HO.LY.COW. I was instantly hooked because who doesn't love reading about rich people. The first quarter of the book seemed to drag a little and I was getting a little frustrated. But boy oh boy am I happy I got through that because once that story flipped I could NOT PUT IT DOWN. I finished it in less than 24 hours and for good reason. The twists and turns worked so well in the story AND THEY DIDN'T STOP COMING. You love to love and hate all of these characters. Thank you to Netgalley, Kate Hewitt and Bookouture Audio for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I’m gonna go there once again…
Last 3 books I read featured an: Eloise, Ellie and now… Elise! Strange, no??

OK…on to my review.

Elise and Michael are married… for a long time. As usual for married couples, there are secrets they share… But one of them that only Elise knows is that Michael is a cheater… not once or twice, but it seems… all the time. But what can she do? He supports her and their twin boys. He’s well respected in the community. And, he’s a well known neurosurgeon!

Elise is always the talk of the school where the boys go. Well put together. Beautiful. Well-toned. The best of clothes, etc. And, of course, wealthy…

So when she meets the new woman and her daughter at their school, and the woman is much younger and beautiful too, she knows she needs to watch her. Michael will be drawn to her…

And so it begins…
She decides that she will NOT make it easy for this woman, Harriett. Actually, she will do everything in her power to agitate her! 😮

As Elise starts preparing for one of the schools fundraising events, naturally she’s in charge, she decides to invite everyone to her home… including Harriett. And when she and Michael start talking ALONE in the kitchen, well, Elise just knows….

This was not AT ALL what I expected, so for that alone, kudos to the author!!
Instead, we learn about grown women who are bullies, very emotional, click-y, and who obviously each have their own problems in life to deal with.
Additionally, to name a few triggers, there are several life-threatening events… including: a mugging, someone choking (almost to death), and Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Again, it did not go where I expected it to go, and I enjoyed that!!

#TheSecretBetweenUs by @KateHewitt and narrated nicely by @LisaRostWelling and @MadelinePell.

4 big, bullying, sometimes scary and yet sometimes lovely 🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!!

*** THIS ONE HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! PLEASE LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON JULY 24, 2025!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced pre publication audio book in return for an honest review.
I’m sorry but this novel just doesn’t live up to the description, which led me to expect a tense thriller, while instead it’s a mundane look into the lives of two Mums and their other halves. I just didn’t care enough about either of them to be interested in what was happening for them. The story is predictable so I didn’t need to wonder much anyway.
I don’t often give a 3* review but I found this boring and the narrators didn’t help with this, their voices were too similar to be able to discern the difference.

The Secret Between Us has enough twists to keep you guessing. The story is emotional but the characters felt a bit thin. Elise and Harriet stumble through their messes like they’ve never seen real trouble, and things wrap up far too tidy for my liking. It's pretty fast paced and not too heavy.

The story of two women, Elise and Harriet, The Secret Between Us demonstrates the power of misconceptions. .

Elise is a socialite who suffers from OCD. She is married to Michael, a prominent neurosurgeon, and has twin boys. Harriet is the hippie-dippie single mom of Kira, who has recently returned to New York City to allow her daughter to get to know her dad before his illness takes his life. While she comes off as independent, she is, in fact, quite needy. The two women meet each other through their children's private school. Harriet meets Michael and gloms onto him for emotional support, given that his specialty corresponds to her child's father's illness. She is an interesting woman and the polar opposite of his wife, Elise, so Michael makes himself a little too available, The two women become enemies, and when Harriet attempts to save her life by giving her the Heimlich maneuver at a school event, all hell breaks lose.

While this is an entertaining book, I found the events to be too close to a Lifetime TV drama - not all that plausible and overly dramatic. This is a light audiobook that is great for a road trip or cleaning your house. Not too many details to remember and easy to follow.

Thanks to #Netgalleyaudio for the ARC.

*ARC review*

The Secret Between Us is a poignant, emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of motherhood, guilt, and family secrets.
The emotional tension builds steadily, drawing the reader into the characters’ inner worlds. Quick and interesting read.

Thanks to NetGalley I had the pleasure of listening to his book. It was completely different to what I expected, and yet, I swallowed it in a short time. The narrators were excellent and I enjoyed the way they read the two narratives. It is the kind of story most can relate, the feelings inside us, the narratives we build and hold on to; narratives which are based on our thoughts, our past, our childhood, our fears sometimes. It was an easy read - mostly for women, I guess :)

The cover and title of this book imply that the story has some element of mystery. It does not. The ‘secret’ is not much of a secret. Hopefully knowing this upfront will help this book reach the right audience. There is not much in the way of plot and no big reveal. It’s really more of a slice of life story and that’s okay if that is your expectation. Madeline Pell did a good job with the narration.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So for me this was like a Sunday afternoon movie.
Nothing really happens it just follows the story of two moms and a point in time when their two paths cross. Each has three own troubles going on and the story touches on both and how their meeting sets in motion a sequence of events which eventually benefits both.

For me it was too long and drawn out without any great reveal.
The audiobook narrative was great and probably the o my reason I finished the book.

