both very different women but both have hidden secrets. Tessa is very envious of Rebecca, who on the surface appears to have everything. Rebecca takes Tessa under her wing and their friendship develops. This friendship leads to all their secrets being revealed culminating in a terrible tragedy. This is a very haunting book with a complex storyline but one that will have you completely enthralled. A very emotional read with a surprise ending. I loved it and will certainly be reading more by Kate Hewitt.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.