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katee5196's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
vivisms_82's review against another edition
lighthearted
3.25
Three friends - Felicity (Flick), Genevieve (Neve) and Emma have known each other for 5-6 years. And yes, as the title suggests, they are all harbouring secrets. Intriguing right? For the most part, yes it was. Let me start by saying this book and the writing had a lot of promise (it is an easy read for sure) HOWEVER where was the flippin editor.... or gosh even an honest friend to proof read this and give some much needed feedback?? Some of the dialogue/character inference is just dumb and superfluous. One of many eye roll lines is between Caleb and his mother Emma: "He asked for more information about the tumour, his sensible questions showing his interest in medicine and proving he'd be good in the field." Emma had just told Caleb and his sisters she had a tumour; what caring family member wouldn't ask for more information?!! We must all be excellent candidates for the medical profession!! Good Lord. This book could have gone from good to GREAT and that is why it is so frustrating.
It's also a bit cringe and on the nose at times. Oh and considering it was published in 2008, it is surprisingly dated (and frankly disrespectful) in how it approaches LGBTQIA+ issues and depictions. I was going to put several examples here and then decided against it, basically when it comes to Felicity and how she responds toSeb/Sofia, there is little compassion and a lot of her self pity. Not to say some things aren't valid but I'd say majority was selfish and unkind. Two things that I found eww... how creepy was Patrick?? There is "supportive boss" and then there is taking advantage of his position of power. Not cool. Maybe in 1988 this would be ok in a book but not in 2008. Oh and James commenting to Will about his girlfriend "as for Stacey, well let's just say you have good taste in women. Must get that from me." Umm what? James is 50 and why is he objectifying the 17 year old Stacey and Will's mother for that matter for goodness sake?? . The three ladies on occasion feel like the 3 best friends you wish you had (this trio truly turn up for each other); but other times read like 3 overbearing, judgemental aunts who could turn on a dime on each other. Kinda like "i'll be there for you but I'm gonna let you know my disagreeable opinion whether you asked for it or not."
Despite its problems, there is still a lot to like. And I did read this book to the end - that alone has got to count for something!
It's also a bit cringe and on the nose at times. Oh and considering it was published in 2008, it is surprisingly dated (and frankly disrespectful) in how it approaches LGBTQIA+ issues and depictions. I was going to put several examples here and then decided against it, basically when it comes to Felicity and how she responds to
Despite its problems, there is still a lot to like. And I did read this book to the end - that alone has got to count for something!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexual content, Transphobia, Medical content, and Car accident
Minor: Cursing and Injury/Injury detail
brainra's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book it was my first by rachael johns and I m making sure the Patterson girls is in my Tbr pile
princesscai08's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely love books like this, filled with secrets that intertwine and come out of the wood works. It really solidifies that honesty is the best policy in our household. I have nothing negative to say about this book so I will tackle this review through each of the main characters.
Felicity: What a woman?! Flick has kept an incredible secret for most of her marriage. Her friends have no idea that her marriage is far from the perfection they see. I can’t give away too much but I think that Rachael Johns tackled this issue with a huge amount of respect. It is amazingly relevant in this day and age too. It’s not so unbelievable. I loved Flick. I sympathized so much with her. I can’t imagine what I would do in her situation.
Emma: I was glad to see the ending on this one. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Emma was loveable but you got that sense that not everything is right. I felt deeply sorry for her and wanted her to have the happiest outcome. I am glad Rachael Johns did this.
Neve: This poor woman had the best of intentions at the time and it backfired hugely. It’s a case of hindsight being great. I think the issue was tackled well.
All in all the story was actually surprisingly believable. I don’t know why but I was expecting a romance novel and was pleasantly surprised with what I read. I cannot wait to read more of Rachael Johns, my next trip to the library I will be scouring the shelves.
My recommendation: If you haven’t read Rachael Johns, do it now!
