This book is all about secrets, just like the title says. Its also about a family drama about sisters. Told by all the sisters POV. If you like dysfunctional family stories you may like this book as much as I did.

This book was everything I hoped it would it be.
I was hooked quickly and completely unwilling to put this down. I devoured this book in just one sitting. I have no regrets and can’t wait to read more by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, about three estranged sisters, each with issues and family secrets that affect them both over individually and as a family unit. It was well written with strong female characters and a solid plot. Highly recommend and will look for other work from this author as a result of reading this book.

Her Secret Life by Anna E. Collins and narrated by Laurel Lefkow was a brilliant gripping
story that will have you gripped from the beginning till the very end.


Three sisters, Alison who is the eldest, she is married with no children and works as a realtor. Leah, who is a librarian and has recently been widowed. She hasn't been home to Seattle in over 20 years, The youngest is Jillian, she is working as a pilot, and Single, bisexual and living in New York. They are not close and haven't spoken in years to each other. Just another dysfunctional family. Things are about to change their mum suddenly dies and her body is found in a lake, they all have to return home and there is some mystery surrounding their mums death.........But, what is it?

Their mum has many secrets and all three sisters have to be strong to learn more about their mother. This book was excellent and full of twists and turns throughout.

I highly recommend this book and the narrator Laurel Lefkow was excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.

I am so glad that I chose to read this book. The 3 generation of women in this book hold so many secrets. Allison, Leah and Jillian, 3 more or less estranged sisters are forced to reunite when their mother Mariam is found dead. They found out a lot about each other that they didn’t know and a lot about their mother also. Leah’s daughter Hannah also has her own suffering to contend with during this story. I don’t know if I would be able to keep the kind of secrets that they kept from each other. It seems to me that they all led very lonely lives. I found myself in tears by the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Three estranged sisters, Leah, Alison, and Jillian, find themselves reunited after the sudden death of their mother in Anna E. Collins' captivating novel Her Secret Life. Each sister with a unique profession - a realtor, a librarian, and a pilot, come together to navigate the aftermath of their mother's mysterious passing.

Her Secret Life is a heartfelt portrayal of the complexities of womanhood, friendship, and familial bonds in the face of adversity. The novel, narrated from the perspectives of the three sisters, offers a nuanced exploration of dysfunctional family relationships and the enduring impact of unresolved trauma.

While the characters may not all be immediately likable, the depth of their individual journeys and the enigmatic presence of their late mother lend a sense of intrigue to the narrative. The interplay of themes such as motherhood, sisterhood, forgiveness, and new beginnings underscores the resilience of the human spirit in the wake of profound loss and upheaval.

With its blend of emotional depth and narrative intricacy, Her Secret Life presents a compelling examination of the enduring power of love, the quest for closure, and the potential for renewal amidst heartbreaking circumstances. A poignant exploration of the bonds that tie us together and the secrets that threaten to tear us apart, this novel is sure to resonate with readers seeking a thought-provoking exploration of family dynamics and personal growth.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

A book read for my own pleasure as opposed to within my capacity as primary school teacher. I found myself drawn into the lives of each of the three Brady sisters from the start and was instantly intrigued about the mystery surrounding their mother’s death. I would highly recommend! 👍

I originally thought this book was a thriller but it’s really a book about family dysfunction, sisters, breaking free from toxic relationships and new beginnings!

After years apart, 3 sisters reunite as their mother unexpectedly passes. Each is dealing with life’s messes in their own way. We see how their mothers death pushes them together to confront the past and make way for a bright future.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Her Secret Life' by Anna E. Collins.

Read and reviewed for NetGalley, Anna E Collins, Bookouture, Bookouture Book Club and Hachette UK.

This is the first book I have read by Anna but it most definitely wont be my last!

