This book was an incredibly dark, wild, and mind blowing fall into the depths of trauma and the macabre! I wasn’t sure whether I should cheer for Terra or not, she is the very definition of an unreliable narrator. There were time that my allegiances shifted, then the very next few pages had me questioning myself. This book was one hell of a ride and it didn’t let go until the very last page! Kudos to the author for making such a twisty, mind-bending tale! I would love to see other work from her, she’s got some serious talent. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 16, 2021
When Terra was a child, she survived a devastating house fire, a fire that claimed the life of her parents. Now, at eighteen years old, Terra is living with her aunt and trying to get her life back on track. One night, she is taken from her bedroom by a masked figure and after days of captivity in a water well, with only a children’s storybook for company, Terra escapes. However, upon her return, people begin to doubt her story, including her aunt Dessa. Was Terra kidnapped, or did her traumatized brain make up the story, like everyone keeps telling her? Is Terra a victim or horrible circumstances, or is she suffering a mental health crisis? No one is more desperate for answers than Terra herself, and she will stop at nothing to find them.
“The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep” by bestselling YA author, Laurie Faria Stolarz, is a unique and intriguing tale of post-traumatic stress disorder and family tragedy, with a magical dash of fairy tale stories mixed in.
The story is told in two time frames, one, when Terra was kidnapped and kept in the well, and afterward, when she is back at her aunt’s, looking for answers. Each section is clearly marked, and the writing style is easy to follow. Stolarz also appeals to her younger audience by including social media and technology in her novel, when Terra uses a chatroom for survivors to bond with others like her (there are lots of hashtags and Internet slang that add a modern twist).
This novel was page-turning, and the short chapters and addictive storytelling made it hard to put down. I wanted to know the truth just as much as Terra did, and I cheered for her the whole way. The novel’s ending remained a mystery right until the last few chapters, as Stolarz left the possibilities for the ending wide open, and any path would have been believable and enjoyable. Often in this genre, this is difficult to do, and I fully admire Stolarz for her creativity.
The ending itself was somewhat of a disappointment however, as I was looking for something more concrete and well-developed. I felt the re-appearance of a random character was not the best ending for the novel, yet Stolarz definitely still managed to tie the novel up in a neat little package.
I can definitely see “The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep” appealing to audiences, young and old. It is captivating, creative and engaging, and will definitely pull you in from page one.

The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep was an interesting survivor story of a teenage girl called Terra who was abducted six months earlier, however, the problem is nobody truly believes the kidnapping ever happened, including the aunt who Tarra lives with. Her parents died five years earlier in a fire, which also becomes part of the story. Written with a first person narrative, with a whiff of unreliable narrator, Terra was an interesting lead character and you'll feel her pain when nobody believes her story. Suffering from a form of post traumatic shock, she was a fragile and intense character who was easy to like.

As the 'kidnapping' was very public everybody knows who Terra is and the whispering goes on. As things develop Terra believes the kidnapped is still out there and her paranoia intensifies, whilst the majority of others (including her friends) think she is an attention seeker. A major part of the novel revolves around an online chat group for survivors of abductions which gives Terra somewhere to vent and chat with others who believe her more than her friends in the real world. This book was a stylish combination of drama and thriller which is aimed at teens aged fourteen and over.

✨Book Review✨
The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep by Laurie Faria Stolarz is a quick read for young adults.
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I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator in this novel. Terra is as unreliable as they come, especially considering all the trauma she's been through in her young, 18 years. She loses her parents in a house fire, and is later kidnapped by a stranger, only to have no one believe her story. Even Terra doesn't know what to believe anymore, making this novel an excellent insight into an overstressed mind.
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I also found the novel to include a ton of great themes and symbols, making this an excellent choice for essay writing (sorry, that's where my teacher brain takes me!). Themes of grief, survival, loss, and storytelling are made evident throughout.
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There were a few moments while reading that I had to shake my head. I found some events extremely unlikely and hard to grasp, but it did not at all deter me from wanting to know how things would play out.
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Readers of Jane Anonymous will probably love the subtle references in this novel; however, this novel is definitely a stand-alone. I have not read the previous novel and wouldn't have noticed the references if I hadn't have done some research about the author.

