Elise & Michael Dunnett are the “it” couple according to her friends and the school moms. But they have their own secrets, while she is happy to manage a lot of things for home as well as school she also has a jealous streak. She has also had multiple failed IVF attempts and after 9 nine years she is now a proud mom of twin boys. Elise was also very young when she learns about her father having an affair with her friend’s mom – she couldn’t understand why and she decided to keep it a secret from her mom.
Elise can now she that her husband is slowly becoming close friends with a new mom Harriet, who seems to have moved her daughter to the school for her own reasons and secrets. She has had her daughter out of wedlock and is now living with the father of her daughter because he wanted to give their daughter Kyra a good life and education.
Kyra’s father Allan lives in NY City, but he and the daughter have not seen each other for almost 7 years, and he is suffering from ALS and has issues upkeeping his health which seems to be deteriorating sooner than he thought!
During a school event an unfortunate incident happens between Harriet & Elise, due to which Elise lands up in hospital and later learns that Harriet could be the reason for her condition. While she is battling her emotions she learns how deep her husband’s relationship is with Harriet and she goes to all possible extent to stop them.
This was an ok book, too much of suspense building happened and the ending fell a little flat for me! I wouldn’t call this a suspenseful page turner completely!
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for honest review.

The Secret Between Us by Kate Hewitt is packed with drama, tangled secrets, and enough unexpected twists to keep me turning the pages. Told through the alternating POVs of Elise and Harriet, the story gives us a deep dive into each woman’s thoughts, motivations, and inner struggles, making their choices, right or wrong, feel real and compelling. The layered family tensions and domestic drama made this a bingeable read, perfect for when you want something absorbing but not too heavy. A solid domestic drama that delivers entertainment and a few surprises along the way.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Secret Between Us by Kate Hewitt and narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell and I am a huge fan of this author and this audiobook/book was hard to get into. But, It was very powerful from start to finish and I loved listening to The Secret Between Us, the narrator Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell were excellent and bought this audiobook alive. It was not a audiobook/book that gripped me at first but then after listening to it after a few chapters It all came togethers and I started to enjoy it more and more.

This audiobook/book contained Big secrets and lots of these, Health issues with mistrust issues, Bullying, Motherhood with friendship which ends up in jealousy and insecurities and was told by 2 POV which made it very interesting.

This will be a audiobook/book will be hard to forget, I highly recommend The Secret Between Us.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC

I cannot believe I have to do this, I didn’t like this book, and it boils down to the two main characters I really couldn’t stand either of them. I found them to be petty, incapable of being an adult, and the doctor’s wife was whiny. I plan on trying another book of Kate Hewitt’s because I did like her writing and I’m sure this book may appeal to other it’s was just not a me book.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Secrets Between Us is a powerful, slow-burning novel about grief, guilt, and the fragile threads that hold families together. Kate Hewitt has a real gift for exploring the inner lives of her characters, and nohere she weaves a story that’s both heart-wrenching and full of quiet hope.

The dual perspectives worked really well clearly showing how two women, brought together by tragedy, can be so different and yet mirror each other’s pain. The emotional weight is heavy at times, but never overdone. You really feel the impact of every choice and secret that unfolds.

Some parts dragged a little in the middle, which is why it’s not a full 5 stars for me, but overall, I was deeply moved. If you enjoy stories about motherhood, loss, and redemption, this one will stay with you long after you turn the last page.


❤️shaye.readss

Despite its length this is a thought provoking story told from the pov of two female characters . Both of whom have secrets. The narration is high quality and engaging with clear distinctions between the characters. At its heart despite the difficult issues in this story its all about relationships and our own perspective . The reader was thrown red herrings before the true secret was revealed. True to life the situations were realistic and told in a delicate but realisitic way. The children were given their role in the story and as it took a while to discover i found myself accepting the red herrings. The ebst thing was when it was reveled to the listener, i experienced both pity for the character and also a sence of get with the program and tell the truth. I found myself warning to the wife pov as her story was explored more towards the ened. It was a sad story but also heart warning. The characters were well narrated and developed. Thank you netgallery, publisher , author and narrator for this heart wrenching yety warning story. perfect for a long evening

For about the first fourth of the book, I had to force myself to continue listening because the narrator chose a little girl's voice for the main character; it was quite off-putting. The storyline was a bit convoluted, but that had the effect of keeping me guessing, which I would think is a good thing. I felt the twist at the end was somewhat forced, but overall, it was a good story and I am glad I stuck with it until the end.

Really interesting listen. Much more of a domestic and family drama than any other theme. We follow child relationships and their parents relationships. The complications of marriage and kids and work and ethics. Trying to fit in for adults and children.
At first I found it a bit confusing and complicated but then I got hooked and invested. It’s a complicated but worthy listen. Told in multiple points of view that eventually merge and all make sense at the end.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio, the author and NetGalley for an LRC in return for an honest review.

