DNF at 67%. I just couldn’t finish this. The book *begins* by telling us the queen’s big secret—that she and her younger brother were actually the biological child of her father and the kitchen maid. While presented as true in the (fictional) book, in reality it seems this is actually a grossly unsubstantiated rumor from one source, The Queen Mother: The Untold Story of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, Who Became Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Other “secrets” spill in the next few chapters, including that the king and queen were celibate and that our narrator absolutely hate the Duke and Duchess of Windsor—especially the Duke because of “what he did to her” and “how he humiliated her.” At 67% I still hadn’t gotten to where this was discussed, but I was so tired of it being hinted at.

The best part of this book was the scenes of life for the king and queen during WWII. I think I would have found that enjoyable enough to continue usually, but I just don’t want to right now during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have enough drama in my real life thanks!

A historical fictionalized account of the life of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

As a young woman, Elizabeth never assumes her path will lead to her being queen. As the wife of the second son of the reigning king, the possibilities of her husband ascending the throne are quite low, until Edward VIII abdicates to marry Wallis Simpson.

Thrust into the palace with little preparation, Elizabeth needed to support her husband, the new King George VI and protect her own daughter, the new heir. Working tirelessly behind the scenes during WW2, she forms alliances with Churchill and the Americans, in order to banish the former king and his spouse from England, and become a co-leader to the people of England.

I have always enjoyed the history of the British Royal family, especially stories of the current Windsors. With much being written about Queen Elizabeth II, it's wonderful to read a take on the Queen Mum instead. Even the WW2 timeline takes a backseat to the relationships between the main characters, allowing the story itself to overshadow the wartime setting.

I had loved the movie The King's Speech so was interested in the story (historical fiction) of the Queen -- a woman Hitler found intimidating! It was fascinating but not a page turner. It reads very much like a journal than a story.

The Queen's Secret is the story of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, The Queen Mother. I wanted to read this novel because I'm fascinated by British royal history. I knew very little about Elizabeth's story, beyond The King's Speech and The Crown, so this story was very intriguing.

I loved the first person narrative and the slow reveal of the Elizabeth's story - including some big secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and recommend it for other fans of historical fiction.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, mother of Queen Elizabeth II, was Queen of England during World War II. During the war in particular, she and King George VI symbolized traditional English values, and they were highly visible during the war to let the English people know that the royal family stood with them. The story explores a number of rumors about the Queen Mother, including her parentage, her flirtation with George VI's older brother David (King Edward VIII), and her extreme distaste for Wallis Simpson. Elizabeth never forgave David for abdicating and forcing his younger brother to become king - she was convinced that the pressure of being king during WW II shortened George's life and she blamed David and Wallis. An interesting portrait of a well-known historical figure who is often passed over because she wasn't as flashy as other royals. Anyone who enjoys books about the royals will enjoy The Queen's Secret.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for a review.

The Queen's Secret, by Karen Harper, is a charming and historically relevant novel that will entice royal watchers and history buffs alike. Told from the perspective of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother readers are taken into royal life pre World War II and through the end of the war while learning about the royal family's relationships and involvement in the war effort-along with their many secrets. Never expecting to be king, the queen guided him and the family onto the main stage and help to develop the future queen, her daughter Elizabeth.

It is a very interesting look into the private lives of the royal family including perhaps a liberal take on many rumors that have swirled for years but are portrayed as fact in this novel. I really enjoyed the perspective from which the story is told as well as the interesting dynamics between the royals and Winston Churchill. This was my first Karen Harper book and it will not be the last-overall a great read!

Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I originally thought that the book had a cool concept and would be exploring the life of the Queen Mother. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to learn that the book was based more on speculation than fact. It didn't feel right. The writing was good and while at times I was interested, mostly the story couldn't quite capture my attention and keep it.

I really enjoyed this beautifully written historical fiction book. This was a quick fast paced read for me and I did enjoy the secrets that were revealed. I found myself googling as I was reading as there were many surprises!! Special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc for my honest opinion!

