I didn’t know what to expect from this book, or what kind of journey we would be following the characters on. I adored this book! It was unexpected, and the characters very real and believable. I loved reading the nuances in family dynamics, female friendship and the life style comparisons which hid so many secrets. I liked they way the two female protagonists experiences intertwined and overlapped, but ultimately were so distant. Such a great read!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for review.
This book was just freaking good in my opinion.
It started a little slow but quickly picked up. Drama and intrigue all the way through.
I could not stop reading until I got done then I was disappointed i was finished.
I never guessed the ending. I thought I did but I was wrong.
I will be looking for more of this authors books.

Thank you to NetGalley.com and the publisher for a eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

There were times when I wanted to walk away from this book - parts were slow, the kids were all brats, and some of the big reveals were pretty predictable. But I didn't - and in the end it turned out to be quite the reveal that I wasn't expecting.

What I loved: Nothing in particular stood out as something I loved - I just had to finish it to find out the ending.

What I didn't love: Tessa was a holier-than-thou type of character who needed the slap in the face of reality at the end. She was so quick to blame so many others for how her life was and play the martyr- all while blocking out the truth. Rebecca may have also been a horrible person - but she was upfront and open about her cattiness, life of privilege, and past.

Overall Grade: B-

Two mothers from completely different backgrounds find themselves on holiday on the same stretch of lake, in neighbouring rental cottages. They have both left their husbands at home and escaped to the remote lake for the summer accompanied by their children.

Their first meeting is a little hostile, even the children seem worlds apart, but gradually a friendship develops between the two women. Tessa is struggling, she fantasises about the perfect summer vacation and bonding with her children but they are distant and obstructive. She envies the more affluent and glamorous Rebecca who is staying in a  more superior rental and seems outwardly confident and self-assured. Actually, Rebecca's life is far from perfect, in fact, both women have hidden secrets and pain.

The prologue to the book gives a taste of what is to come, but Kate Hewitt very cleverly disguises which characters are actually involved. Therefore this scenario was constantly in the back of my mind until the reality was revealed.

I enjoy this author's writing, she knows how to tell an emotionally charged story and capture the reader's attention. The chapters alternate between Tessa and Rebecca's narratives so you get a good understanding of both women. I found the start a little slow but it is worth continuing because the ending is gripping and the twist is heartbreaking. This is by no means a light read but it takes a hold and you find yourself on the most amazing journey that will stay with you long after the pages stop turning.

I really enjoyed the first about 85% of this book. The ending took it out of the "love" category. I guess I'm just not mature enough to get over an ending I don't like ... and I just thought this ending was painfully unnecessary. That said, I'd still recommend the book - there were twists and turns after the halfway mark that even I, who usually figures books out, didn't see coming.
Its told from the perspective of two women during a summer vacation in Upstate NY with their kids. One rich, the other not - both plagued with issues, marital and otherwise. A completely emotionally taxing yet gripping read. I just felt that it would have been gripping even without the absolutely heart wrenching ending.

I thought this was written from a great perspective. Two women come together one summer. On the outside each seems to have the perfect life, but as we know this is not feasible. I look forward to more from this author.

The Secrets We Keep is a deep novel delving into the bruised psyches of the two main women Tessa McIntyre and Rebecca Finlay who have both escaped with their families minus spouses to the Finger Lakes. Both are staying for the summer and both have very personal reasons for leaving their homes. It is a wreck waiting to happen as the summer progresses as the choices they make take dramatic turns for each of them and for their children.