Perfect Lives v Private Mess OR Dysfunctional Housewives

The narrative unfolds as a dual point-of-view domestic drama, told alternately from the perspectives of Elise and Harriett, two mothers whose lives intersect at an elite New York private school. The fast pace kept me totally engaged throughout. The narrators were both a good fit for the story and their performance added depth to an already solid narrative; but - as countless other readers have commented on - both Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell had very similar voices, so it was a bit tricky to keep track of which one of them was speaking.

This book very much falls into the Women’s Fiction category, which is initially surprising, as both the blurb and cover art suggest jaw-dropping twists or psychological suspense, whereas the reality is more emotional than explosive. The story's power lies in its nuanced portrayal of fractured relationships, unspoken resentments and the desperate need to maintain appearances.

The book cover quote - "What will I forgive for the sake of my family?" - is totally misleading. There is no dark, high-stakes secret that could tear families apart, If this was what you were expecting then you will be bitterly disappointed. Instead, what you do get is a layered, character-driven exploration of motherhood, marriage and the masks we wear. If you enjoyed Desperate Housewives, you’ll likely find echoes here: performative parenting, gossip-fuelled social circles, and plenty of dysfunction bubbling under the surface.

Elise herself is a difficult but compelling character: emotionally distant, insecure and increasingly isolated from a social group that thrives on superficiality and whispered judgment. Harriett, by contrast, brings a different kind of chaos — less cold, but no less guarded. Their uneasy dynamic fuels the novel’s central tension, which unfolds through their dual POVs.

I appreciated the way OCD was handled - it is more often than not solely focused on obsessive cleaning or portrayed for comic effect. In this instance though, Kate Hewitt handles the subject with more care, highlighting compulsive behaviours and rigid thinking patterns without sensationalising or stigmatising. Speaking from personal experience, OCD is more about compulsions - having to do things a certain number of times or in a specific way. it’s about feeling trapped by your own rituals and anxieties. Everyone with OCD is NOT neurotic!

The plot isn't over-complicated, and that works in its favour. There’s clarity in the storytelling and by the end, I felt the emotional payoff was satisfying — even without the earth shattering twist the title might hint at.

This was my first Kate Hewitt book and I’d definitely read more from this author. If you enjoy domestic fiction that explores the messy realities behind seemingly perfect lives, The Secret Between Us is definitely worth a listen.

#TheSecretBetweenUs #NetGalley

#KateHewitt scored again with her latest suspenseful & unputdownable novel. I was reading as quickly as I could to reach the fulfilling end. The intricate circles the characters created were all revealed.

I loved the way that #LisaRostWelling & #MadelinePell voiced the powerful characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARAC which was very much appreciated.

This audiobook was categorised as a thriller which it isn't. It is a family / families based drama. That said I happily listened to it and have based my review as if it was expected.

Characterisation: This on the whole seemed quite superficial. There seemed to be a lot of repeated navel gazing moments on behalf of the women with little or no input into the lead male characters. The supporting cast were basically horrible people throughout.

Storyline: The premise was interesting and parts kept my attention. An equal part though I found repetitive and this caused me to lose interest at times.

Narration: This was ok but would have benefited from the two not being so similar.

On the whole this was a book that was an enjoyable but forgettable listen for me.

The Secret Between Us by Kate Hewitt is not what I expected, and that's on me. I thought it would be about an affair, but it wasn't. I still enjoyed it, but I couldn’t relate to Harriet. She is the worst type of woman to me, and I felt no sympathy or connection to her.

I liked hearing from Elise and found her marriage to Michael more compelling. I also didn’t understand why Harriet wanted Michael. If we had been shown more of their shared moments, it might have felt more believable.

Also, what was the secret between them? I’m still not sure. Was it about Elise's dad? The Heimlich?

I didn’t care for either narrator, Lisa Rost-Welling or Madeline Pell. That may have added to my disconnect with Harriet.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing me with an ALC.

This was a first for me from this author and I’m pretty impressed.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc for my honest review.

I laughed a lot in this book mainly when all the gossiping happens because gossip happens everywhere. The gossiping women are the same we have seen and hear about all the time.

Storyline is great. Imagine what keeping your dad’s secrets for years will do to you as an adult and how it can and will affect your future relationships.

How far are you willing to keep these secrets and how far will you allow them to go?

Suspenseful Setup, But Lacks the Emotional Punch

I was intrigued by the premise of The Secret Between Us—a layered family drama with suspenseful undertones and a haunting secret. The narration by Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell was solid and clear, and both voices helped differentiate the perspectives well throughout the story.

Unfortunately, the plot didn’t quite live up to its promise. While the tension between the characters simmered, it never reached a satisfying boiling point. Much of the story felt repetitive, with Harriet’s presence looming and the protagonist’s anxiety spiraling in a way that felt emotionally distant rather than gripping.

I wanted more depth from the characters and more clarity from the central mystery. When the “secret” was finally revealed, it lacked the impact I expected and felt underdeveloped given the amount of buildup. The pacing dragged in places, and the conclusion felt more like a slow fade than a final twist.

2/5 stars – Narration is well-done, but the plot and emotional payoff left me wanting more.