This novel consists of 58 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This book is devastatingly gorgeous, emotive and beautiful. I absolutely love the unique storyline and the fact that it is set over multiple protagonists makes you feel that you are living several lives in one book. It tells the stories of three sisters Leah, Jillian and Alison who are very different people living very different lives. they are not close but when their mothers body is found in a lake and they inherit a cottage that none of them anything about they are all brought together. We discover more about the three sisters as we discover what their childhood and parental relationships were like. There is mystery about their mothers death as well as the cottage they inherited. Will they be able to work together to discover the truth or will their secrets tear them apart again? This book is filled with every emotion you can think of including love, secrets, family, heartbreak, loss, forgiveness, tension, worry, shock, suspense, mystery and so, so much more!!! It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Anna's evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. It will make you cry both tears of happiness and sadness. The multiple narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got and I ended up with tears streaming down my face so make sure you get those tissues ready!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle and the book. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with each of the characters and going through their happiness, pain, sadness, curiosity and much more. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets, love, and regrets and so, so much more. It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying the book around to read it every chance that I got. You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and although it could be a difficult read at times with emotions running high I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!!
This may be the first book I have read by Anna but I cannot wait to get hold of more books by this extremely talented author. It is one of the most stunning and unforgettable book that I have ever read and one that will stay with me for years if not forever! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Laurel Lefkow who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Laurel did a fantastic job on each of the characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Anna but also to listening to more books narrated by Laurel! I haven't listened to any books narrated by Laurel prior to this one but I will definitely be looking for more books narrated by her as she did such a fantastic job bringing the characters and their emotions to life with her brilliant and passionate narrative skills.
The characters were all very strong and realistic and Anna's writing ensured they jumped off the pages at me. My heart went out to each of the main protagonists for different reasons during different chapters. In this emotive page turner we meet three sisters Alison, Leah and Jillian. We meet Leah first who works as a school librarian and become a widow a year ago after her husband who was the principal of the same school passed away. however, while everyone else is sympathetic to her loss we discover very quickly that she isn't as he was abusive. Leah also has a daughter called Hannah who has gone travelling with her boyfriend Chase. We then meet Alison who is the eldest sister who is married but doesn't have children. The final sister is Jillian who lives in New York, works as a pilot and is single and bisexual. The sisters aren't close and Alison hasn't been home to Seattle in more than 20 years but when their mums body is discovered in a lake they are all pulled back together. I loved getting to know them all as individuals as well as seeing their interactions and relationships between each other. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoyed discovering their histories as the story unravelled. Anna's fantastic evocative writing skills and Laurel's excellent narration bring each of them to life. Pick up your copy of this book today and meet these memorable characters yourself.

Congratulations Anna on an absolutely stunning, unforgettable, emotional and gripping book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, stunning, addictive and compelling devastatingly beautiful MUST READ!!

350 pages / 10 hours and 45 minutes

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £9.99 in paperback and £7.99 on Audible via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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The Blurb :
It’s been a year since my husband died. A whole year that I’ve had to play the grieving widow. But the truth is that he destroyed my life. He’s the reason I haven’t spoken to my mother or sisters in years. Now, I’m finally free to tell them the truth… But as I approach my childhood home for the first time in twenty years, my heart drops at the sight of police tape, and it shatters when I’m told my mother’s body has been recovered from the lake behind the house. I’m too late.
Desperate for answers, my sisters and I search her house. But something isn’t right. Her clothes are missing and everything is covered in a thick layer of dust. Our mother hasn’t lived here for months. Then we’re told we’ve inherited a house we never knew existed. Is that where she’s been hiding, all this time?
We’re certain this house is the key to revealing why our mother died. But when we finally unearth the truth, everything we thought we knew about our past comes crashing down. Because my mother’s secret goes much deeper than my own…

My Thoughts :
Here we meet 3 very different sisters, Alison is the eldest, married with no children and works as a realtor, next we have Leah, a librarian who has recently been widowed. She hasnt been home to Seattle in over 20 years, and lastly Jillian, working as a pilot, who is Single, bisexual and living in New York.
None of the sisters are very close, but when their mum suddenly dies and her body is found in a lake, they all have to come back together as there is some mystery surrounding their mums death, or is there?!.
The 3 sisters are thrown together and need to unearth many unanswered questions especially when they find out they have inherited a cottage from their mum that none of them knew about.
As the story progress’s we learn about each of the sisters and of their childhood together.
It also takes us on a journey as to what has happened to them and where they are all at in this point of their lives.
Their mum held some secrets, which they are all about to find out about and it seems that none of them really knew their mum atall.
This is a story about heartbreak, family, love and forgiveness. Anna E Collins keeps the reader interested throughout and has a lot of empathy for her written Characters.
I really enjoyed how the Author put this story together.
Looking forward to more from Anna E Collins in the future.

Each chapter told from the perspective of one of the three sisters, struggling with her own battles, as they work together to discover the mystery behind their mom’s life that they never knew. Each woman is flawed, yet so realistic, I felt for each of them & especially identified with Leah, ironically the sister first introduced. This is one of my favorite novels of 2024 so far. A definite five ⭐️ read for me.

Thank you, Anna E Collins, Bookouture, & netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.

