I loved this book!! Great story!! Second book I have read by this author will read more of her books!! Received this book from st. Martin's press from netgally!!

This was a typical run of the mill thriller for me. (Maybe I read too many??) It held my interest well enough, but at times I felt like it was almost two different story ideas that the author tried to meld together. Sometimes it blended ok and other times not so much. I almost felt like Sebastian missing was one story and the affair bit was another.

I predicted the major who dunnit portion way before we were supposed to and so it took some of the enjoyment out of this book. One of the first clues that there was more to this character was just way too casually mentioned and it stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

Semi-spoilery bit: Another aspect that bothered me was the author's use of a character being known by two different names as a reason why all the clues weren't out together. I feel like this particular plot device is overused and a bit of a cop out... It was also a bit too convenient how all the characters intertwined at the end.

This book was truly intense. From the first page to the last. I I was nervous and anxious reading it, it was that intense. Such an excellent book. Looking forward to reading many others by this author !

Little Secrets will keep you guessing and second guessing yourself as you read the fantastic words written by Jennifer Hillier.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started reading this book. I could feel myself starting to panic a bit like Marin and could understand every feeling she was having as I'm a mom as well. I'm pretty sure every mom has the fear of their little one being taken from them.

But what if it could be someone you know? How do you trust anyone around you? What if it wasn't someone you know? Can you still trust those closest to you? These are questions you'll find yourself trying to answer as you read this story.

Be prepared to get mad at everyone! Try not to let the book alter your "real life" as you read. I found myself carrying the anger I was feeling in the story over to my family. This book will suck you in that far and you'll be scrambling to get back out.

Wow! This book was so good. I had no idea what the catch was and it kept me on my feet the entire time. At one point towards the end, (if you have read it you know what I'm talking about) I literally sat up and said "Omg!" I loved the characters. I loved their story. I absolutely love reading about the lives of rich people or wealthy people and this one did not disappoint. I literally couldn't put it down. Hillier is one of my favorite authors. This is one of my favorite books of the year.

This book was absolutely amazing! Everything a good suspense should be. It was so fun to learn the ins and outs of all of the characters and their shady secrets. I honestly figured out the antagonist super early in the book but that didn't take away the experience of the story at all. Awesome book, awesome seeing, awesome characters, awesome writing. 10 out of 10, highly recommend!

That was pure craziness. A little slow to get going, a bit over the top, characters you love to hate and hate to love. I figured out the who and the why before it was revealed, but there was much more to it. And when things started to unravel, I was a bit breathless as it all came crumbling down. I had a bit of trouble wading through this one to begin with, but it paid off at the end for sure.

Predictable and annoying, I feel bad for thinking that but this book had promise and it did not deliver. Marin Machado is a successful business owner, wife, and mother. Her 4 year old son goes missing and 16 months later there are no leads. The premise sounds great until the story spins from missing child to finding out her husband is doing some shady things (to not spoil), Her therapy group, private investigator she hired to find her son, her best friend, and therapist all try to help her....and she won't let them. Marin becomes annoying and never goes back to likable. The rave reviews of this book made me hope for more.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I requested this one on NetGalley because the blurb sounded amazing, and I’m so glad I did!

Marin’s life is exactly how she wants it: college sweetheart husband, beautiful 4-year-old Sebastian, successful business, and a lot of money. Shopping at Pike Place before Christmas is normal, until Sebastian disappears. Marin and husband Derek quickly realize that someone took Sebastian and led him out of the market, a parent’s worst nightmare. Fast forward a year, and Sebastian still hasn’t been found. When Marin finds out her husband is having an affair, it sends her spiraling even further into depression. She realizes how far she will go to hold her little bit of family together, and ultimately, her husband’s betrayal leads to insight into what happened to Sebastian that long ago day.

This is the first book in a while that has made me gasp out loud when I got to the reveal and climax of the story. The POV is third person but shifts between Marin’s perspective and Kenzie, Derek’s mistress. This gives an interesting perspective into Derek and what the marriage has been like since Sebastian’s disappearance. The author also does a great job of tying both women together in multiple ways.

I absolutely loved this book. I was shocked by how the ending turned out, and I appreciated the author’s willingness to write some hard things. The struggles the characters go through and the deep parts of their psyche that we get to see were incredibly difficult to read about but kept me hooked. I definitely recommend!

This is deliciously juicy and thrilling! Jennifer Hillier never disappoints! All of the characters were perfectly developed and kept me guessing the entire way through. My favorite kind of book!! I think Hillier is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors.

Thank you Netgalley for this fantastic book! I enjoyed every second. I give this review voluntarily.

Little Secrets is a parents worse nightmare.. A little boy goes missing while out with mom. Mom will never be the same. But while she's trying to cope with her loss, guilt and despair dad checks out. He is having an affair. Marin needs to get herself together and move forward. A riveting, emotional read.