Felicity: What a woman?! Flick has kept an incredible secret for most of her marriage. Her friends have no idea that her marriage is far from the perfection they see. I can’t give away too much but I think that Rachael Johns tackled this issue with a huge amount of respect. It is amazingly relevant in this day and age too. It’s not so unbelievable. I loved Flick. I sympathized so much with her. I can’t imagine what I would do in her situation.
Emma: I was glad to see the ending on this one. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Emma was loveable but you got that sense that not everything is right. I felt deeply sorry for her and wanted her to have the happiest outcome. I am glad Rachael Johns did this.
Neve: This poor woman had the best of intentions at the time and it backfired hugely. It’s a case of hindsight being great. I think the issue was tackled well.
All in all the story was actually surprisingly believable. I don’t know why but I was expecting a romance novel and was pleasantly surprised with what I read. I cannot wait to read more of Rachael Johns, my next trip to the library I will be scouring the shelves.
My recommendation: If you haven’t read Rachael Johns, do it now!
obxer7's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
philippakmoore's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it, very compelling and engrossing story. But I found the ending a bit abrupt and unexpected, hence dropping one star...reluctantly. 4.5 stars otherwise. A great read!
hannahrft's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
The Art of Keeping Secrets was my first Rachael Johns novel.
As the title and the blurb indicate, this novel is about three women friends, all in their early forties. They're all busy, working mums. Felicity, aka Flick, is a taxidermist, married to a lovely man, and has two kids. From the outside, their life is perfect. But there is one big secret that's been driving Felicity crazy.
Emma is divorced and the mother of three teenagers. She's struggling and is constantly exhausted.
Genevive, aka Neve, is a make-up and hair artist and a single mum to Will. She's been lying to her son and parents for a long time.
When Neve decides to go to New York to right the huge mistake she made eighteen years earlier, Flick and Emma accompany her. Lots of things happen while they're in New York.
I can't say too much more because it will spoil it for you.
I will just say that the characters' struggles are relatable. The power of female friendship is at the centre of this novel. I enjoyed reading a novel set mostly in Perth.
The writing is accessible, without many flourishes. Each friend is given relatively equal air time, so we get to become very familiar with their inner thoughts.
This has been an enjoyable novel, filled with emotional moments, without being melodramatic or saccharine-y.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Harlequin, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
:Cover: 4.5 stars
As the title and the blurb indicate, this novel is about three women friends, all in their early forties. They're all busy, working mums. Felicity, aka Flick, is a taxidermist, married to a lovely man, and has two kids. From the outside, their life is perfect. But there is one big secret that's been driving Felicity crazy.
Emma is divorced and the mother of three teenagers. She's struggling and is constantly exhausted.
Genevive, aka Neve, is a make-up and hair artist and a single mum to Will. She's been lying to her son and parents for a long time.
When Neve decides to go to New York to right the huge mistake she made eighteen years earlier, Flick and Emma accompany her. Lots of things happen while they're in New York.
I can't say too much more because it will spoil it for you.
I will just say that the characters' struggles are relatable. The power of female friendship is at the centre of this novel. I enjoyed reading a novel set mostly in Perth.
The writing is accessible, without many flourishes. Each friend is given relatively equal air time, so we get to become very familiar with their inner thoughts.
This has been an enjoyable novel, filled with emotional moments, without being melodramatic or saccharine-y.
I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Harlequin, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
:Cover: 4.5 stars
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
Neve, Emma, & Flick are at a cross roads, they became friends through their sons & now their sons are about to graduate. This time is full of emotion & they discover that the friends they thought they knew everything about have been keeping earth shattering secrets. Will they trust each other enough to reveal their secrets? And will their friendship survive if they do? A story of friendship & trust.
fictionalkate's review against another edition
4.0
When it comes to home grown women's fiction - Rachael Johns is an author you don't want to miss. She writes wonderful stories with a local flavour which are relatable, interesting and have some incredible characters.