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While I found this to be an enjoyable read - i love anything that includes British History and WWII fiction - it fell a little flat for me. I guess, because of the title, I expected "the secret" to play a more central role in the plot. While I enjoyed seeing wartime England from inside the royal family, I felt like that was what the plot revolved around and the secret was just mentioned in passing to pull the title back in. Overall, likable characters, light WWII read that doesn't get too heavy, but fell a little flat for me.

This book takes place during the time of World War II in England. It follows the Queen Elizabeth's family through many trial and tribulations they and their country all faced during this difficult time. I really learned a lot more about the war through this perfectly researched novel.

We learn early on the secret that the Queen doesn’t want anyone, including her husband and children, to know. Of course, you have to read the book to find out what it is. But actually, there are two secrets.

Elizabeth was loved by her husband, Bertie, and her children Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. She is shown to be a strong, determined, and very protective woman who deeply cared for her country. The time of war was difficult for her because she worried so much about the people and the sacrifices that they were making. Thus, she was determined that she and her family would make the same sacrifices.

The Queen truly disliked Wallis Simpson and how Edward fell for her. Had he not abdicated the throne, Bertie would not have had to take on the mantle of the King.

Winston Churchill was named Prime Minister during this time and he met not only with Bertie, but with the Queen as well because both men admired her ideas and her stamina.

We gain more intimate knowledge about the Queen and her husband’s private life which is quite surprising.

The Queen fought weight problems all of her life, but dearly loved her food, especially sweets, chocolates, and her drinkee-poos. All in all, she is portrayed as a down to earth woman.

I have long been a fan of the Queen Mother and have read and reviewed numerous biographies about her. I admire her strength and the ability to appear to relax and enjoy life. In my eyes, she was a very special woman.

The author, Karen Harper, is a favorite of mine and I have read other books of hers. She is to be congratulated for having written yet another masterpiece.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Synopsis: This is a historical fiction that takes place around the years before and during WWII as King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth (now referred to as the Queen Mother). Hitler had referred to her as one of the “most dangerous women” in Europe as she was widely known to advise her husband and be very influential. The book details her journey during the war and the secrets she has kept to keep her marriage intact and the Royal Family safe - as well her daughter Lisbet (the modern day - Queen Elizabeth II).

Thank you to #williammorrow and @netgalley for the advanced copy for my honest review! The book is out today, 3/19!

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐.5 / 5 stars

I absolutely love reading about the history of the royal families, especially British history. The queen mother has always been a bit of a mystery to me other than the fact that she married Bertie (King George VI) and took on the title of Queen after King Edward abdicated the throne for Wallis Simpson. She was always portrayed as the nice, sweet looking grandmother - and it is intriguing to learn more about her and what role she played in helping her husband. However, most of what happened in the book is so sensational and as if every tabloid rumor to be true. Her dislike of Wallis Simpson was something I did not know and so juicy to read - but everything else was either a bit dull or a bit unbelievable. I even had to look up these events after finishing and noted that “most historians do not believe these to be true.” So it is fiction… but I would have liked more to be rooted in what actually happened and based on facts. I loved reading about Churchill and conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt. Would read if you are big into British royal history , but not my favorite royal story.

I looked forward to reading ‘The Queen’s Secret’ as it covered the war years of Elizabeth and Bertie. As the story starts, I felt like I was in the room with Elizabeth telling her story. I enjoyed listening to this storyteller. This lasted through the first bombing on the East End. Her vivid descriptions of going to the East End made the scene come alive and her special care of Bessie, her personal maid whose family lived there. After this point in the story, I found myself wandering while reading. The inkling to “her secret” became repetitive and I almost felt like the writing changed. After such good vibes at the beginning, the book became hard to complete. Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading this book and I was happy to receive an ARC of it. As many readers I loved The Crown Netflix series and having the opportunity to read more about the British Royal Family was supposed to be something to enjoy. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book and I did finish it only because I felt compelled to review it.
First the “secret” (or better the secrets) are revealed at the beginning of the book so there is no building in the story.
Second the writing style I really did not like it, sometimes it was a little too emphatic sometimes it was a list of little facts.
Third: I know it is a fiction not an biography, but some of the facts told in the stories are just unbelievable.
Right before this book I read the Other Windsor Girl by Georgie Blalock and I was not really impress but compared to this one I think it is better book, still it is a historical FICTON but more plausible and enjoyable.
If you like historical fiction and you want to know more about England in the forties and fifties, I would suggest The Gown by Jennifer Robson and The Other Windsor Girl.
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Many thanks, Netgalley, for this arc. In this novel Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother) takes center stage. One of my all time favorite movies is The King's Speech, and Lionel Logue is referenced, along with other characters and events you might know from the Netflix series The Crown. While they have no speaking parts, Edward and "that woman" Wallis also have a powerful presence. Recommended if you're a fan of the British royal family, or if you're in the mood for a WWII book but a "different" WWII book.

