Common Secrets by Jane Sims is a heartfelt and engaging story that proves even the most idyllic villages are built on hidden truths. Set in the seemingly perfect Bramley Common, this novel follows three women—Jo, Nicki, and Lucy—as they navigate grief, betrayal, temptation, and long-buried secrets that threaten to change their lives forever.

Jane Sims does an excellent job of creating relatable characters whose struggles feel authentic and emotionally compelling. Each woman's journey is distinct, yet their shared friendship forms the heart of the story, offering support, strength, and hope during difficult times. Alongside the personal dramas, the looming threat of local development and whispers of a village ghost add extra layers of intrigue that keep the pages turning.

Warm, character-driven, and full of emotional depth, Common Secrets explores friendship, resilience, and the complicated realities hidden behind closed doors. Fans of women's fiction and village dramas will find plenty to enjoy in this thoughtful and absorbing read.

Publication Date: 28 June 2026
Rating: 4/5

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Common Secrets follows three women whose lives become intertwined through friendship whilst they all live in Bramley Common. They each face their own challenges, relationships and unexpected revelations.
I particularly enjoyed the story of Jo and her daughter Sophie. Their relationship felt genuine and I found myself invested in how Sophie’s secret would impact their world and the changes it could have on their family. The novel also includes a touch of mystery through a local ghost story which added an extra layer of intrigue that I really enjoyed.
I was surprised to find that Nicki’s storyline became my favourite. Her journey was darker and more emotional but it was the one I found myself most eager to return to. I enjoyed seeing how it developed over the course of the book.
The village setting creates a backdrop for a story about family, friendship and community. I particularly liked the way the book explored how our perception of other people’s lives is not always what it seems. Fans of character-driven fiction and small-town dramas will find a lot to enjoy here.

this is a first for me with this author and i really enjoyed getting to know her style. Jane manages to bring you right into the heart of these womans lives and you end up very quickly invested in them. because its personal and personal relationships it really does make you care. and once again we are reminded that behind any door, often any face, is a whole lot more than we never could know. these kind of books allow us behind those masks, doors and people. you really do realise how much of what we see is so often not the case. it allowed me to have a real reminder to have empathy or perhaps not judge so much,especially in a society we all now live in where it can be so easy to be mislead.
all the of the woman had their different journeys. but all of them kept me tied to wanting to know more about them. i connected with each of the woman and what they were going through. and it ebbs and flowed as their story did as to who i was more focused on. by the end i very much needed to know, and cared about how each of the woman would be left at the end.
the weight of what they were all going through didn't play on dramatics or sensational stories. it felt real and like it could be us seeing them actually living these lives, getting to know them. and what drama we might again miss, just because we dont think we see it happening in front of us. i actually think the themes of this book are important and never more so in the times we all actually live in.