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marvelouspyt's review against another edition
3.0
The book description is what hooked me. Twins, secrets, death...I just knew it was going to a fast-paced thriller. I thought were going to find out those deep, dark secrets but no. Maddy and Ella were the stereotypical teenaged identical twins. As always with a twin situation, the were best friends when they were kids but grew apart as teens. It always happens and I as the reader was already expecting it. The book did a great job of highlighting the differences between twins, even in some of the most clichéd ways.
The story starts with Ella at home on a weekend night finishes her art school portfolio. she gets a call from her twin sister Maddy. Maddy is at a teen party and needs a ride home. Ella, being the dutiful sister, goes to the party to pick up Maddy. When she gets there, she notices that Maddy has been crying and barefooted. They get in the car and take off but not before long, the sisters argue. Apparently there is some long time anger between the sisters that was just at the surface ready to be released. Well, the anger was released right at Ella was taking a sharp curve and runs the into the tree. Ella awakens in the hospital two days later with no idea of who she is. Her family assume that she is Maddy as they were driving Maddy's car when the accident happened. Later on, while still in the hospital she realizes the truth. Thinking the alternative would be harder for her parents, she pretends to be Maddy. Living as Maddy has shown Ella that she didn't know her sister as well as she thought and that Maddy has done a unforgivable act.
The author's writing took me through a emotional rollercoaster for sure. I was either mad or annoyed by a character and other times I wanted to cry. Reading a book when a teenager or child has died tends to have that effect on me but I was really a bag of tears at some parts. The ending, when the real twin is revealed the aftermath was so anticlimactic. Where there should have been some anger at being lied to everyone was like "oh you lied, that's no big deal". Everyone was so freaking calm and I thought that was hella weird. And I was hoping for a more emotional reactions to the reveal but no. The ending kind of fell flat into a net package that didn't seem completely realistic. However, I liked the book and the author as I have read some of her other titles.
The story starts with Ella at home on a weekend night finishes her art school portfolio. she gets a call from her twin sister Maddy. Maddy is at a teen party and needs a ride home. Ella, being the dutiful sister, goes to the party to pick up Maddy. When she gets there, she notices that Maddy has been crying and barefooted. They get in the car and take off but not before long, the sisters argue. Apparently there is some long time anger between the sisters that was just at the surface ready to be released. Well, the anger was released right at Ella was taking a sharp curve and runs the into the tree. Ella awakens in the hospital two days later with no idea of who she is. Her family assume that she is Maddy as they were driving Maddy's car when the accident happened. Later on, while still in the hospital she realizes the truth. Thinking the alternative would be harder for her parents, she pretends to be Maddy. Living as Maddy has shown Ella that she didn't know her sister as well as she thought and that Maddy has done a unforgivable act.
The author's writing took me through a emotional rollercoaster for sure. I was either mad or annoyed by a character and other times I wanted to cry. Reading a book when a teenager or child has died tends to have that effect on me but I was really a bag of tears at some parts. The ending, when the real twin is revealed the aftermath was so anticlimactic. Where there should have been some anger at being lied to everyone was like "oh you lied, that's no big deal". Everyone was so freaking calm and I thought that was hella weird. And I was hoping for a more emotional reactions to the reveal but no. The ending kind of fell flat into a net package that didn't seem completely realistic. However, I liked the book and the author as I have read some of her other titles.
mriva005's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jwinchell's review against another edition
2.0
This is a twist on the "switched at birth" story, except that one twin is mistaken for the other after a fatal car accident. The characters are 17 but it is tame enough for middle grades--no violence, no sex, no language. Just writing that left me wanting more and characters that felt flat throughout. I had to skim in order to save myself from a week of loathsome "reading" (aka falling asleep right away). I'll still pitch this to kids who like realistic fiction with semi-suspenseful twists.
