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The Secret Year

by Jennifer R. Hubbard (Goodreads Author)

3.55 of 5 stars 3.55 · rating details · 2,625 ratings · 534 reviews

Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly. Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one,not even Julia's boyfriend, knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. H...more

Hardcover, 192 pages

Published January 7th 2010 by Viking Juvenile

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Jun 14, 2010 Annalisa rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: language and casual teenage sex

Recommended to Annalisa by: Nathan Bransford

Shelves: young-adult, issue, contemporary

The premise of this book was intriguing. After a year in a secret relationship, Julia dies leaving Colt to mourn her in silence. With all that bottled up grief, it could have been good, but nothing in the book is explored. Hubbard brushes past those first critical six weeks after Julia's death in a few chapters and then continues to skim from scene to scene without delving into anything. The whole book is tell, tell, tell. Even in the last chapter, Colt is summarizing tidbits of his relationship...more The premise of this book was intriguing. After a year in a secret relationship, Julia dies leaving Colt to mourn her in silence. With all that bottled up grief, it could have been good, but nothing in the book is explored. Hubbard brushes past those first critical six weeks after Julia's death in a few chapters and then continues to skim from scene to scene without delving into anything. The whole book is tell, tell, tell. Even in the last chapter, Colt is summarizing tidbits of his relationship with Julia, things that should have been shown to us the entire novel. Every once in a while, Hubbard included a scene that wasn't a summary of another scene or character, but even then she had to stop often to tell us things she hadn't bothered to show us. Julia's journal excerpts were especially frustrating, just a paragraph here or there of her reiterating her feelings about Colt and her boyfriend, Austin.

Yeah, Colt spent a year sleeping with a girl who had a boyfriend. (And, as a side note, he slept with his first girlfriend as early as fourteen. And then messes around with a girl he didn't like and almost slept with after Julia died. And then he did start sleeping with someone else, in his room with his parents home as though it were no big deal. Has teenage sex degraded that much?) Colt wasn't set up to be a very sympathetic character which could have opened the door for some in-depth character development, but Hubbard showed me nothing in him. I'm at a loss to describe any of the characters beyond flat cardboard cutouts. I felt nothing for this lost relationship since the only thing described about the relationship was that they had sex and some brief comments that they understood each other but never talked about it. I can't tell you in the end if I liked Colt or not. I don't think I know anything about him.

I also found the book terribly cliche. The rich girl from the hills and the boy from the flats. They couldn't be seen together because the two sides of town didn't mix. It even had the showdown between the rich and poor ala The Outsiders without any of the charm and depth. At the "I disown my gay son" scene, I actually laughed out loud at how out-of-the-blue and cliched it was, almost like Hubbard included it for as a gay-acceptance statement. Hubbard tried to use the scene way later in the novel to develop sympathy for Colt as an outsider in a brief scene that once again wasn't very well explored or described.

I should have quit this book early on. I almost did. The only reason I read it through to the end was that I like Hubbard's agent and was hoping for something in it because of him. Plus, it was a short read. I can't say that it was worth my time though.(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who don't mind reading books strewn with uncertainty even by the end

Shelves: covers-i-love, titles-i-love, surprisingly-liked, glad-i-gave-it-a-chance, 2011-reads, realistic-fiction, exceeded-my-expectations, left-me-feeling-conflicted, left-me-with-mixed-feelings, could-have-been-better, reviewed

(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)

Julia was killed on Labor Day on her way home from a party. I didn't get to see her that night. I used to meet her on Friday nights, but I was never invited to the parties that she was invited to. We'd meet on the banks of the river, clutch at each other in the backseat of her car, steam up her windows and write messages and jokes to each other in the fog on the glass, and argue about whether to turn on the A/C. Sometimes we swam in the river late at night when the wate...more (Actual rating: 3.5 stars)

Julia was killed on Labor Day on her way home from a party. I didn't get to see her that night. I used to meet her on Friday nights, but I was never invited to the parties that she was invited to. We'd meet on the banks of the river, clutch at each other in the backseat of her car, steam up her windows and write messages and jokes to each other in the fog on the glass, and argue about whether to turn on the A/C. Sometimes we swam in the river late at night when the water was black and no one could see us. We did all that for a year, and nobody else knew.

I was expecting The Secret Year to be a shallow book about shallow people and shallow feelings -- but it surprised me because this book managed to creep into my heart a bit. The story is one that's been told in different variations: boy and girl come from different worlds/classes/situations, one night boy and girl meet almost clandestinely and sparks fly in attraction and chemistry, and soon boy and girl meet in secret to share passion in the dark of the night. While I didn't agree with Colten, Julia, and their actions, I couldn't write them off because I came to like them little by little, flawed as they were. Though the relationship between them seems more like sex buddies than anything else, they eventually appeared to mean more to each other than they had ever imagined. Even Colten, who sometimes seems unflappable and indifferent, can't say that what he had with Julia was so easy or uncomplicated. While they both had expected a 'no strings attached' kind of affair, they ended up with something that spiraled out of their control.

