DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

I wish I could have had the time to have read this book before the time expired. I have heard it was quite an exceptional and well-written story.

Loved this book and the intricacies of the characters. Well fleshed out and some unexpected twists.

I enjoyed the second chance at love for the characters as life and the world has changed from when they were younger to today and are more accepting of LGBTQ relationships.

Definitely a book that should be read!

This is one of the books that I was regretting requesting off of NetGalley, but it is one that I really enjoyed. I listened to it, and the audiobook was really well done with multiple narrators.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Harlequin for my ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing house for providing a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When a tragedy brings Nora back to her conservative hometown, Nora is confronted with her past and a relationship that she could never let go.

Her childhood friend, Sophie, was the love of her life although Sophie now is married to one of the most successful men in town.

Although Sophie has tried to move past her relationship with Nora, she still is madly in love with her and seeing her reminds her of just how much she misses her.

I thought this was a beautiful love story as it really showcases the challenges of growing up in a conservative town and how hard it is to navigate these feelings and relationships when your family and friends disapprove.

The changing viewpoints and shifts from the past to their current situation really added a lot of depth to this love story.

This was billed as a romance, and I get it was, but it was tough. The Secret of You and Me is the story of two women, now adults living their lives. They were in love as teenagers and living in a very conservative Texas town, were unable to be who they truly were. This led to mistakes on both their part, getting caught and doing things to save their own reputation.

Sophie stays in Texas, gets married and has a daughter, living life as a closeted lesbian. Nora joined the military and then moved to DC. She never settled down, instead choosing unavailable people to have flings with. Nora's father dies, which means Nora needs to return to Texas. She reunites with Sophie and their passion hasn't faded.

However, Sophie's mom (and family) weigh heavy on her mind. This book showcases the struggles that homosexuals feel when they cannot be who they truly are. When they live in an area that will not accept them or have family that will not accept them, they stay closeted, and it isn't easy.

I think I wanted more from this book. I felt it was the same refrain - I wish we could be together, but how when it would be so hard - over and over again

“Real strength is quiet and steady, not bombastic. Cowards are always the loudest people in the room.”

The Secret of You and Me by Melissa Lenhardt is an incredibly touching story about a love that refuses to be broken, despite the number of years apart, past lies and misunderstandings, and the social stigma that rages on in the small Texas town of Lynchfield.

Nora and Sophie were best friends growing up, becoming even closer as they approached adolescence and adulthood. Embracing their budding sexuality and their growing fondness for each other, the girls quickly discovered that their love was both beautiful and terrifying. Nothing prepares them for the aftermath of discovery, separation, heartache, and the subsequent struggle over the years to capture that same level of attraction and love that they seemingly lost almost 20 years ago.

Melissa Lenhardt masterfully presents this same-sex love story in all its complexities, beauty, fear, and acceptance. When Nora returns to Lynchfield following her father’s death, she is confronted by his house full of junk that nobody wants, her aunt’s tightly kept secret, and the inevitable confrontation with Sophie and her husband, Charlie, and her daughter, Logan. The explosive history between Nora, Sophie, and Charlie cannot be ignored for long, and the ensuing drama is well delivered, engaging, and quite satisfying and entertaining. Tempers flare, passions flame, secrets are exposed, and life for these characters will never be the same.

The Secret of You and Me is a love story between two women and an amazing portrayal of the devastating effects of lying both to the world and to yourself. Nora’s life in a big city has given her more freedom to express her sexuality openly, but Sophie is not as fortunate. Small towns filled with narrow minds and even looser tongues are no place for a closet lesbian to come out and flaunt her sexual preference. But what happens when the love of Sophie's life returns and reignites the passion and the desire to deny her heterosexual false front and confess her love for Nora from the rooftops. This story about Nora and Sophie is tender, true, and undeniably necessary in a world filled with ignorance and the reluctance to accept anyone with different views, beliefs, and lifestyles.