We all have secrets. Some are best kept secret forever because revealing them would cause more harm than good. Some secrets should be shared since they can fester and cause great harm. THE SECRETS WE KEEP by Kate Hewitt is the story of two women whose secrets change lives forever.
Tessa and Rebecca end up being neighbors at summer lake houses. Rebecca and her three children live in a lavish summer rental while Tessa and her two children live in a dilapidated small cottage. Both are spending the summer away from home to deal with issues, especially their marriages. Tessa is envious of Rebecca who is thin, elegant and rich. Rebecca befriends Tessa since their children are close in age and "making over" Tessa seems like a interesting project. They both feel they are not the best mothers they could be.
The author uses alternating chapters to give readers a full point of view of each woman. This works perfectly as each characters reveals their inner thoughts about each other and themselves. These women are not strong to start with, but the author shows how they can grow over the summer and afterwards.
The secondary characters are well drawn and add an extra dimension to this emotional tale. I enjoyed Rayha who, even with having a special needs child, was the kind of best friend every woman needs.
I always appreciate a good mix of dialog and description and Kate Hewitt has it just right. I can smell Tessa's musty cottage and the pervasive scent of sunscreen.
I am a big fan of woman's fiction. I will be turning to Kate Hewitt in the future to satisfy my need to read that genre.

I received a free e-copy of The Secrets We Keep by Kate Hewitt from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

This book is about two women, Rebecca and Tessa. Although these two women are very different from one another, they are also very much alike.

Rebecca, a very wealthy woman with two children, decides to leave her husband for the to go to the Lake with her kids to figure her life out.

Tessa and her kids are at the Lake for the exact same reason that Rebecca is. Tessa and her kids have a small cabin at the Lake and Rebecca and her kids a huge beach house. Rebecca becomes friends with Tessa in hopes that the kids will become friends so they are occupied and have things to do so she can just sit around drinks. Rebecca buys Tessa and the kids a membership to the country club so they can go there together everyday.

As the relationships grow between the mothers and children it become very clear that each are carrying their own secrets. Each of these women will have to face their own fears. How can these mothers care for their families/children if they can't care for themselves. This is a very raw, emotional read that at times are very difficult to read but so very worth reading. I highly recommend it.

Having read several contemporary romance titles from Kate Hewitt my curiosity was definitely up seeing a more general fiction title in The Secrets We Keep. After reading I would even say this one has an edge of suspense to it too taking a reader through many twists to unravel the secrets of the characters.

The story begins with a vague glimpse into a mother sitting at her child’s bedside in the hospital before taking readers back to the beginning to find out that events that led to that scene. Told from the two main characters point of view, Rebecca and Tessa, the story was one to find myself engaged rather quickly.

Tessa seems to be a working class mother of two young children who has rented a small lakeside cottage for the summer with hints of some problems in her relationship. Immediately after arriving Tessa and her children meet the “neighbors”, Rebecca and her three children who come from a very different background being wealthy.

Rebecca and Tessa are two very different people who are brought together that summer and form a friendship that both come to rely upon. It’s a story that shows that not everything is always what it seems to be while diving into friendship, family, love and life and the fact that actions have consequences and how to deal with those. I can easily call this one a real page turner with some tough subject matter that might not be for every reader but definitely an emotional ride for those that tackle the heavy topics.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book will draw you in and then run your emotions through the wringer. Two women who wouldn’t normally be friends are thrown together when they rent houses next to each other on a lake. Both have their own secrets and difficulties that they are trying to overcome. There are not enough words to describe this novel. It’s about family, love, secrets, and truth. Each mom is dealing with their reality or their perception of it and what it will be going forward. The downside comes when, while their friendship grows, their children aren’t always in the top of their minds.
The ending was hard and real and a reminder that things in life don’t always end up perfectly or with a happily ever after. Sometimes life is hard and you have to find a way to deal with the fall out. And you have to find a way to live your life, with its ups and downs, not someone else’s.
#TheSecretsWeKeep #KateHewitt #Bookouture

Oh bloomin' 'eck, how on Earth am I going to review this one?

'The Secrets We Keep' had me on the fence to begin with - it's not that I didn't like it, I just couldn't gel with it. I couldn't seem to figure out the truth behind Rebecca's actions, Tessa's emotions, and the children's personalities. I know that that is the whole point of a story, but as the answers seemed to come very late on in the book, I knew that I wasn't going to change my opinion until I was able to figure out where the storyline was headed in terms of the characters.