Then, of course, Julia dies (that's not a spoiler!) -- and the story of what could have been with Colten and Julia skids to a halt. Both Colten and the reader are left with endless questions: Could he and Julia have eventually worked things out and brought their relationship out into the light? Would the relationship have eventually faded into nothing, just memories of darkness and stolen kisses in the backseat of her car? Colten just can't let go of the unknowable, and that is what this book mostly entails.

As much as it surprised me, this book wasn't perfect. I was so annoyed with all the characters at times. I was so annoyed with the stupid rich kids and poor kids dichotomy of Black Mountain. I was so annoyed by all the sex in a YA novel. I was so annoyed with Colten and his I-don't-give-a-damn exterior. But Jennifer Hubbard told me a story that, while it didn't make me happy or satisfy me, made me mourn for people who stand in the way of their own happiness or who just don't get it until it's too late.

I guess these are the questions this book left me with: Why do people so easily and readily ruin their own chances at happiness? Why do they take the easy routes? Why do they let what other people think get in the way of things? Why do they hold onto to the past and avoid looking at the future? Why, why, why?

Such is the quandary that is The Secret Year, a book that is as interesting as it is frustrating.(less)

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Jun 28, 2009 Aileen rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was good, it had situations that many people want while at the same time they think they want but really don't. When you begin this book Colt had been dating a girl named Julia for a year and she had just died, then it goes on to explain how he felt about her, what she felt about him, tons of other things, mainly about his trying to sort out not only his feelings he still had for this dead girl but feelings for others around him, especially when her younger brother gives him her journa...more

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Aug 16, 2010 McKenzie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Colt and Julia were together, but no one else knew. Colt lived in the poor area of town, while Julia lived on Black Mountain with the rest of the rich kids. To top it off, Julia already had a boyfriend. One night, Julia is killed in a car accident. Her brother finds her journal and gives it to Colt. Colt must now try to get over Julia and get on with the rest of his life.

My overall impression of this book was blah. I'd heard so many great reviews, raving about the book and all of its wonderfulne...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books

Three words; 2010 is awesome!

If this is any indication on how awesome the debut authors for 2010 are going to be, we are all in for a very big treat. This is the first official debut novel I've read for 2010, and I could not put it down!

I can't even explain the range of emotions that you are sure to experience while reading this novel. Colt is such an intense character, and you can't help but feel his desperation, his confusion, his frustration. It's strangely addicting. You don't want to be a w...more

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May 26, 2010 Kristy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

What is with these weird depressing books I keep reading lately. Geez. I knew going into it that the girl Julia died and Colt, the guy, is trying to cope with her death after having a secret relationship with her. Throughout the whole book I just felt bad for him. He had so many questions he would never get answers to and raw feelings he could never really express. I thought the ending was terrible! I don't feel like anything got any better for him. Yes he realized that he needed to stop living...more

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Dec 13, 2010 Jenny / Wondrous Reads rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-author

I was really excited to read The Secret Year, but unfortunately, it just wasn't the book for me. I found it quite difficult to get through, and struggled to form any kind of attachment to the characters. The premise is fantastic, and I can't fault that at all. It's unusual and intriguing, and is the reason I bought the book in the first place. To live with any kind of secret is difficult, but to have a whole year that essentially only exists to two people is unimaginable.

Hubbard definitely had t...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is -awesome- I couldn't put it down, I practically had to put toothpicks in my eyes because I didn't want to sleep! I am actually kind of sad that I am done reading it, I might have to read it again!.... =).
The book was very 'drawing' and actually funny...I loved Colt's humor! and I loved that it was told from him. All the romance type books I read are always told from the women's perspective! Ironically I was just thinking about how I wanted to read a book from a male POV, then I foun...more This book is -awesome- I couldn't put it down, I practically had to put toothpicks in my eyes because I didn't want to sleep! I am actually kind of sad that I am done reading it, I might have to read it again!.... =).
The book was very 'drawing' and actually funny...I loved Colt's humor! and I loved that it was told from him. All the romance type books I read are always told from the women's perspective! Ironically I was just thinking about how I wanted to read a book from a male POV, then I found "The Secret Year" the next day. It was refreshing to read a book told from the males view! I think more books should be told in the male view like this, gives us women more perspective instead of agreeance I think! =)
I was shocked how it starts with Julia's death....I thought, jeez, she's already dead, where could this book go... BUT WOW... like I said, I could not put it down!!! and Colt's Character is just really profound, how he was so secret but honest, mature and confused w/o never really losing himself!
I am almost 31 years old, married, no kids...so I felt almost silly purchasing a young adult book, but as I was walking around the book store, it had caught my eye. I am so glad it did, what a wonderful amazing story. I will be recommending it!
The only things I would have changed is Kirby to be a little more understanding and I would have liked it to end with him looking up from the river water and seeing Kirby standing there with a half smile and then a "thee end" ...Something kind of cheesy! =) But the ending was still great! So no complaints!!! KUDOS to Hubbard!!! =)

Sn:

