overall, an entertaining read. There wasn't anything about this book that made me go WOW, but it definitely wasn't the worst book I've read recently. Still worth it for a nice easy read! Thank you Netgalley, Jill Lynn, and Harlequin Audio for this ARC

Rating: 3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: 8/26
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Three lifelong couples and one of their teenage children go away on a vacation. The group becomes upset when a cryptic note is left in their house stating “Tell the truth or I will”.
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Within the first few chapters, as things started happening, I was totally getting some “I Know What You Did Last Summer” vibes. I was hype for some serious drama and let’s be honest - gore… Alas, this story is more of a deep dive into trauma-bonding, lifelong friendships and the secrets we keep from people we really care about. This story is pretty slow to steady paced and it bounces from friend to friend as you learn their secrets and just what happened years ago and in their current lives. I was very interested in the “what really happened” and of course I got caught up in their drama, but I felt like the overall ending was a bit of an underwhelming letdown. Overall, this is a decent read. I will look forward to reading more from this author.
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I listened to this via audiobook. It was narrated by Tanya Eby and I thought she did a great job! I really enjoyed what she did throughout the story. If you are thinking of picking this one up be sure to check out the audio.

This was such a compelling story! I really enjoyed how the author dug deep into the bonds of lifelong friendship—messy, complicated, but also full of love and hope. The reunion between Payton, Isley, and Clara felt authentic, and I loved watching their past and present weave together.

There’s a slight thread of mystery running throughout, starting with the chilling note, “Tell the truth or I will.” That undercurrent kept me turning the pages, wondering what secrets would surface. But at its heart, this isn’t just about suspense—it’s about grief, forgiveness, and the ties that can both strain and sustain us through life’s hardest moments.

I received the audiobook for review, and the narrator was wonderful—she really brought the emotions and tension of the story to life. This was my first book by Jill Lynn, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d absolutely recommend it and will be picking up more of her work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Love Inspired Trade, and the publisher for my advanced reader copy (and audiobook!) in exchange for my honest review.

Things We Keep Hidden is a heartfelt and layered story about family, secrets, and the weight of the past. Jill Lynn writes with such empathy that it’s easy to connect with the characters and feel the emotions driving their choices. I loved how the novel explored the ways hidden truths can shape relationships, while also showing the power of forgiveness and honesty.

The pacing had a few slower stretches, but the emotional payoff was worth it. The characters felt authentic, and the small moments of connection carried just as much impact as the bigger revelations.

Overall, this is a moving, well written story that balances heartache with hope. A thoughtful read for anyone who enjoys family dramas with depth and compassion.

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

I guess i just dont have these types of friendships because I could not relate.
This book was just okay for me.
But maybe for someone else they'll love it.

There are quite a few couples to keep track of and the more I listened to it, the more I didn't really care to.

Three couples with a teenager on a weekend getaway seemed like a good time, but there were too many hints of something amiss in the past and it was giving the adult version of “I know what you did …” vibes. Miscommunication and unspoken feelings and guilt all leads to secrecy and each couple is going through something different. What felt like a precursor to suspense was all a ploy and I was disappointed by the end of the book. What made it even worse were the multiple epilogues which seemed a bit much. I do enjoy a good one, but more than one seems childish, like too many post-scripts at the end of a correspondence. I only gave this three stars because it seemed so misleading and took to long to get to know all the characters.

Things We Keep Hidden is a suspenseful and engaging read. Jill Lynn weaves mystery with friendship and long-buried secrets, keeping me hooked from the first threatening note to the final reveal. Some twists were a little predictable, but overall it’s a gripping story with strong emotional depth.

Listening to Things We Keep Hidden via Tanya Eby’s narration felt like peering into a long held memory with the lights slightly dimmed, intimate, layered, and emotionally precise. Her voice grounded the tension that builds between these longtime friends returning to Breckenridge. Eby’s tone carried both warmth and the sharp undercurrent of secrets, her pacing when the note arrives, or when a past memory surfaces, landed like a tangible breath in the quiet.

From the moment the threatening note shows up, I could feel everyone holding it differently, an undercurrent of dread threaded through the voice. The audio made the tension palpable, especially in those quieter moments where unresolved feelings hover just beneath the surface, like the way a word’s softness could carry guilt, or a silence stretched into suspicion. That nuance made each character’s emotional weight feel immediate and real.