Melissa Lenhardt’s writing and storytelling are always so fresh and wonderful, capturing the reader’s attention with unique story lines about strong women who may bend during adversity, but they never completely break, standing firm instead and more determined, stronger, and more faithful than ever before. If you are offended by same-sex relationships, some scenes in The Secret of You and Me may shock you, but the raw power of Nora and Sophie’s relationship may just keep you reading and appreciating the beauty of such true love.

Books about LGBTQ relationships are not new, but The Secret of You and Me is a bit different because it provides a delightful peek into the hearts of two women whose love remains the same, always.

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first same-sex romance novel that I’ve read, and it was interesting to see how the plotting was so closely matches a romance that has heterosexual characters. The main difference being that in this story one of things that keeps the two apart are the attitudes and behaviors of those small-town people. People who wanted to keep the two women apart. People who hid secrets about what Ray and Brenda actually did eighteen years ago that drove Nora away.

There was also the baggage that each woman brought to the present, and it was interesting to see how they worked through the baggage. Sophie and Nora are both flawed characters, and the author deftly handles the push and pull between the women as they work to find their way through the mess of their lives.

I liked how strong the women are in face of the judgments and the obvious homophobia that was thrown their way. At Nora’s father’s funeral when Sophie’s mother makes it all about her grief, Nora’s reaction is described this way, “Everyone waited for me to offer my condolences, but I merely stared at the woman. I’d rather be waterboarded than offer her an ounce of sympathy.”

The book is told an alternating chapters with Nora and Sophie having their own point of view. As with any issue or argument, it is often good to see both sides, but that also can lead to repetition of information and facts. Luckily, that wasn’t an issue in this book. Each viewpoint offered clarity to the struggles the characters were having.

What was a small issue for me was how much the tension in the story centered around the physical. Relationships are so much more than that. It didn’t bother me that the sex was between two women. I have the same issue with stories that have heterosexual couples, and the need for the physical expression of the relationship comes across as more important than the other parts of being a couple.

Wow! What a heartfelt and hopeful second chance love story that is definitely one of my favorite reads this year!

Following the death of her estranged father, Nora returns to her childhood home after eighteen years away to settle his affairs, and in doing so must confront those she so suddenly left behind. As her former best friend, Sophie's feelings for Nora are complicated, but so is her life, and seeing Nora after so much lost time, reignites a spark that had dulled when Nora took off with no explanation. Where Nora is fierce, unapologetic, and downright stubborn, Sophie is kind, supportive, and altogether too accommodating. Together, they become complements and bring out the best in each other, which this stunning cover does a phenomenal job of symbolizing!

The story alternates perspectives between Nora and Sophie, which provides amazing insight and depth of understanding into their overall conflict, while also giving genuine justifications for all of the decisions that were ultimately made. Every moment and emotion of this redemptive tale was vivid, richly portrayed, and masterfully relatable, casting a magical spell over me while reading that made it incredibly difficult to put down! The author's writing style is so graceful, welcoming, and introspective that I felt as though I was coming home right along with Nora. The whip smart dialogue flows naturally and adds such a richly cinematic experience! Each voice is strong, and you can't and won't want to take your eyes off the page!

This is an emotionally complex and intensely dynamic love story between two women that recognizes and respects how imperfect relationships can be. There is also a dark comedy vibe that works well as a coping mechanism for so much drama and grief, yet a sense of compassion is never lost. Every character is flawed and entanglements with one another abound, crafting a masterful character study in family interactions especially as it relates to mother-daughter relationships.

While it can be hard to pave a positive path when it's filled with so much misunderstanding and bad decision-making, this story is a true testament to the power of forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love. As a contemporary debut, I was overwhelmingly impressed and can't wait to read what the author has next!

Whenever I hear a book is a remake or retelling of Persuasion, my right eyebrow automatically raises in skepticism. Is it even possible that any book could compare to my favorite Austen novel, let alone one of my favorite books of all time? (And Captain Wentworth forever has my heart!) I spent the first 25% comparing every minute detail, from characters, to the settings, emotions, physical interactions, and more, in The Secret of You and Me to Persuasion. But once I stopped the comparisons, I enjoyed reading The Secret of You and Me a lot more. So, my advice to you, dear reader, is to take this book as it is, and appreciate the emotional relationship between Sophie and Nora for what it is, not for what it isn’t.