The story of three sisters brought back together after years apart by the unexpected death of their mother and how they begin to know each other again and work through the secrets thrown at them. A good story working well being told by the different points of view and plenty to keep your interest

A "completely gripping page turner" it read. Shocking secrets, it read. Well, it didn't have any of those attributes. And I was so excited to be invited on a tour for the novel. Unfortunately, it was boring. It wasn't even a page turner, and it's certainly not a thriller by any means. It reads more like a women's fiction and even at that, nothing really earth shattering or heartwrenching occurs even at 54% I just gave up after that point for a DNF. And since I must leave a star rating, it is a 1 star DNF.

I was invited to read a DRC for a booktour from Bookouture through NetGalley. The opinions herein are completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts.

Three sisters, a dysfunctional family. The sisters haven't all been together in years. The estrangement has ended with their mother's death. The women don't even know each other anymore or what to anticipate from each other, they used to be so close once upon a time and have flashbacks of those memories. As they start to unravel the secrets of her mother's life will it bring them closer or drive them further apart? As they start spending more quality time together, they realize the bond of sisterhood is strong and just what they need. Each sister has her strength and weakness, and it becomes apparent as their secrets are revealed. Family secrets, forgiveness and strength in sisterly bonds awaits you. Fast paced plot and well-developed characters.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this story of three sisters as they process the unexpected death of their mother and how it affects them all. Each sister had her own heartache and the setting in particular was really evocative. Some deep issues were explored, especially concerning domestic abuse, but it never felt too heavy or depressing. Recommended!

Anna E. Collins' HER SECRET LIFE is a gripping, character-driven family drama of three estranged sisters coming together as the past and present collide, unraveling dark, hidden family secrets after the mysterious death of their mother.

Leah, Alison, and Jillian are the Brady sisters (a realtor, a librarian, and a pilot) who have not been in touch for years.

After the death of Leah's husband, she returns to her hometown in the Pacific Northwest to try and make amends with her mother. Leah's abusive husband is why she has not spoken to her mother or sisters in years; now, she can reveal the truth.

However, Leah is shocked upon arrival at her childhood home. There is police tape, and she is told her mother's body has been recovered from the lake behind the house. She was too late. Leah wants answers and calls her sisters. They search the house for clues. It does not appear her mom has been living here with all the dust, and her clothes are missing.

Then, when the will is read, they find they have inherited a cottage they never knew existed. What has their mother been hiding? It appears their mysterious mom had more than one secret.

Did their mom end her own life, and why? She was a good swimmer. Could she have drowned? When they unravel the clues and answers, will the siblings come closer, or will it drive them further apart again?

Told from the three sisters' POVs From past to present, we learn about each of the sisters and the mysterious secrets of their mother. There was so much more to their mom than they knew.

Do their pasts define them?

The novel explores complex dysfunctional family relationships while grappling with grief —a journey to discover the hidden stories of their family. Self-doubt, despair, tragedies, secrets, sacrifice, pride, dreams, hope, love, triumphs and self-discovery.

HER SECRET LIFE is a character-driven complex family drama. I did not find the characters particularly likable; however, I found the mom's character more fascinating and wished we had more from her—I also enjoyed the mom's friend, the beautiful poetry, and the infusions of art.

It is a heartrending redemptive story about the power and complexities of women, friendship, and a family in crisis. The power of love, the meaning of family, and second chances, even when it seems impossible.

Highly charged topics of suicide and abuse (mental and physical). My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more. It is not a suspense thriller but more women's fiction—motherhood, sisterhood, love, grief, connections, loss, forgiveness, hope, and new beginnings.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Laurel Lefkow, and while she delivered an engaging performance, I think it would have been better with different distinct voices or multiple narrators for the characters.

While I do not read a lot of women's fiction (preferring thrillers and literary), HER SECRET LIFE would make a good book club pick.

For fans of authors Suzanne Redfearn, Mary Ellen Taylor, Mary Alice Monroe, Pamela Kelley, and Emilie Richards—I would not compare to Diane Chamberlain (favorite), Lianne Moriarty, or Laura Dave, as referenced in the summary.

Thanks to Bookouture Audio, Bookouture, and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC review copy for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 31, 2024
My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4
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This story is told from the point of view of the three sisters, Leah, Jillian and Alison. Three very different people with very different lives but with one thing in common. They were brought up by the same remote, driven mother and her attitude to them has shaped their lives.