If I had to name something that slightly held me back, it’d be that the transitions between characters and timelines (already complex in print) needed just a bit more vocal distinction to keep me rooted early on. But by the time the narrative settled, I was fully enveloped.

A first time reading for this author. While it was an ok book, it was just ok. Full of family drama and relationship drama. I didn't love or dislike it and was more just an easy read.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me early access.
This book is quite “vanilla”, which I like. The worst word you’ll read is “stupid”. It’s a very tame book but it is a very intriguing book about relationships and lifelong friendships. I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what happened to each couple and the group of friends. There are lots of secrets to reveal and work through, throughout the book. It was fun to get to be along for the journey.

I rated this book 3 stars. I would not necessarily call this a thriller, more like a little mystery. I would say it left a little to be desired. I was happy with the ending as Payton got the happily ever after she deserved.

A group of friends who continue to meet every year, even after marriages and children. This year when they meet they all seem to have other situations happening in their lives, children struggling with teenagers, a child in rehab, marriages in trouble. When a mysterious note shows up threatening someone with a secret from the past, it seems everyone has something they are hiding.

The narrator did a great job with this story. I think the story had a lot of potential but overall, I felt it fell a little flat. While I think the author did put in a lot of effort into the character building and giving you a chance to get to know them, I still never really felt connected to them.

It is a good, easy summer listen and would recommend it to anyone looking for something that falls into that catagory.

Thank you Netgalley, Jill Lynn and Harlequin Audio for the advanced audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first time I’ve listened to a book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. Brought me back to my own school days, friendships and secrets held amongst friends. I thought the book was lighthearted, suspenseful and enjoyed the story immensely. I’m planning on checking out additional audio books by this author. Due to an autoimmune disease I’ve taken to listening to audio books instead of reading. I enjoyed the narrator and how she presented the characters and brought them to life. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for approving my request to review this audio book, this will not be my last hopefully by this author.

I found this story of friendship, secrets, and long-buried trauma absolutely compelling. Payton, Isley, and Clara are lifelong friends bound by a painful event from their past. Each year, they reunite with their husbands, but this time, an ominous note from a stranger threatens to unravel everything they’ve tried to keep hidden.
The book thoughtfully explores real-life struggles—marital tension, addiction, grief, and the impact of unresolved trauma. The characters are flawed in the most believable ways, which makes them feel deeply human and easy to connect with. The layers of tension created by the secrets each character holds are expertly woven, and the story unfolds through multiple points of view that keep the pacing tight and the stakes high.
What really stood out to me was the narration. The narrator's voice brings the characters to life with nuance and emotion, keeping you fully dialed in to each of their perspectives. It adds an extra dimension of immersion that enhances the story’s intensity and emotional depth.
If you enjoy small-town suspense with emotional complexity, unpredictable twists, and a satisfying conclusion, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Loved the subtle twists and turns throughout this crazy mystery with a splash of romance. It started out on the dark side with a satisfying ending.

An emotional, heartfelt story about family, forgiveness, and the secrets we carry. 💕 Jill Lynn writes with warmth and depth, creating relatable characters and a tender romance woven into themes of trust and healing. A touching, uplifting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for the opportunity to read/listen to as an ARC.

The narration speed had to be sped up for me as the narrator voice was too slow and drawn out for my liking. This book was a lot of suspense and a feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop, when it did....it was like oh, okay?
I think as a reader I had a good idea what happened, already by the clues provided, but the suspense wasn't worth the 'surprise' for me.
I was at the point where I was beyond tired of the "secrets" and just wanted to know what actually happened.
It was an okay read and I'll look for another other one of her books to see if the next one is better

Things We Kept Hidden by Jill Lynn
Narration by Tanya Eby
I simply could not get interested so I had to DNF. I could not care about the story or the characters. Narrator was good as always.
Also, I did not know the writer was a Christian author which doesn’t really appeal to me.

This story had a promising premise, and there were moments where I could see the potential for depth and connection. I appreciated some of the themes the author tried to explore, and the narration was easy to follow.

That said, the pacing felt uneven, and I had trouble staying invested in the characters. They didn’t quite feel developed enough for me to connect with their struggles, which made the emotional moments fall a little flat. While not a terrible listen, it wasn’t one that truly held my attention or left a lasting impression.