Very sad to hear of Karen Harper's recent passing. I will have to look into her other novels.

I love all things British royalty. When I was younger, my friends had posters of Madonna on their walls but I taped up pictures of Princess Diana. The Queen Mother was always someone I wondered about so I was very excited to read this book which is historical fiction based on the former Elizabeth Bowes Lyon's experiences as Queen during WWII. I just wish it had been as compelling as the woman herself.

As the title suggests, Queen Elizabeth has a secret (two actually) - one is revealed at the start and the other unfolds over the course of the book. The reader is constantly reminded about these secrets and the repeated mentions get very repetitive. While learning more about Elizabeth's role during the war was intriguing (it was especially interesting after having read "Lady Clementine" by Marie Benedict about Winston Churchill's wife during the same time - there are a lot of similarities), the story starts to drag on as much as the war must have when the reader keeps circling the same points. (Having read "Another Woman's Husband" by Gill Paul and "The Golden Hour" by Beatriz Williams helped fill in some blanks about The Duke & Duchess of Windsor's story that I wish the author had.) What I found most disappointing is that the secrets and some behaviors that resulted from them are based on rumors from an oft-debunked biography of the Queen Mother. Essentially the book is based on untruths so the secrets we're supposed to care so much about are all fiction rather than history. The Queen Mother lived quite a life and while I'm sure this sliver of it was defining for her, I expected a lot more from this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers and the author for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is an historical fiction novel of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the queen consort of King George VI. While there are flashbacks to Elizabeth’s childhood and early adult years, most of the novel is set between the time of Edward VII’s abdication and the years of WWII. The novel depicts an endearing relationship between Elizabeth and George VI, as well as their war time work in London. There are wonderful images of the two going out among the citizens after bombing raids and working with London’s poor and displaced. However, it is the obsessive and repetitive references to Elizabeth’s supposed “secrets”, that kept me from enjoying this novel. Elizabeth constantly dwells on these secrets and worries about her husband and the public finding out. Research into the topic shows that these secrets were the product of one very unreliable source and are simply regarded as gossip.

I came to this book with high hopes, but I was disappointed in the outcome. There are far more interesting books about the queen whom Hitler said was “the most dangerous woman in Europe”. It read more like a day journal of the Queen’s activities and appointments, than an intimate look into the life of monarch.

This was an interesting story because though a lot of the material is familiar, it is told from a different perspective, that of the Queen. I for one did not know much about her so that was enlightening. But I did find it a bit repetitive. And I wonder how many of her secrets are true?

I'll admit I'm a bit obsessed with all things royal. So when the opportunity came about to read this book I jumped on it. And I am so glad I did. I learned so many things about "the queen mother" and in such an entertaining way.

It is obvious from the start that the author did an immense amount of research for this book. The attention she paid to historical details shows in her writing. I enjoyed learning about her relationship with her husband, daughters, and Winston Churchill. The author made the characters come alive on the page and she brought history to life.

This book was well researched, well written, and the story is told in a way that keeps the reader's interest. A book worth reading for fans of the royal family or WWII. Definitely one for the keeper shelf.