Terra was abducted 6 months ago. 4 days she spent trapped somewhere in what looked like a well. She managed to escape, only, nobody believes that it happened to her at all. Now, her mental health is crumbling to pieces from what happened to her and also from the way people treat her. Then Terra finds a girl with a similar experience. Could it be that the same person is behind both kidnappings and can she finally prove that she was taken in the first place?
Well, I have a headache now because I stayed up until 3am reading this book. And,honestly, I have zero regrets because it was worth it and then some. The headache is from staying up but also the emotional turmoil that this book put me through. It was gut-wrenching at times and I had to take breaks. The reactions Terra received from people and especially her aunt were so hard to read. Terra lost her parents in a fire 5 years prior and she definitely suffers from the survivor's guilt. It made her do some not so smart things that later made her untrustworthy in other people's eyes, even those who were supposed to be on her side. Man, I wanted to kick some people in the face while reading! I noticed how around most people all Terra can say is "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" and that was heartbreaking how she constantly felt that she had to apologize for something. And then,when Garret would do something to try and help Terra investigate, she was always asking him why he is doing that,why he believes her at all and I was just crying so hard.
I try to stay away from darker contemporaries because I know what they usually do to my mental state, but like I said this worth it.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy a good survivor story, and this one is no different. I definitely enjoyed reading this one, because I found Terra intriguing as a narrator and character. However, I do not think I would read it again, maybe if I end up Jane Anonymous, I definitely will.

I received this novel as an ARC through NetGalley.

After a late night party, Terra walks home and falls asleep in her bedroom. She wakes up in what appears to be an empty water well where she is held captive for four days by her abductor. Six months after her escape from the well, nobody believes that Terra was actually abducted. Attempting to deal with her trauma, Terra finds a website called Janes Anonymous where victims can chat online about their experiences without judgement. In this community Terra meets another survivor (Paylee22) whose abduction appears to mirror her own, one who has also been receiving triggering clues hinting that their abductor may not be finished with them yet...and then Paylee22 mysteriously vanishes.

The Last Secret you’ll Every Keep is a fantastic YA psychological thriller in which a trauma survivor soon discovers herself alone when everyone begins to doubt she was ever abducted. This is a "new to me" author and I will definitely be adding more of her novels to my TBR list. I tend to be drawn to these novels about survivors of trauma whom the world seems to have written off as "damaged" yet they still find the strength and courage to face their issues. The novel begins with Terra telling her story of survival after she escapes being held captive for four days in a well by her abductor. We quickly learn that this is not Terra's first encounter with trauma. As a child both of her parents were killed in a house fire and Terra was the only survivor. A combination of psychosis, medication, and past actions play an important role in portraying her as an unreliable witness. Written off as an attention seeking liar, Terra searches for the truth on her own. As she searches for clues she begins to doubt her recollection of event s and even the people in her own life as being “real”. This was a suspenseful read with lots of twist and turns that I couldn't put down. I devoured this novel in an afternoon because I just had to know what was going to happen. I will post a warning that this novel may contain triggering content for some readers and includes material related to abduction where individuals are held in confined spaces, survivors discussing trauma (including sexual abuse), and different aspects of mental health. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more novels by this author.

Holy cow, this is one of those books that really packed an emotional, chilling, and shocking read! I found it to be completely riveting and mind blowing! Well written, thrilling, chilling, and shocking is what this book is! Unputdownable, original, and full of tension! The author made sure to write in a way that really seemed to compell the readers, her characters were flawlessly developed! Highly, highly recommend! Do recommend preparing yourself and clearing your schedule though!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday.

Terra was abducted and then the real horror hit - nobody believed her.

This book was a punch straight to the gut and uncovering what happened was a thrill ride.

I really enjoyed this book. It had some predictable parts but you second guess your self a few times so it isn't boring at all. A very fast read. There were some parts that were slightly confusing because it did jump around a bit but I was able to figure it out pretty fast. I would like to read more books by this author.

Four days…
Trapped in a well, surrounded by dirt, scratching at the walls trying to find a way out.
Six months…
Since my escape. Since no one believed I was taken to begin with – from my own bed, after a party, when no one else was home…
One month…
A month of chatting with a survivor whose story eerily mirrors my own: a girl who’s been receiving triggering clues, just like me, and who could help me find the answers I’m searching for.
Three days…
Since she mysteriously disappears,
Just those parts of the description are what made me want to read this book. This was gripping, descrptive and had my attention. I can't wait to buy the paperback. I think the author did a great job with coming up with this book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of the first thriller/suspense crime books I've read and wow, was it an adventure. It was definitely a ride of emotions and fears and made me think twice about going out at night to the mailbox at the end of the driveway alone, haha.

I really liked Terra and learning about her relationships with people around her. I felt her distraught when people didn't believe her and the uncertainty of herself as she saw things happening that proved her story true. It was fun to piece it all together on my own too and determine "who-done-it".

Definitely a recommended read!

The beginning of the book sucked me right in, but unfortunately it didn’t stay on that high level. I enjoyed different parts of the book and other parts I just wanted to slap people for stupidity. I also felt a disconnection to everyone in the book. All of that being said, the book kept me wanting to know what was going on until the very end!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a digital copy of this book.

