I absolutely love Jennifer Hillier, and this book was no different for me. The plot was amazing, as always, with plenty of twists. The only thing is, after you've read all of her previous books you get used to her writing style, which is always making the person you least expect to be the villain, the villain. So I knew after about 2 chapters  in how it was going to pan out (sort of). Overall, a good read.

I couldn't put this book down! It makes you wonder if you could go to as dark of place as she did. I loved the twist at the end as well. I had sort of wondered that but then was like no surely not.

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier is a crazy novel! I love suspense and psychological thrillers. This one is amazing. It’s heart wrenching, full of flawed characters. There’s great tragedy and grappling with the unthinkable. Readers that enjoy this genre will not be disappointed! I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Note: content warning at the end of review.

Little Secrets completely took me by surprise; my first Jennifer Hillier book and definitely not my last. When I found out that Kirsten Potter narrates the audiobook, I had to listen to it. And as expected, she does an impeccable job narrating Little Secrets.

Marin’s life is turned upside down when her four year old son Sebastian is kidnapped right under her nose. The first chapter when Sebastian is taken is heartpoundingly scary. The story continues 16 months later: Sebastian is still missing and Marin’s life hasn’t been the same. The trail of her missing son has gone cold, but Marin is still paying a PI to look into his kidnapping. And that’s how Marin finds out that her husband has been having an affair with a younger woman for the past 6 months.

The book is written in third POV, focusing on Marin and Kenzie (the mistress) as central characters. The strongest aspect of this book is the superb characterization of the main and supporting characters. I wouldn’t say these characters are likable, but they’re so well-written that I couldn’t help but be 100% invested in their messy story. The plot is also very well-written and I was surprised by how far the author took the story. The plot complicates the already messy and toxic relationships between the characters and I was 100% here for the drama and the suspense of it all.

It is a rare thriller that actually makes me emotionally invested in its characters. Again, I don’t love these characters, but I really felt for Marin. The lives of these characters were so intertwined with one another that they accumulated into a tangled ball of threads. The relationships were messy and complicated, but it’s the messiness and complexity of it all that made the plot that much more interesting. This book and its characters will definitely stay with me for a long time.

P.S. Jennifer Hillier is a fellow Torontonian!! So cool!!

Continue reading for CW.

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CW: suicide attempt, self harm, child abduction, drug use, domestic violence

An absolutely brilliant page turner.  Jennifer Hiller is a master in the psychological thriller game.   Easy to follow, great characters.  Highly recommend

Tragedy strikes early in this novel.  When her son goes missing a mother falls apart.  Marin is hanging on by a thread.  After the police loose interest, she decides to hire a PI.  When he discovers Marin's husband is having an affair, she is renewed with purpose.  She will not lose the only thing she has left.  What follows is a twisty tale.  A great read!!

I love a book that surprises me and has me gasping! When I hit they spot in this book I was gobsmacked and loved it so much. Marin and Derek are struggling since their son was taken. Not knowing must be the worst. The pain was so detailed and raw. Great book!

Overall I did enjoy this book. I felt like there were several different storylines which was a bit much and would have rather had less more developed storylines. However, the premise was great and I did enjoy the ending. Overall 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars for me.

Well...I was sure behind with this author. And man she blew me away! Now I must go back and real all the books.

Little Secrets is about a couple whose child has been kidnapped. Jennifer Hillier has written the character of Marin with all of the emotions that plague her during her horrifying experience. The characters in this novel are well thought out and add to the plot. All of the female characters are strong and for the most part compassionate.

4.5⭐ - this was an excellent read! It was well paced and interesting from beginning to end. The plot developments were believable, and didn't feel thrown in just for shock value. 

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The words I’d use to use to describe Little Secrets would be, “unputdownable” and “a page-turner”; I raced through this book with the sole purpose of knowing the mystery behind the main event in the first chapter: the disappearance of our protagonist Marin’s 4-year-old son. 

However, what happens next completely steers away from that main premise, converging towards “domestic drama” territory instead of focusing on the mother-son storyline. There’s betrayal, affairs, and all the ingredients you usually find in your typical domestic thriller. 

The book is well-written, but if you’re an avid reader of this genre, you’ll easily be able to guess the culprit, and the motive behind the main crime has in fact been used so many other times in crime fiction. Nevertheless, I feel like Little Secrets would be perfect for fans of Sandie Jones and Robyn Harding, as this book is very light on the suspense in comparison to Hillier’s previous work. So many other readers have loved this book so you might enjoy it more than I did! I also need to mention that I extremely enjoyed the author’s previous, Jar Of Hearts, so I’m definitely curious to see what she writes next.

I actually quit this book because I wasn't in the right mood for it at the time.        
         
I don't have any issues, and intend to give it another try in the very near future!       
     
Full review to come!

This was a very excellent book and hard to put down. Turning the pages kept me on edges. Easy to read and looking for her next book.
Very twisting story and about a little boy who was kidnapped. The ending was very good and surprise.

This is my first book from this author. I guess I've been missing out. This was the BEST thriller I read this year. I ended up binging once I hit the middle of the book. As a music junkie, I loved the random references.

This was an excellent thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.  I understood how a person can do something totally unthinkable when their life is so beyond their control. Highly recommended.

Little Secrets 
A Suspense/thriller 
Jennifer Hillier, author 

A storyline no one wants to experience.... A young child is taken.... a mother loses her grip on life..... as this story unfolds, it takes on many twists and turns coming together with a powerful explosion of events....

Do we really ever know who we can trust?

This was my first book by this author and it certainly won't be my last. Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the ARC of this wonderfully crafted story. I leave this review of my own volition. I highly recommend this novel.

I am still thinking about this book!! I really had no idea where it was going and the twist shocked me! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommend!

Loving couple Marin and Derek have it all. She owns a chain of posh hair salons, he runs his own successful business. Most importantly, they also have a son, Sebastian, they adore. Yes it is a great life.
Until, on a pre-Christmas shopping trip Sebastian lets go of his mothers hand and walks away with Santa. The child cannot be found.
One year later the couple with the envied life are still without their son. Derek has become distant. The police have given up. Marin clings to hope. Without telling Derek, she hires a private investigator to search for Sebastian. He does't find Sebastian but he does discover Derek's affair with Kenzie, a young art student.
The focus of Little Secrets shifts dramatically. Marin turns her energy and anger on Kenzie. With the help of her friend/former boyfriend, Marin plots revenge. She doesn't want to lose Derek too. At this point in the book it is difficult to determine why she is intent on saving her marriage. The picture the author paints of their relationship is dull, distant and destructive.
Now Little Secrets are revealed. Kenzie has a plan. Marin plots revenge. Sal is a willing aide to Marin's plan. Derek may not want Kenzie. What does Kenzie know about Sebastian's disappearance? Who is JR? The "little secrets" when unraveled neatly wrap all the pieces into a tight conclusion.
I would recommend that readers avoid the blurbs on the book jacket. The blurbs can mislead and confuse.
This was an interesting read but not a thriller. The ending seemed contrived and I didn't care deeply about any character. The season for the abduction was quite interesting.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #LittleSecrets

This book was okay - kind of an expected ending. I’ve enjoyed this author’s previous books a lot more.