Ms. Lenhardt’s writing is descriptive, conversational, and emotional. There are many instances of emotional connection between characters where I could not put down the book. Setting a LGBTQ romance in a conservative, small Texas town is a risk that pays off for the novel. The reader can clearly sense Sophie’s inner conflict. While Nora is living the life she wants in Washington, D.C., Sophie is closeted, hiding her true self from everyone in her life.

The characters in this novel are complex and damaged, but easily recognized. Of the two main characters, I felt more of an emotional connection with Sophie. Her scenes of coming out to her AA sponsor as well as her daughter left me emotionally depleted. But her scenes at the end of the novel left me exhilarated for her. Sophie’s self-discovery, and more so self-acceptance, show tremendous character growth. As for Nora, we don’t get to see much of her life over the past 18 years. We do learn about her PTSD, her past and current relationships, and that her job is top secret. But I never felt that emotional connection with Nora that I felt with Sophie. The secondary characters fill out the novel well. From Nora’s sister’s complaints, to Sophie’s daughter’s honesty, we understand the main character even more through their interactions with the other characters.

The romance in The Secret of You and Me is certainly more explicit than Austen, but the longing between Sophie and Nora is palpable from the beginning. The two have a tendency towards fighting then reconciling on more than one occasion. The romance between these two characters is not light and fluffy. Infidelity is present in many of the relationships in the novel, including that of Nora and Sophie.

I finished reading this book days ago and I’m still mulling over my feelings. The emotions and topics are a lot weightier than what I normally look for in a romance. (The novel is similar to the emotions in some of Colleen Hoover’s novels as a comparison.) But sometimes, reading outside of your comfort zone is good for you. If you are looking to challenge yourself with some complicated characters and emotional writing, I recommend trying The Secret of You and Me.

Set in the recent history of Texas, just a few years before gay marriage became a national right, Melissa Lenhardt’s novel The Secret of You and Me is not so much a coming of age story, as the lead characters are adults, as a coming of identity story. It’s a wonderful novel, a candid lesbian romance, wrapped around a host of difficult subjects: death, loss, desire, (in)fidelity, parenthood, childhood, the lens of nostalgia, and coming out. More than that, though, it’s a compelling drama rooted in family, both chosen and blood, and how we define it and ourselves.

The structure of the novel is in (mostly) alternating chapters from Nora (the central character) and Sophie’s (Nora’s best friend/first love) points of view. Lenhardt’s choice to shift between these equally dimensional women gives us greater insight into both, as well as their perspectives on the various supporting characters, most importantly Nora’s aunt, Emmadean, and Sophie’s, husband, daughter, and AA sponsor Charlie, Logan, and Todd, respectively. By doing this we get to see each woman’s view of herself, as well as of the other, and I think the novel is richer for the split POV.

I also felt that Lenhardt has an excellent ear for dialogue and a flair for family dynamics. From the earliest chapter, where Nora, newly arrived “home” is eating enchilada casserole, to the last I felt like I was in that small town, hearing the gossip from the locals, and watching everything unfold. So cinematic is the author’s writing, that I told a friend, “I could easily see this novel as movie on Amazon Prime or a Hulu original.”

As the person many of my friends have chosen to come out to, to reveal that they were trans to, to share their marital issues with, this novel really resonated with me. While I do not support infidelity, even in fiction, I certainly understand it as a symptom – an expression – of deep unhappiness. Lenhardt handled all of these revelations with grace and poise, and at times I felt as though I were watching friends share their stories.

While some of the subjects within this novel are serious, the story itself is not uncomfortably heavy. It’s a romance, just not a conventional one, and definitely worth the read.

Goes well with enchilada casserole and cold Shiner Bock, right from the bottle.

(As noted above, a portion of royalties from this book are going to the It Gets Better Project. Click for more details.)