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

This book was different from any I've read before.
The way that stories were interwoven, the use of chat rooms, how Terra was never believed until she proved it.

This book is confronting, but it also gives you ways to process that confrontation. It was easy to read and to follow.

I did struggle with the little to no explanation we receive about Terras attack and abduction. It feels as though there is a little too much guess work.

This was an ok thriller. I loved the unreliable narrator and trying to figure out if I should trust her or not. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t great. The characters didn’t stand out to me, and I didn’t understand their backstories or thought processes much. It was fine, but forgettable.

I've been into YA thrillers lately, so I was really excited to jump into this one after the cover, title, and blurb caught my attention.

Terra, an 18 year old with a history of mental illness, delinquency, and a troubled past, is abducted from her home and kept in a well. For four days, she languished in the dirt, only to save herself and make her way back home. But no one believes her, and as the story continues, we see Terra struggling with reality. She questions her memories, her character, and her intentions because everyone around her claims her story is made up. As she searches for connection and an emotional outlet in Jane Anonymous, a website designed for survivors, she begins to fear that she's being targeted again.

I liked this book.

The plot itself is a very cool premise. I was most interested in the moments when Terra is recounting her abduction. I loved how she reviews the "rules" her parents taught her in order to be safe and how she tried to "do everything right." This emphasized the important topic of believe-ability and victim blaming. Terra is not only ostracized because of her story, she's targeted for it. Friends and peers abandon her. Classmates torment her. Law enforcement dismisses her. Her Aunt Dessa blames her "imagination" on previous issues and continues to push therapy programs and medications as the answer to "her problems." This aspect of the novel struck a serious cord with me, and for that, I think many readers will find this book interesting, too.

I had some issues with voice and structure that kept me from falling in love. The website conversations were quick and easy to read and reminded me of Ruth Ware's chapter breaks in her most recent One by One. I enjoyed that, but Terra's voice read older than 18 at times. I struggled with her relationship with Peyton and the shifting focus of the book. Is this a stalker thriller? A dramatic suspense? A psychological thriller? It was hard to pinpoint the aim, and Terra's recollection only furthers the confusion. I think she's almost an unreliable narrator, but the final chapters unfolded too quickly and too on the nose for me to fully doubt her the way I think we're supposed to.

Overall, The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep is a quick read with some astute commentary on victim blaming and mental health. I think this will hit hard for many readers struggling with these issues but might not be for everyone.

Big thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

If you don't want to be angry at most of the characters in your next read, this might not be the best choice right now. However, if you're prepared to get mad at (almost) everyone... then pick this YA Mystery/Thriller because despite my state of anger, this was a really good book that kept my attention from beginning to end!

In this story, you'll meet Terra, a girl who managed to survive an abduction. Someone took her from her own bed and put her in what looked like a water well. Thirst, hunger were her constant companions until she found a way out. However, instead of going directly to the police she went home (which is understandable in the state she was in). The problem is that quickly, people start not believing her. They don't find the well, and she has been known to miss for a couple of days in the past. In the end, everyone mocks her and thinks she's crazy and that she made everything up. UGH. I cannot tell you how frustrating that was. I wanted to shake everyone and tell Terra that I believed her.

This book follows Terra after the abduction but we also get chapters telling us what happened in the past or what she thought happened as everything aren't always clear. I was hooked and I needed to know how it would end as I wasn't sure if she would survive or not...

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

none believed Terra’s story when she returns from being held captive for 4 days in a deep well, somewhere in a local forest. And why would they--she has a reputation for being a bit unreliable and her troubled past along with the death of her parents makes her seem to everyone in her life that it may be all in her head. story kept me interested and wanting to find out how this would end. first book I've read by this author. would recommend!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Secret You'll Ever Keep was a book that I enjoyed for the most part but gave me a character that was frustrating at times. Enter Terra. She's 18 years old and has definitely gone through some stuff. Whether it's her dad teaching her how to protect herself, losing both of her parents to an unfortunate and untimely accident, or to not being believed when she tells someone something very important.

Honestly, so much happens in this book that you might have to take a breather or two just to digest it all. Each page went by faster and faster because I had no idea where this book was going to take me next. The one thing I didn't like was how no one believed her. It's like she was crying wolf or anything and it just frustrated me beyond belief.

Then again, Terra did make some weird decisions and was vague about a lot of things to the people who loved her. So.. not sure how that was going to help with anything but eventually things all worked out. I am so happy that she had one person on her side the entire time and everyone else sucked in my eyes.

In the end, we live in a world with some creepy people and we all deserve our own Garrett.

This is one of those that I wanted to like because I felt like it was written on an important topic, but I just don’t.

The writing is cheesy and cliched. The situation is stiff and doesn’t feel realistic. It’s just not well written and I won’t be using it.