Now, before you ask why I didn't give up on the book, 'The Secrets We Keep' had something about it. I'll be honest, I had no idea what that was yet the idea of giving up on reading this book didn't even cross my mind. Maybe it was because I was curious about the answers to the questions I had. Maybe I was intrigued by the path that the storyline could head down. As I say, there was just something about Kate Hewitt's storyline which kept my hands firmly gripped on my e-reader, and my eyes firmly glued to Rebecca's life.

I suppose I can feel slightly smug here and extremely pleased, as I am SO pleased that I gave 'The Secrets We Keep' the time it deserved to blossom fully. For a book which had me gathering splinters on my bottom from sitting on the fence for a while, my opinion couldn't have changed much quicker if it had tried. Seriously. I finished this book with tears in my eyes, hope in my heart, and a loss that was so strong, I could hear something shattering deep within.

Yes, 'The Secrets We Keep' is a slow starter. Yes, the characters keep their cards very close to their chests for a good portion of the book. But oh my flipping goodness, just like one character in the book said; 'once the tape is ripped...', everything came spilling out. Basically this book, in my eyes, was like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Not just any butterfly either.  A 'Marbled White' - understated yet undeniably beautiful. Simple on the outside yet complex in its choices.

So, if you hadn't guessed by now, I ended up falling head over heels with Kate Hewitt's novel and everything it stood for. Rebecca was proof that it is okay not to be okay. She proved that the hardest choices in life are the ones which have the biggest rewards. She highlighted the importance of speaking out. For a character who came across as a highly strung, unsure, and emotional person, Rebecca ended up showing herself, and me, that there was a lot more to her than originally thought. As for Tessa, from the very beginning I yearned to take her in a hug. I yearned to kneel down in front of Katherine, look into her eyes and tell her that it's okay to talk. I only hoped for the best for Tessa and her family, I really did. I just didn't expect the conclusion for these characters at all, and weirdly it hurt. 

'The Secrets We Keep' is a deeply emotional, raw, and devastating novel which shows the reality of what can often lay beneath a person's smile, a person's laugh. I could relate a lot to Rebecca unfortunately, and I think that is why I ended up being emotionally bound to the book and its characters. I will not be forgetting this book anytime soon, as it is one of the most poignant and life affirming novels I think I have read so far this year. It's harrowing. It's hard hitting. It's emotionally draining, but it is beautiful, thought-provoking, insightful....and everything in between. One last thing I will add - keep the tissues handy, you're going to need them.

This book is hard for me to review because I didn't really connect with the characters. The writing by Kate Hewitt is great, but on a personal level, I didn't care for it.

I have read this authors books before and was looking forward to her latest story.

The story is woven well, jumping from Tessa’s life to Rebecca’s. The reader gets a good insight into how these two women are leading totally different lives yet have so much in common. I knew from the blurb that there was a secret involved but I was a little disappointed when it was revealed. However the story continues to pick up the pace after the reveal, leading to an ending which totally shocked me. Where the author takes the story is unexpected but nonetheless brilliantly done.

The characters were all written really well, their stories were blended perfectly, and I was totally drawn into the story.

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first this started off a little slow...I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish since it wasn't really keeping my interest. As soon as it picked up though, I wasn't able to put it down.

Tessa and her kids need to get away...they end up at a lake and their neighbors, Becca and her children, are so much different than what they are used to. A bigger house, lifestyle, etc.

Becca takes Tessa under her wing and treats her and her kids to a summer they'll never forget...until Becca has a breakdown and needs to get help.

Both women are running from things back at home...what will become of them? Will Becca get the help she needs while away? Will Tessa realize that things aren't always greener on the other side?

With a heart-wrenching twist and tragedy at the end, if you love a good book that keeps you guessing, I highly recommend you read this one!