This is an enjoyable domestic drama centred around playground politics, relationship secrets, insecurities and physical and mental illness.
Elise and Michael are parents to twin boys who attend a private school in New York. On the surface their marriage appears perfect however, Elise has never trusted her husband. When Harriett and her daughter move to New York to be with her daughter's father, who has a life limiting illness, sparks fly in the school yard! Elise sees Michael speaking to Harriett and assumes the worst. What lengths will she go to to keep Harriet away from her husband and what actually is the nature of Harriet and Michael's relationship?
The book is billed as a suspenseful thriller with even the cover giving off this vibe, but I definitely think it sits more in the domestic drama category. Perhaps it would have gained an extra star if I hadn't been expecting something different.
The audiobook was well narrated and I welcomed the dual narrators reflecting the different tones / personalities of the two main characters.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook.

Everyone has secrets. Some are little and some not so much. In this story we meet a group of wealthy, entitled people for whom secrets are currency. The setting is the elite private schools of NYC, the cast consists of judgmental, well dressed, well coiffed people each with their own issues and who seem to relish anyone else's weakness. Basically, a group of adult bullies who never dealt with their own childhood traumas or mental health issues. Everyone has flaws and yet rather than deal with them, share with their partners and or friends, they hold them so closely that they almost choke on them. It took until the very end for any of them to have any self reflection and deal with reality. Not an easy listen based on the people, but a good wrap up.

The Secret Between Us written by Kate Hewitt
Narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell

Publication date July 24, 2025

"I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

The Secret Between Us is about jealousy, mental health and the struggle of holding a marriage together when dealing with these things. I enjoyed this book and it showed the perspective from each characters point of view. The story made me angry at the characters for not empowering other women but instead being petty and gossipy. In the end it all came together and was a pretty good, easy read.

The narrators also did an amazing job! I like to listen to audiobooks at a faster speed and they were easy to listen to and I could hear the difference in their voices when changing characters.

I would recommend this book and gave it 4 stars.

the setup…
Elise Dunnett is a married mother of 8-year old twins Lewis and Luke and husband Michael is a highly successful neurosurgeon practicing in Manhattan. She’s devoted to her family and is head of the PTA at The Garden School, the children’s private school. Elise has a carefully crafted image and resists participating in the standard Mom gossip. Enter Harriet Tierney, the single mother of daughter Kyra. She’s an artist who recently moved to New York from Austin and has more of a bohemian style. Harriet and Michael are pretty chummy at the school’s social the day before the start of the semester and it puts Elise on edge. Her hyper vigilance is noticed by Harriet who wasn’t flirting…initially…and stokes the fire. But she’s moved there to be with her child’s father Allan who has a serious health crisis.

the heart of the story…
What starts as something rather innocuous morphs into some really bad behavior. It’s clear early on that Elise is tightly wound, fitting beautifully into a Stepford wife stereotype. Where she departs from that is her unwillingness to engage in the catty behavior and gossip of many of the other mothers…until she feels threatened. Harriet isn't part of that world and has Kyra in the school solely at Allan’s request. She takes some pleasure in rattling the perfect Elise. Under different circumstances, these women might have been friends. Making matters worse, their children become friends and get swept up into this nonsense.

the narration…
Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell captured the essences of their characters perfectly. I felt Elise’s neuroses and Harriet’s nonchalance throughout. It was a fine performance.

the bottom line…
To be clear, this is not a mystery or thriller as the synopsis insinuates. No matter, I was fascinated by the unnecessary trauma these women inflicted upon each other, fueled by the mean gossip by deeply insecure women who find it necessary to strike first before the spotlight comes their way. But it’s the tragedy of how it affected their family relationships and children because it got serious. I feel certain this sad state of affairs is not unique and is a cautionary tale.

Title: The Secrets Between Us
Author: Kate Hewitt
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Lisa Rost-Walling and Madeline Pell
Publisher: Bookouture Audio and Hachette UK
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: July 24, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Pages: 348

This book is told from the POV of Elise and Harriett.

Elise and her husband, Michael Dunned a physician with twin sons Luke and Lewis– have what looks like a perfect marriage.
The boys attend “The Garden School” which is a private school in New York where Harriett Tierney’s daughter Kyra attends. TGS is not a highly selective private school but chosen for being second best!!!!
Harriett is an artist who recently moved to New York from Texas to be close to Kyra’s father, Allan, who has ALS which is a terminal illness.

Elise is a very insecure person and fears Michael is unfaithful with Harriett. She believe this because she sees them together but her fear comes from the fact that her father was unfaithful to her mother – it seems her mother wasn’t aware but Elise was thus making her suspicious of her own husband.
Story started out a slow burn ‘soap opera’~ I hung in there. Glad I did because as the story continued things got far more interesting.

I ended up enjoying it far more than I once expected!

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 24, 2025.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Elise and Harriet truly irked my soul. It was incredibly frustrating to witness how Elise failed to address issues and her feelings with Michael. I couldnt stand how innocent and comfortable Harriet with her relationship with Michael, despite his marriage. Despite this, the book was still an enjoyable read. I would have preferred a more dramatic ending, as the entire book seemed to revolve around tit-for-tat exchanges. It was a bit disappointing that everything resolved so neatly.