lisawreading's review against another edition
2.0
The premise sounded intriguing, but ultimately this story of one twin assuming the other's identity after a deadly car crash lacks enough plausibility to make it work. The surviving twin's reasoning just doesn't hold up, and I couldn't suspend my disbelief for more than a few pages at a time. Still, I did finish the book, so there's that.
hudsonpeeps's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting concept but so unrealistic and poorly developed. I kept thinking that surely there would be a big plot twist. The characters lacked depth and weren't very likable. I didn't feel attached to any of them. It was definitely a quick and easy read though.
mom2triplets04's review against another edition
4.0
Story about twin girls. They get in a tragic accident and switch places. It was an enjoyable read but very predictable.
lexslittlecorner's review against another edition
3.0
Maddie and Ella are identical twins who aren't exactly close. Both girls are in a car accident that kills Maddie, when Ella gains consciousness and finds that everyone believes that she's Maddy she rolls with it.
As much as the flaws are so obvious even on reading just a synopsis, I'm a sucker for twin swap stories and you can blame The Parent Trap for that.
As a casual read, yeah it kept me entertained but as an actual reality, really? you can't tell which daughter that is?
I have identical twin cousins just a year younger than I am and my parents and brother and grandparents still can never tell which is which and have to ask me subtly to identify them. I've never understood it, yeah they're "identical" but they definitely aren't, and it's so obvious to me just by looking at them to know who is who. So for me, to have an entire book plot based on it seems absurd. Yet I still liked the book and still enjoy movies based on exactly the same thing.
As much as the flaws are so obvious even on reading just a synopsis, I'm a sucker for twin swap stories and you can blame The Parent Trap for that.
As a casual read, yeah it kept me entertained but as an actual reality, really? you can't tell which daughter that is?
I have identical twin cousins just a year younger than I am and my parents and brother and grandparents still can never tell which is which and have to ask me subtly to identify them. I've never understood it, yeah they're "identical" but they definitely aren't, and it's so obvious to me just by looking at them to know who is who. So for me, to have an entire book plot based on it seems absurd. Yet I still liked the book and still enjoy movies based on exactly the same thing.
fishgirl182's review against another edition
3.0
Maddy and Ella are identical twins but they could not be more different. Maddy is popular and vivacious. People seem to gravitate towards her. Ella on the other hand, is quiet and is more interested in getting into art school than who’s going with whom to the Snow Ball. Maddy and Ella used to be best friends until high school, when Maddy got a whole new group of friends and there seemed to be no place for Ella in Maddy’s new life. One night, as Ella comes to her sister’s rescue yet again, the two have a huge argument that ends in a tragic accident, leaving only Ella alive. She wakes up confused and disoriented in the hospital. Everyone thinks she is Maddy and, driven by guilt and grief, Ella makes the decision to assume Maddy’s identity in order to give her sister the life she thinks she took away. But even though they look the same, she and Ella are very different and Ella is having a hard time stifling her own personality for Ella’s. Ella’s seemingly charmed life is harder to maintain than Ella thought.
The Secrets We Keep has an interesting premise though it was not quite what I expected. I picked it up mainly because I have a fascination with twins. Twins by especially identical twins are interesting to me and I can never resist a book about them. However, I thought this was going to be more of a thriller. That may have been my mistake as I do not think that anything in the blurb makes it seem that way. The book would have made a little more sense to me though if Ella had a stronger reason for taking her sister’s identity (such as needing to in order to find out something about her life/death). I had a hard time understanding Ella’s motivation in pretending to be her sister (presumably for life). I understood her guilt, but assuming her sister’s identity was not the best way to deal with it.
I did think that this was an interesting character study on identity and how we perceive ourselves. Ella definitely saw herself a certain way and felt like her family and friends saw her a certain way, too. So much so that she convinced herself that her family would be happier had Maddy lived instead of her.
I liked Ella a lot (when she was being herself). And, having a sibling close to my own age, I understand all too well the drama that can result in having a tumultuous relationship with a sibling. I wish we could have explored that aspect of Ella and Maddy’s relationship a little more.