Leah is delighted her controlling, violent husband is dead. To the outside world he was the perfect husband and she is sick of pretending to be a grieving widow so a visit to her mother to try and make up for lost time is the perfect escape. Unfortunately it is not to be. Alison is driven and ambitious and her total focus on her career is threatening her marriage. The last thing she needs is the added burden of trying to sort out her mother’s affairs. Jillian is at a crossroads in her life. She desperately wants a child but she is on the verge of getting a much sort after promotion. Also she lacks confidence in herself. She must have some flaw because she’s sure her mother hated her. The three estranged sisters are brought together after their mother’s unexpected death and how they handle this intimacy and the affect it has on their lives makes for a really lovely story.

This is a story of love, loss, abuse, support, weakness, strength and misunderstandings. I was really invested in the characters and that made it a real page turner for me as I desperately wanted to find out what happens to the sisters and to solve the mystery of their mother’s alternate life.

Sometimes books are hard for me to read and review, because of certain themes that are a little too close to home. Her Secret Life is one of those books. With themes like suicide, depression and domestic violence, I had to put the book down from time to time, but I also would pick it up again, because I wanted to make sure that the protagonists would make it.

Let's back up a little and start at the beginning. I first read the book's blurb:

I thought I could trust my mother. But everything I thought I knew was a lie…
It’s been a year since my husband died. A whole year that I’ve had to play the grieving widow. But the truth is that he destroyed my life. He’s the reason I haven’t spoken to my mother or sisters in years. Now, I’m finally free to tell them the truth…. But as I approach my childhood home for the first time in twenty years, my heart drops at the sight of police tape, and it shatters when I’m told my mother’s body has been recovered from the lake behind the house. I’m too late.
Desperate for answers, my sisters and I search her house. But something isn’t right. Her clothes are missing and everything is covered in a thick layer of dust. Our mother hasn’t lived here for months. Then we’re told we’ve inherited a house we never knew existed. Is that where she’s been hiding, all this time?
We’re certain this house is the key to revealing why our mother died. But when we finally unearth the truth, everything we thought we knew about our past comes crashing down. Because my mother’s secret goes much deeper than my own…
But will it drive me and my sisters apart forever? Or does it have the power to finally heal our rift?

From first reading the blurb, I thought I'd be reading a kind of thriller, but that is definitely not what Her Secret Life is. It's not easy to pick a genre for this one. There's a little bit of a romance and feelgood vibe. There's tension, pushing the reading through the story. There's character development. I'd say this book is somewhere between women's fiction and literature.

I've already mentioned a couple of themes, which are not the easiest. Considering the length of this book, it's quite a lot to take in in only a short period of time. However, author Anna E. Collins has done a great job. Even though some of the themes are grave, Collins has build a story around them which is easy to read, without lessening the importance of addressing serious issues like domestic abuse.

I find it hard to describe more about the story, because I am afraid that I'd give away too much of the story. Her Secret Life is a book you have to experience for yourself. While reading, you join the three sisters, Leah, Alison and Jillian, on their journey in figuring out what happened to their mother and how all of their lives are changed by it. That's where the character development comes in. All of them are changed by the end of the story, just like you will be.

Well this book turned out to be so much more than I thought it was going to be. I became so invested in these characters, I felt like I was one of the sisters going through heartache, turmoil and uncovering secrets about each other. This was a story about how family can grow apart and as a consequence, secrets form and grow until they're so big, you can't share them with anyone.

The story certainly started with a bang with the 3 sisters find out that their mother has died. None of them were particularly close to her, but naturally, they all go back to their family home and start realising that they didn't truly know who their mother was. Not only that, they didn't know each other either.

Each sister had their own chapters and I really loved hearing each of their perspectives. They were 3 very different people and their personalities would never have given them away as sisters. But watching them rekindle their relationship and get to know each other was beautiful Leah was probably my favourite character. After all of her own heartache and troubled adulthood, she still put everyone else first and I admired her a lot.

I got through this book in two days. It was super easy to read due to its short and snappy chapters, but it packed a punch on the emotional side. If you're feeling particularly fragile, probably not the book for you right now. Otherwise get some tissues and enjoy.

What a wonderful story about family dynamics, second chances, loss, abuse, secrets and so much more. Are you thinking….how much more can there be? You definitely need to read Her Secret Life to find out.
A VERY emotionally charged and compelling story that will have you going through many different emotions.
Author Anna E. Collins is a new author to me. I found her writing solid. I was kept engaged throughout the story.
The development of the characters was wonderful.
All in all, a vey moving story that I am still thinking about.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.