I enjoyed this book. It makes you realise that other people’s lives are never perfect even if they come across that they are. Everyone has secrets if you can dig deep enough. This book shows this in an excellent way. Rebecca’s life looks perfect but it is far from it and from the start you think it’s Tessas life that is not perfect. Would recommend this book .

I really enjoyed the story but hated the characters. Loved reading about Rebecca and Tessa and finally finding out what they were hiding. I never guessed the ending. When the cause of Rebecca's drinking was finally revealed, nothing really happens with it. She almost destroyed her family over a memory and then sort of buries it again. It was a big enough issue where she drank all day but never wanted to tell the people who were involved. The husbands pretty much only showed up when something serious happened and by then it was too late. Tessa hated who she was and pretty much took over Rebecca's life.

Rebecca and Tessa both escaped their life in the city and end up being unlikely neighbors in Upstate New York. Rebecca's family is renting a huge house along the lake, while Tessa's family is in a rundown cottage. Both are hiding from their problems. Somehow they become friends, forcing their children to spend time with each other. Tessa become Rebecca's project and she gives her a makeover. Tessa wants Rebecca's "perfect" life. Rebecca finally has to confront her issues after a disastrous Fourth of July party. Tessa picks up the pieces and helps with Rebecca's children, but at the same time doesn't give her own children the attention they need. Tragedy strikes both families. Finally Tessa's issues are revealed.

Even though I didn't like the characters I loved the story and writing style. Neither Rebecca or Tessa gave their children the attention they needed. Of all the children, I just couldn't stand Zoe. I immediately took a dislike to her when she tells Tessa's family that they can't swim or be on the beach in front of the cottage because it belongs to Zoe's family. I do blame her parents for the way she acted. Rebecca just brushed it off that she was a difficult child. The ending was actually perfect for the book. It doesn't wrap everything up in a nice little bow and make everyone's life perfect again.

I definitely recommend the book and look forward to reading more by the author. I loved the cover of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Kate Hewitt, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

I absolutely LOVED this amazing, poignant and heart-rending book. This author writes beautiful and from the heart. This is a story I could not put down and one that will stay with me for a very long time. A wonderful, through provoking take from an author to watch. Very highly recommended.

4 stars! This was a highly intriguing character-driven story about family, love, loss and the intensity of female friendship.

I was immediately drawn into this compelling tale. I loved the characters from page one and felt highly intrigued to find out where the novel would take me. We meet Tessa and Rebecca, two mothers from opposite ends of society who end up as summer neighbours in cottage country. They develop an instant friendship which grows into a deep dependency on each other. I truly enjoyed the journey of watching their friendship grow.

There is a lot that happens over the course of one summer. Some situations involving their children, husbands, parents and each other. I was fully invested in their lives and rooting for them to overcome their personal struggles and challenges. My one critique is that the story felt a bit too dramatic near the end. I still really enjoyed the novel and felt satisfied upon finishing, however, I would have preferred a little less happening at the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s writing. It flowed beautifully, was perfectly paced and the characters truly came to life for me. I look forward to reading more from Kate Hewitt!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kate Hewitt for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Expected Date of Publication: September 6, 2018.

So many secrets! This book sounded great just from the title and looking at the cover, but I never expected the secrets that unfolded between Rebecca and Tessa.

This story is about two mothers who meet while on a summer vacation with their kids. Both mothers are from different areas of New York, and both left their husbands at home. Rebecca and her three children rent a house on a lake to escape secrets that Rebecca has been hiding. Tessa, who rents the house next door with her two children, does the same.

After meeting at the lake, Rebecca invites Tessa and her kids over for pizza to hopefully make a new friendship. Money is no issue for Rebecca who decides to do a makeover on Tessa and invites them to join the country club for the summer.

As their friendship strengthens and the kids start getting along, secrets slowly start to come out. Someone is going to get hurt...but who and why?

The ending was one I did not see coming. It tore at my heartstrings. I thought the story moved a little slow at the beginning and I kept wondering where it was heading. But all of a sudden out of nowhere, I was sucked in needing to know what was going to happen. I look forward to more by this author.