This book did a good job of creating a believable high school setting. I wasn’t super popular or cool in high school but I do remember how mean kids can be to one another when they want to be. This brought all of that high school angst back and I felt bad for Ella as she tried to navigate the unforgiving politics of high school. Jenna is the quintessential mean girl and we only learn enough about her to dislike her. Alex wasn’t your typical jock boyfriend but he also felt a little flat as a character. I wish we could have learned more about Alex’s relationship with the real Maddy. Josh was my favorite and is one of those sweet, funny boys that I’m always drawn to. He and Ella’s relationship seemed the most genuine and their scenes together were my favorite.
Overall I was glad I read this book, but it didn’t blow me away. As I said, I didn’t really understand Ella’s choice in pretending to be Maddy so it was hard for me to justify her actions. However, Leaver does a good job of capturing the competitiveness and meanness that often occurs in high school. Ella’s deception, while unnecessary in my opinion, was handled well and I could really feel her emotions and how her decision was really tearing her apart. I do wish we could have seen more of what Maddy and Ella were like before the accident though, as their relationship had more nuance to it than I think we were able to see in this storyline.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review or opinion of the book.
The Secrets We Keep has an interesting premise though it was not quite what I expected. I picked it up mainly because I have a fascination with twins. Twins by especially identical twins are interesting to me and I can never resist a book about them. However, I thought this was going to be more of a thriller. That may have been my mistake as I do not think that anything in the blurb makes it seem that way. The book would have made a little more sense to me though if Ella had a stronger reason for taking her sister’s identity (such as needing to in order to find out something about her life/death). I had a hard time understanding Ella’s motivation in pretending to be her sister (presumably for life). I understood her guilt, but assuming her sister’s identity was not the best way to deal with it.
I did think that this was an interesting character study on identity and how we perceive ourselves. Ella definitely saw herself a certain way and felt like her family and friends saw her a certain way, too. So much so that she convinced herself that her family would be happier had Maddy lived instead of her.
I liked Ella a lot (when she was being herself). And, having a sibling close to my own age, I understand all too well the drama that can result in having a tumultuous relationship with a sibling. I wish we could have explored that aspect of Ella and Maddy’s relationship a little more.
This book did a good job of creating a believable high school setting. I wasn’t super popular or cool in high school but I do remember how mean kids can be to one another when they want to be. This brought all of that high school angst back and I felt bad for Ella as she tried to navigate the unforgiving politics of high school. Jenna is the quintessential mean girl and we only learn enough about her to dislike her. Alex wasn’t your typical jock boyfriend but he also felt a little flat as a character. I wish we could have learned more about Alex’s relationship with the real Maddy. Josh was my favorite and is one of those sweet, funny boys that I’m always drawn to. He and Ella’s relationship seemed the most genuine and their scenes together were my favorite.
Overall I was glad I read this book, but it didn’t blow me away. As I said, I didn’t really understand Ella’s choice in pretending to be Maddy so it was hard for me to justify her actions. However, Leaver does a good job of capturing the competitiveness and meanness that often occurs in high school. Ella’s deception, while unnecessary in my opinion, was handled well and I could really feel her emotions and how her decision was really tearing her apart. I do wish we could have seen more of what Maddy and Ella were like before the accident though, as their relationship had more nuance to it than I think we were able to see in this storyline.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my review or opinion of the book.
lindsey_kerrigan's review against another edition
5.0
I REALLY liked this book. I thought the plot was very creative and the story did not disappoint. I would not call it perfection but I have to say it was very close to it. I feel like Alex wasn't really a bad person he was really just there to help. I hope that we somehow get to see these characters again in a novella or a Easter egg or something. I want to know what happens in college and how their room mates are.
rebeshelton's review against another edition
2.0
Yeah...I don't even know what to think about this book. There were so many things that I feel like just wouldn't happen, ever, in any way shape or form.