This novel uses a device I usually hate. The first chapter starts with a bang with a missing child and frantic parents. The next chapter takes place weeks earlier and builds up slowly, giving the reader family history in dibs and dabs. You have to read all the way to the end to get back to the beginning. This one kept me turning pages.
The story is told in alternating viewpoints. It starts with Charlotte's story. She has her own successful business and is happily married to Eli, who is also successful and well-off. Their daughter, Daisy, is a bright and cheerful five-year-old. Charlotte has a brother, Rocco, who has a history of picking disastrous girlfriends. When he brings Ruth to meet Charlotte and Eli, they are at first a bit wary. But Ruth is charming and friendly and seems to be just the girl Rocco needs. Parts of the story are told from Ruth's viewpoint. She's trying very hard to make a good impression on Rocco's family, but she's also a little envious of Charlotte's succcess and her "perfect" life.
The "She" in the title could be Ruth. Or it could be Charlotte.
The ending fell flat for me, that's why four stars instead of five

Compulsively readable, but sadly petered out at the end. Still a thriller worth the read. Characters not really likeable, but interesting enough. I would have liked more backstory from Ruth, particularly about her alleged time with the baroness.

I loved this unique story line. Impossible to put this one down, I was turning pages late into the night because I couldn’t stop reading. Highly recommend.

Everything and everybody was so sketchy from the beginning. The more the story continues, I could not stop. It was just so ott. I wanted to know what was going on and how it was going to turn out. Instead it just fell flat for me. It was odd how it all played out in the end.

Arc provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I could not get into this book at all. There was a lack of connection with either main character, a lack of caring what happened to their story, and also a lack of understanding exactly what this story was about. It was not my favorite writing style and I'm sorry I couldn't enjoy it more.

This was a creepy story - in a good way! Great characters and plot. We’ve all been in situations where we knew something was off but couldn’t pin down exactly what. That’s what happens I’m this entertaining story.

Worst novel I have ever read!

An absolute joke. Poorly written, a ridiculous plot, and characters that are more cartoonish than anything else. Shame on you for putting this nonsensical garbage into print--have some standards!

Zero stars.

This book kept me reading and guessing until the end. The characters are all interesting, with the secrets you're looking for in a thriller. They're not especially likeable, but they're fun to follow. I didn't love the end of the book, but it was still a fast-paced read that I enjoyed.

While a fast-paced read, I found myself not liking either character. Ruth is clearly a psycho and Charlotte is the worst helicopter parent I’ve ever encountered. The story falls flat and then inexplicably ends.

Darcey Bell offers a short narrative with a purposely evasive plot and unlikeable characters. The allure of the book is that the plot is as unstable as the cast. Characterization is well developed, though a bit unconventional in this twisted storyline. Those seeking a fast-paced psychological suspense will not find it here. This is a story of instability and desperation told in moderation. A good read. 3 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #SomethingShesNotTellingUs. It was read and reviewed voluntarily by Tarrah Marie (@wayward_readers)

I loved A Simple Favor so much that I was so excited to be able to read Something She’s Not Telling Us. While I found the overall plot enjoyable, I found it lacking at points especially the ending. I was just hoping for a little more. I did enjoy reading the different points of views from the characters but found it hard to really like any of them.

The story is confusing and there are too many characters to really keep up with. I tried hard to get into this one but just couldn't, so I'm sadly having to DNF it. Thanks for the opportunity to read this one! It's not for me, but it might be a great read for someone else.

Started this and couldn’t get interested in it, but saved for later. My mother recommends I not save for later (not worth it) ... so I’ll mind her.

Something She’s Not Telling Us by Darcy Bell was a well written thriller. I would give it 3.5 stars and would read this author again. The opening chapter really had me engaged and needing to know what happened. I really loved how the book went back and forth between narrator and time frame so you got to learn a bit about everyone. The characters in this book were hard for me to love. There really wasn’t a single one who stood out, but I also understood that the point may have been to portray that they were just a regular family of people.


In my mind, I was geared up for a more twisted ending, so the abrupt ending bothered me a little bit. I also wish there was an epilogue, maybe sharing what actually happened back in Mexico and how that situation was wrapped up. There were too many loose ends that left me hanging.

This was not my favorite book by this author, and honestly it was a little bit of a struggle to get through. The time frame in Mexico seemed to drone on and on. None of the characters were particularly likable, and while that is usually an okay element, they were not well fleshed out either. The plot seemed to jump around a lot, it wasn't especially tense, just Ruth, the crazy one, doing some crazy stuff. Not the best book at all.

The first half of this book really drew me in, as Ruth's lies and deception are uncovered, but the third act floundered. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying and Ruth's character didn't live up to my expectations. I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because it was a quick read that kept me invested enough to finish. Overall, I was expecting a little more from Bell's second novel after the success of A Simple Favor.

I tried several times to get into this book and I just could not do it. The dialogue was all over the place and I couldn't keep track of the several characters already so soon in the story. Did not finish.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I read Something She's Not Telling Us in one non stop sitting and found the book to be very intriguing. While there were some aspects that confused me, I felt like it made sense for the story. Darcey Bell has a way of throwing is tidbits of information but not fully explaining things and while I appreciate it, I don;t always get it. Either way, I really liked this one!

Having enjoyed the film adaptation of A Simple Favor, I moved this to the top of my TBR queue when it arrived. I liked the characters as they were introduced and geared myself up for a depraved journey of woman vs woman, with a child on the line. But I don't think feel like the story ever really found its footing. It felt very underdeveloped, resulting in an underwhelming plot and conclusion. The pacing, with its brief chapters and interwoven timing, and overall brevity of the book do a good job hiding or making up for the lack of real action, but ultimately, I was left feeling that something was missing. On the plus side, I guess it does feel more realistic-- because nothing too outrageous happens, it feels conceivable, but at the same time, we seek stories like this because of the drama. While it certainly isn't a bad book, it feels like either the work of a green author or like it was rushed, more of a first draft than a book that has been meticulously edited. Hopefully this goes through another round of rewrites, to fully realize the potential of the foundation laid here in this pre-publication draft.