The Art of Keeping Secrets is a novel about three mums and the secrets which threaten to tear their lives apart. The story starts with Felicity (Flick), Emma and Genevieve (Neve) watching as their sons are about to attend their year 12 formal. Flick appears to have the perfect life - a doting husband, a daughter about to get married and a son all set to finish school and start university. Emma's had a hard few years with her husband trading her in for a newer, much younger model and finding things a little tough financially. And Neve proud of the man her son is turning into despite her having to play the role of mother and father. But Flick's husband wants to tell the world the secret they've been hiding from the world for the past two decades. Emma's worried her kids love their stepmother more than her and her headaches have her popping pain killers like tictacs. And Neve's son has decided he wants to meet his father... The secrets these women keep could ruin their friendships and hurt the ones they love the most with even the best kept secrets having a way of coming out.
This book is mostly about friendship and the relationship between the three women was a pleasure read. Flick, Emma and Neve have been friends for years and it shows. They survived Emma's divorce together, and leaned on each other when things have been tough. The events in The Art of Keeping Secrets prove to be their toughest obstacle to date and I liked how they faced it as real people. They each have their own problems and morals. I loved that they approached situations with their opinions coloured by their pasts and personal histories. There was a sense of love between these women but what made their friendship all the more special was how they didn't blindly agree with the others all the time just because they were friends. These characters for all their faults became all the more real to me and compelled me to read their stories.
I loved the pace of the novel right up until the ending. The resolution felt a little rushed and everything wrapped too quickly and completely for two of the characters and not quite resolved enough for the other. But I still enjoyed the journey. The twists and turns of the women's lives right up until the final few chapters was exciting and I was drawn into the dramas and the friendships.
The Art of Keeping Secrets is perfect for fans of well written women's fiction and books about friendship. A great standalone novel with a dash of romance, the struggles of family life and the power of friends, this book was highly enjoyable. I will definitely be reading more Rachael Johns novels in the future.
The Art of Keeping Secrets is a novel about three mums and the secrets which threaten to tear their lives apart. The story starts with Felicity (Flick), Emma and Genevieve (Neve) watching as their sons are about to attend their year 12 formal. Flick appears to have the perfect life - a doting husband, a daughter about to get married and a son all set to finish school and start university. Emma's had a hard few years with her husband trading her in for a newer, much younger model and finding things a little tough financially. And Neve proud of the man her son is turning into despite her having to play the role of mother and father. But Flick's husband wants to tell the world the secret they've been hiding from the world for the past two decades. Emma's worried her kids love their stepmother more than her and her headaches have her popping pain killers like tictacs. And Neve's son has decided he wants to meet his father... The secrets these women keep could ruin their friendships and hurt the ones they love the most with even the best kept secrets having a way of coming out.
This book is mostly about friendship and the relationship between the three women was a pleasure read. Flick, Emma and Neve have been friends for years and it shows. They survived Emma's divorce together, and leaned on each other when things have been tough. The events in The Art of Keeping Secrets prove to be their toughest obstacle to date and I liked how they faced it as real people. They each have their own problems and morals. I loved that they approached situations with their opinions coloured by their pasts and personal histories. There was a sense of love between these women but what made their friendship all the more special was how they didn't blindly agree with the others all the time just because they were friends. These characters for all their faults became all the more real to me and compelled me to read their stories.
I loved the pace of the novel right up until the ending. The resolution felt a little rushed and everything wrapped too quickly and completely for two of the characters and not quite resolved enough for the other. But I still enjoyed the journey. The twists and turns of the women's lives right up until the final few chapters was exciting and I was drawn into the dramas and the friendships.
The Art of Keeping Secrets is perfect for fans of well written women's fiction and books about friendship. A great standalone novel with a dash of romance, the struggles of family life and the power of friends, this book was highly enjoyable. I will definitely be reading more Rachael Johns novels in the future.