I read mostly romance so in order for me to really enjoy another genre it has to grab me from the very beginning. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and it just never did. DNF at 30%.

Ever pick up a book, knowing you’ll probably have a good time, and then IT IS AMAZING? Yep. That was me with this book. I’ve previously read Hillier’s Jar Full of Hearts and I own all her other books (except for Wonderland - I NEED IT), so I knew I was in for a treat.

First of all, her writing is excellent. No complaints there at all. The subject matter for this one is dark (if you’d like content warnings, I’m here to ask or other reviews mention them) and difficult, especially as a mother myself. Her author’s note fully outlines this as well if you’ve already picked up the book. Hillier does a wonderful job with Marin - she is real and tangible and behaves in believable ways. This is so important.

Even the “bad” characters have depth. I had to really try not to like them. And this makes this book shine. To drag me along in spite of myself, turning those pages like my hands were on fire and the book my relief.

I’ll read everything Jennifer Hillier writes. Now I’m off to hunt down a copy of Wonderland and read the rest of her backlist.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

Not going to lie. I kept pushing this book off because I wanted to love it because it was on of my most anticipated book of the years and this book did not disappoint. I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Marin’s life changed forever when her son, Sebastian, was abducted from Pike Place on a busy day in December. Over the next year she tries to survive the loss and is haunted by the unanswered questions. A captivating thriller that keeps you wondering, what happened to Sebastian?

Thanks to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for a review.

#netgalley #littlesecretsbook #jenniferhillier #bookreviews #thriller

I feel like I’ve held off writing this review for long enough. I really had to work through some fears and emotions of mine before writing this.

I remember my mom telling me when I was growing up that if someone ever took one her kids she would hope that we were dead. She was always watching those shows on tv where they find the missing children dead or kidnapped. The kids that were kidnapped were either found dead or found years later. It’s the stories that those adults told that terrified her the most. I kinda understood it as kid myself but it didn’t full register for me until I was older with a child of my own. The situations your mind cooks up can be scarier than reality. It’s the fear of the unknown that is the scariest fear of all.

I started this book knowing I was gonna touch on some deep seeded fears I have as a mother. I read horrors and thrillers to touch on those fears in the hopes of never experiencing them in real life. This book knocked on a lot of those fears I would have if my child went missing but it was also exaggerated with drama because this is fiction. The main character is rich and privileged so she is able to afford many resources that most couldn’t in her situation. It really tears the her apart when they can’t find her child and she is stuck brewing in some form of guilt. She can’t let go. I wouldn’t be able to let go either so I could sympathize but for her the hits keep coming. You are entranced by the mounting dilemmas this main character faces and you can’t stop reading. I was hooked and I couldn’t help but be emotional by the end of it! That is why I gave this book 5/5 ⭐️

Three days before Christmas, Marin and her son Sebastian are shopping and he disappears. Kidnapped.
16 months later, Sebastian is still missing and Marin is stumbling through life, trying to continue to put one foot in front of the other. Marin is married to Derek, her college sweetheart, but the disappearance of their son has drove a wedge between them to where they are mere roommates. Sal, her best friend and former boyfriend, checks on her daily. Marin feels safest with Sal during her darkest of days.
Will they ever find Sebastian? Will Marin and Derek’s marriage survive? Who would have kidnapped Sebastian?
This book is an excellent read! This is my first @jenniferhillierbooks book and it definitely will not be my last! If you love a good twist, I highly recommend this book!

This book has it all, a kidnapped child, a mystery relationship, a cheating husband, a best friend. A story of love, loss, family and redemption.

** I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review of this book

Marin and Derek seem like they have it all, until, their son Adam gets kidnapped from Marin while out shopping for Christmas presents. Flash forward to a grief-stricken Marin and a husband who's never home. While Marin tries to piece her life back together with the help of her support group, and her P.I. who finds out a little more than she expected. Derek has been having an affair with a younger woman named Kenzie, who seems to have a perfect life.

This book was such a wild ride! I didn't want to put it down, I was so sucked into this whole plot. My heart broke for Marin (and I guess Derek, just wasn't a fan of his), and I was very hopeful that her son Bash [Sebastian] would be reunited with them again. I loved how in the end everything was connected in some weird way, this was a perfect thriller that had me guessing until the very end. The twists were done so so well, just when I thought I knew everything something else was thrown in to throw me off of the guessing game trail.

I will have to admit that one of the plot points I had guessed early on, but the way it was revealed was done so well! And I had only guessed part of it, so much more was revealed. If you haven't read this book, I urge you to as it is a great book! I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a page turner. It’s so chilling to read book about child abduction but I found myself not being able to put the book down. I even ended up tearing up a little toward the end when Marin reminisced on Sal’s “You alive?” Text and the sweet party her group therapy friends threw for her and Sebastian. The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because I was able to guess who took Sebastian pretty early on in the book.