Kate Hewitt’s latest emotional thriller, The Secret Between Us, is a gripping exploration of motherhood, trust, and the fragile boundaries between truth and perception. Told through the dual perspectives of Elise and Harriett—two mothers whose lives collide at a private New York school—the story unravels a web of suspicion, jealousy, and deeply buried secrets.
Elise suspects her husband is having an affair with Harriett, the new mom at school. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the truth is far more complicated than infidelity.
Themes of bullying, insecurity, and the pressure to maintain a perfect life are woven throughout, making this more than just a domestic drama—it’s a psychological deep dive into the cost of silence and the power of vulnerability.
Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell deliver emotionally resonant performances, capturing the tension and heartbreak of each character’s journey. Their narration adds depth to the already layered storytelling, making the audiobook a compelling experience.
If you enjoy emotionally charged fiction with suspenseful twists—think Jodi Picoult or Liane Moriarty—this audiobook is worth adding to your queue. Just be warned: you might want tissues nearby.

Thank you to the author, narrators, publisher and Net Galley for providing an E-audio ALC of this title.

Publication July 23, 2025

first time I’ve read from her.

Before I began to review, I had to go back and check the genre for this title, the synopsis definitely makes it sound like a thriller, in which case it would’ve been a massive disappointment, but it rightfully sits in the women’s fiction bracket. Therefore on me a little bit that I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I’d hoped. The synopsis also makes it hard not to spoiler.

Essentially, a domestic drama with a message, that pulls on the heart strings.

The narration on this vas really nice, although again I had to check the details I didn’t realise that there were 2 separate narrators.

I think all round, I did enjoy this title, it’s really well written and the storyline is good, and my own expectations let me down.


Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🎧

As someone who went to private school, the rumor mill and the perfect mom facade couldn't have been more spot on. I had friends who had moms just like Elise. I didn't really care for her character, but with much character development over the course of the book ( albeit very slowly), I was able to begin to sympathize with her.

I honestly can't say that I loved Harriet either. She was honestly a bit petty. It doesn't take a genius to know what her interactions with Micheal looked like to outsiders.

I loved this story overall but my God the characters were frustrating! So many of the issues could have been resolved if the adults in this book simply acted like adults. Has no one ever heard of open communication in a relationship?! But I suppose that would have made for a quick and boring story and I'm not afraid to admit, I do like a bit of drama.


I read and listened to this book. I do have to say that the narration for the audiobook was absolutely fantastic. She did a phenomenal job bringing all the characters to life.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️
This was an ok domestic thriller. I think k my biggest challenge was the description of the book doesn’t match the reality of the prose. I enjoyed the story over all but I enjoy domestic thrillers. If you’re looking for a true suspense thriller, this isn’t the book for you.

I consumed the audiobook and it had narrators Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell who both did a great job with the duel POV novel. The only hiccup is that they sound very similar so it was good that the chapters were clearly marked with who was speaking.

The plot is filled with messy family dynamics and touches on the social order of the wealthy which adds another layer to the story.
The book comes out July 24th and I suggest either the physical or audiobook with equal opinion.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as so don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again.

The main secret in "The Secret Between Us" was the book's genre.

The publisher's blurb positions this book as "A powerful, suspenseful and unforgettable page-turner".

Therefore, I was under the impression that this was a pacey, suspenseful thriller.

Instead, this domestic drama featured endless melodrama and lacked the suspense I was seeking.

Pacing was painfully S-L-O-W, and characterizations were waaaay too introspective.

TW: Dementia, ALS.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Lisa Rost-Welling and Madeline Pell.

Although I applaud the publisher for casting two narrators for the book's two protagonists, both narrators had very similar voices and were indistinguishable from each other.

At times, it was difficult to determine who was saying what.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was not the right reader for this book, and I urge readers to read other reviews.

Kate Hewitt has delivered another thought provoking, gripping, moving, dramatic, and captivating book that I read in one day! I did not want to put The Secret Between Us: A powerful, suspenseful and unforgettable page-turner down as I was engrossed in this book about two women, a private school, secrets, bullying, trust/mistrust, jealousy, insecurity, friendship, motherhood, and health issues.

Elise and her doctor husband, Michael, are parents to twins who attend a private school in New York where Elise is very involved. Their marriage, like Elise, looks picture perfect; however, Elise has always suspected that her husband has been unfaithful to her. Harriett and her daughter have moved to New York to be with her daughter's father Allan who has been given a bleak health diagnosis. When Elise sees her husband, Michael speaking to Harriett at a school event, she sees red!

This book is told through the POV of both Elise and Harriett. Elise instantly dislikes Harriett who she suspects is after her husband. Harriett is the new mom at school and prides herself as being an artist. She stands out from the other mothers at the school as she is artsy and doesn't dress to impress. As the women circle around each other the tension mounts. Both are experiencing stress in their lives while trying to be good mothers.

This book has the word 'secret' in the title but for me it all comes down to communication, listening, and honesty. I was glued to the pages and felt for both women. I wanted to pull both aside and have private chats with both - especially Elise! By the end of the book, I also wanted to hug them both.

Kate Hewitt has quickly become a favorite author of mine. I love how she showcases the complexities of relationships and human nature. She deals with real life situations in realistic and relatable ways. I enjoy how her characters have depth and are layered. The Secret Between Us: A powerful, suspenseful and unforgettable page-turner was wonderfully written, well thought out, and riveting!

I can't wait to read what Kate Hewitt writes next!

I had both the book and the audiobook which made for a very enjoyable reading experience!