Melissa Lenhardt’s writing made me fall in love with the western genre with her Sawbones trilogy, so I was curious to see what she would do as she published her first contemporary women’s fiction. The Secret of You and Me is billed a modern take on Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and more intriguingly, is an LGBTQ romance.

Well, Lenhardt pulled no punches with this one by setting it in a conservative, judgmental, homophobic Texas town, which immediately set the bar for conflict pretty high. The story begins when Nora, who left Sophie, her family, and everything else behind at 18 when she is caught by Sophie’s mother, returns home for her estranged father’s funeral. Sophie, who stayed behind and married Nora’s boyfriend, has been living a lie for the past 18 years, and the pain of the lie resulted in alcoholism. Oh, and Sophie’s husband is gearing up to run for office.

This was a complex tale, and Lenhardt’s world-building and character development shine (although this is definitely a world I wouldn’t want to occupy). Both Sophie and Nora are complicated, flawed women. Nora has avoided getting to close to anyone since she was 18, and in the process is a bit selfish. Sophie has been in denial since she was 18, trying her best to live the life she has, which is far from the one she imagined.

This is a story of forgiveness and one of romance and second chances. There is betrayal and disappointment in the past, and as amends are made, more of the story behind the betrayal comes to light. Sophie seeks forgiveness from Nora, but I think she ultimately also forgives herself. They find themselves with a second chance at love, but given where Sophie is both personally and literally, I couldn’t see a way for the couple to have their happily-ever-after.

The story is dialogue heavy and at times, the conversation is exhausting. Nora and Sophie have a lot of baggage to work through, and there is a back and forth of anger and then forgiveness, and then another argument crops up, and then forgiveness follows. The town is steeped in homophobia, and you can easily imagine the weight of pressure and fear Sophie feels at the prospect of being outed. This is not, generally, a lighthearted love story. Many of the side characters were genuinely unlikeable, emphasizing the difficulty of their relationship there should they come out. The problems felt authentic, as did the stress both characters were under.

The quick dialogue back and forth between Sophie and Alima was a delight, even when it wasn’t quite nice. There are some touching moments between Sophie and her teenaged daughter too. The love between Sophie and Nora feels real, even if at times I wondered if they could come together after all the time they’ve been apart. Lenhardt manages their resulting steamier scenes in a manner that gives heat but isn’t graphic.
The story alternated between uncomfortable, frustrating, and hopeful, and the author found a resolution to Sophie’s dilemma that was both believable and inspired. I found myself invested in the characters even when I didn’t entirely like them – which is proof of good storytelling in my book.
I’m giving The Secret of You and Me four stars.

I want to reread The Secret of You and Me after reading the author's acknowledgements! I was so swept away the first time through I did not step back to notice the inspiration. Lenhardt mentioned in her acknowledgments that The Secret of You and Me was inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, and Lenhardt was wanting to do a modern-day retelling. The story quickly took control of itself though after she identified her [version of Austen's] Anne and realized the only other character that matched Nora's passion and vigor was Sophie.

For an author who has mostly stuck to historical fiction and mystery genres, Lenhardt did an exquisite job debuting into contemporary literature. I was secretly hoping this was the author's story fictionalized because it felt so emotionally vulnerable that I was rooting for these two lovebirds and felt the struggle of this monumental secret after all they did to cover it.

I was so focused on my list of reasons why Nora was kicked out of town that I completely missed all the hints pointing to the actual secret. I laughed out loud when Sophie's daughter vocalized one of the reasons on my list: is there a dead body buried somewhere? Lenhardt's writing style was engaging and flowed so smoothly I became lost in the story.

The Secret of You and Me had a constant build without any low points or slow moments. By far my favorite scene was the paper plate dinner party drama! Everything about that event had me reading till the wee hours of the morning and at that point, I just refilled my coffee and hoped to finish before I had to head off to work. It was the perfect storm and I ate it up! Alima ended up being my favorite character in that scene from her threats and sarcasm to her confidence and translated insults!