I was instantly fascinated by this, I was intrigued by the back blurb and was hooked by the story completely which is a little surprising seeing as – and I will be totally honest here – and say I am not the biggest royalist, I admire certain members and I love reading about historical royals. I must be one of the only people in the world who didn’t sit down to watch ‘that’ royal wedding (come on, you all know which one I am talking about) and yet saying that, there is something about the 30’s/40’s generation that fascinates me. Maybe it is the whole King abdicating to live the with the woman he loves or maybe I’ve watched The King’s Speech far too many times, whatever I do like reading stories from this era and getting a different perspective and view on the stories that we all know and this one is great.
The Queens Secret did surprise me a lot, from what I have read about the Queen’s Mother, I always saw her as a rather stuck in her ways yet feisty woman who liked a bit of a tipple, and maybe even a little manipulative towards Bertie. From what I have read about her, she did have a tendency to as the back blurb says; ‘manoeuvre’ her husband around, but seeing as her husband had just become King – a role he was never destined for, she maybe had to manoeuvre him around to get the monarchy moving again, who knows after all the first in line to the throne; an older brother; Edward did abdicate leaving the country on the cusp of war and scandal in his wake – I think we all know what happened there don’t we? A true love story if ever there was one!
I grew up with stories from my late grandmother who always thought Elizabeth; the Queen Mother was the backbone, how she was the real thinker of the Royal family, that she was highly influential, then there is the kind and caring side; her visiting the people of London who were being blitzed day after day, these people had lost everything. I got all of that from this book, but I also got an intelligent, cunning, calculating, sobering and an actually a sad, lonely and at the time a miserable woman. And I do think that my grandmother assumptions are somewhat carried into this book, which is a little spooky.
I really enjoyed this, I liked the story some of which I already knew from other sources but there many aspects that were relatively new to me. The characters are engaging, likeable and tend to stick more or less to how we know them to have been. The writing is fluid and steady, even though I did feel at times the tone was a little repetitive, there are parts that do tend to repeat on itself, for example, it is really pushed at the reader just how miserable her life was and that of her past which had a hand in creating the woman she became. I totally get that the author wants to bring across as much of the personality of the woman behind the Queen Mother we know, but as a reader who just wants to settle down and read a what is essentially a good book, I would rather make my own assertions of the characters – again just my honest opinion, other readers may see it differently.
Most of parts of the story I had known or heard already, which is inevitable being British as all WW2 and Royal history is taught from a young age in one way or another, that is one thing we Brit’s are pretty good at we do tend to keep our pasts alive by re-telling stories – unless that is just my family? Yet there were genuine surprises, such as I didn’t really know just how much of an influence Elizabeth had and how other dignitaries saw or even that she had this famous reputation, I thought that was fascinating.
I loved the small details, things that we Brits have knows since childhood, things that we take for granted but little snippets of history that maybe aren’t as widely know around the world as they are here; such as how Londoner’s took refuge in the subways during the Blitz, at one time there were huge families, neighbours friends all living down there, as soon as the siren sounded that’s where Londoners went and it was the same in other parts of the country too. I loved that detail and it is something that really fascinates me, the real side to the war, real peoples tales. Yet, again it makes me think of my own family history of how our local chippy was bombed and how my grandmother used to take the chickens and the dogs into the Anderson shelter, while her mother refused to leave the house. And in certain places in the country people can still visit those old underground bunkers that served as refuges for those being driven from their homes by doodle-bugs and the Blitz. That side to the story really spoke to me, it really makes the reader picture just what Britain was like during the war.
Overall this is an intriguing story, full of historical fact, If you love anything to do with the Royal family and WW2 then this is a must-read.

I rarely do not finish a book but this one was impossible to read for me. I love historical fiction but there is a vast difference between good and bad writing. This is not bad writing. It is awful.

I have always admired the Queen Mother and thought this would be quite interesting. Instead this is National Enquirer level. I learned her recipe for skin care (yawn) and that she supposedly asks for drinky poos (hard to believe). Supposedly her mother was actually a servant girl because her mother was tired of giving birth but her dad was her dad she was told. Supposedly Elizabeth and Margaret were born from artificial insemination which I don't know if that's true and I don't care to know. She and the King haven't had sex since the honeymoon and that was enough for me.

Read if you are a devoted National Enquirer Fan.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.