The Secret of You and Me had humor and love but also pain and honesty. The story helped me empathize more with all the different pulls, especially in a small town, when deciding to come out even to your loved ones. I loved the real struggles captured as Sophia drowns her pain and fears with alcohol, and Nora continually chooses relationships that will never amount to anything, almost punishing herself.

I highly recommend this read to anyone who loves a good Southern tale, a family drama, or inclusive title because this does all three beautifully.

There was a question in one of my Facebook groups about which book I'd want to see made into a movie and I responded with a favorite title. Now, I have an additional candidate — The Secret of You and Me. The story of Nora and Sophie's passionate second-chance journey to their happy-ever-after despite small town prejudices and past hurts lends itself highly adaptable to film. All the elements are there: fully fleshed-out characters, complicated relationships, well-described small town setting, timely subjects, and involving storytelling.

I loved how Ms. Lenhardt developed the characters of Nora and Sophie. Both are imperfect, broken people who, through the course of the story, have to learn things about themselves that they needed to address separately in order to forge a future together.

While Nora was able to live her truth elsewhere, Sophie has a more difficult time accepting her real identity within the narrow confines of her conservative town. A bigoted mother, a cheating husband with political ambitions, and a teenage daughter she doesn't want to lose if she came out all contribute to Sophie's  quandary in making a choice. Similarly, Nora has her own internal conflicts to resolve with a family responsibility, a sick aunt, and an ongoing relationship with another woman.

I also appreciate the balance of both opposing and supportive characters. For Nora's always-complaining sister Mary there's a mothering Emmadean. For Sophie's heinous mother Brenda there's her stalwart sponsor Todd.

Some serious topics are discussed in this book. Homosexuality, bisexuality, homophobia, PTSD, and alcoholism being the most prominent ones. For the most part, they're treated with sensitivity and provide a positive representation of the LGBTQ community.

My main gripe is the overabundance of cheating. Charlie cheats with two women not his wife. Nora's lover Alima is married. Sophie and Nora are cheating on Charlie. Fidelity is an important issue (for me) in romance and the lack of it here gives me a little pause in an otherwise engaging story.

Overall, an entertaining read that highlights the message that love is universal.

OK first of all, can I just saw HOW much I LOVED reading an LGBTQIA romance novel. Yay!! We need to see more of this!!

The beginning started a tad bit slow to me but I was already invested between the history and passion behind the story of Nora and Sophie. I've always loved stories about second chance romances. The author weaves a beautiful heartfelt story between these two women and how they find their way back to one another.

I also liked how the author incorporated some heavy topics of racism, homophobia, emotional abuse, and PTSD.


I definitely will be checking more out from Melissa Lenhardt!

3.5 stars.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harlequin for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 8/4/20
Published to GR: 8/5/20

Heart warming and beautiful. Sometimes you get a second chance at love so don't squander it no matter what obstacles may face you. It's truly a beautiful story so don't pass this up. Absolutely check it out. Happy reading!

This was a great beach read about two women that fell in love in their youth and drifted apart after being discovered. Years later, they meet again and realize that first love doesn't disappear.

A lovely second chance romance story between two women. Nora's father Ray kicked her out of the house for being gay. She doesn't come home until he dies. Sophie was Nora's love but she ended up married to Nora's ex-boyfriend Charlie and is the mother of Logan. Sophie has shoved her feelings about Nora (and women) down over the years as she built her marriage and life. Nora, on the other hand, didn't- she's out and she's got the life she wanted, except she still thinks about Sophie. Readers of romances know what's going on here but Lenhardt shines a light on second chances where one has to make a huge- huge- admission to oneself and one's family, She handles this with great sensitivity and heart. I felt for everyone in this novel (except Ray). Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Lenhardt is a great storyteller and this is a wonderful read.

Thank you so much for the ARC.

What a wonderful book about love and second chances. Two souls meant to be together and torn apart.
I love that they found each other years later and were able to be together. This is a wonderful LBQT story and I loved every minute of it.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.