...Okay, so I just went and read some reviews on this book...yes...it is cliche...rich girl misunderstood, had everything but wants the poor, down to earth boy, they connect on a deep level that her and her rich boyfriend do not, whom she is only with because it's convenient and her parents approve... the poor boy falls in-love with the "snobby" girl cause he got to know all sides of her and keeps everything a secret because of his love for her yadda yadda yah, we heard it all before, but this story really isn't necessarily about that... the twist is, is that Julia dies in the 1st pages of the book...This book is about him trying to hold on to her and trying to mourn her while still trying to keep everything a secret, he's trying to keep everything the same, as if she was still there but he thinks he has moved on...most books of this nature end with one of the guys getting the girl, usually the "misfit"...this book isn't really like that, no one got the girl...but they realize that had she been alive, the outcome would have been the same! (less)

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Jan 17, 2011 TinasBookReviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Perhaps a more fitting title to this novel would have been "The Secret Year I had Sex...and more sex and more sex and more sex....."

Romeo and Juliet meet the Outsiders.....? That's a very misleading tagline....The Outsiders maybe due to the culture/status thing but as far as the romance in this story, it was causal, no strings attached sneaky sex. There was no tragic love or even a real commitment, Julia and Colts relationship was built on lies, deceit and sneaking around. I wouldn't equal their...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, trt-gold-star-award-winner

Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com

While family and friends are still reeling over the Labor Day car accident that took senior high school student Julia Vernon's life, Colt is trying to figure out how to mourn her loss and the absence of their year-long, secret relationship.

How does he grieve for the girl who was never really his, yet who he knew in a way no one else did? Colt is shocked when, one day at school, Julia's brother hands him a journal detailing the course of their relationship, as...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Stephen Marley rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Book I read it was "The Secret Year" by jennifer R. Hubbard.
I can't compare this book with any other books. The only thing i didn't liked was the end, it was so confuse for me, because I was inspecting more, and then PUFF! "The end", in the same river that they used to meet, but just this time was inside in it. The book has very strong flashback, and the girl communicated with him through her letters. Well, i did liked the book, a little romance, lost of secrets and insteresting thoughts. An...more

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Mar 08, 2012 kari rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, ya

There are quite a few things about this book that are irksome, the biggest being that there is no tension and therefore no resolution. It merely chugs along, but not really accomplishing anything.
First, the love story between Colt and Julia is a big pile of who cares or to be more accurate, the sex story between Colt and Julia because these two are nothing more than well, I can't even say friends because they aren't, with benefits. They have a chance meeting down at the river on the "wrong" sid...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Maggie Desmond-O'Brien rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first half of this book, I was unsure. By the end, this searing, nuanced, and haunting novel had (almost) completely won me over. Everything about the characters and setting rang true, even if the plot was a little weak in places - and, all in all, the time I spent in this world was time well spent.

Colt and Julia, especially Colt, were a pleasure to watch as their characters unfolded, revealing imperfect people that you could nevertheless relate to. Syd and Michael were also interesting, tho...more The first half of this book, I was unsure. By the end, this searing, nuanced, and haunting novel had (almost) completely won me over. Everything about the characters and setting rang true, even if the plot was a little weak in places - and, all in all, the time I spent in this world was time well spent.

Colt and Julia, especially Colt, were a pleasure to watch as their characters unfolded, revealing imperfect people that you could nevertheless relate to. Syd and Michael were also interesting, though I wasn't so impressed by Kirby, who seemed more like a plot device than a character. (Her relationship with Colt was also very predictable.) I'm a big fan of "class" dramas when they're done well (which unfortunately, they usually aren't), and this book summed up everything I like about the sub-genre, especially the way it makes us look at ourselves and our own paradigms - and everybody's paradigms in this story were very deeply rooted indeed.

Another thing I liked about it was Julia's diary entries, which I found surprisingly realistic. You generally don't spend your journal time writing every little detail of the day - you write about your feelings, right? At least, that's what I do, and that's what Julia did, too - we were left with Colt's memories to fill us in, and that made for a much more believable story. Julia's voice managed to be distinct even though we never really *meet* her.

My problem with it was the...well, I don't really know if I can put a finger on what my problem was. There were some parts of the "secret love" idea that I just didn't buy, some parts of the Kirby-and-Syd-love-Colt thing I didn't buy, and parts of Colt's family. Especially the wise, gay, older sibling thing. But still - those elements weren't enough to detract from the rest of the novel for me.

The romance in this story was unusual - less about the love, per se, than it was about the people in love - and that really worked. Somehow a scene could feel white hot and icy cold at the same time, wholly passionate and yet with something held back. Yes, that's a melodramatic description, but this was a melodramatic story. Generally, melodrama isn't my thing, but in this story it just worked. It might not be my favorite book, but it's one I'll certainly return to and enjoy.(less)

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Feb 14, 2012 Mona rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemporary

This is one of those rare books that one 'experiences' rather than reads. Ms. Hubbard takes us on the emotional journey of seventeen-year-old Colten Morrissey as he comes to terms with the death of his secret girlfriend. Why secret? He was from the wrong side of the tracks and she was as high society as anyone could get in their town.

Forbidden love is a strong magnet, and for a year Julia Vernon loved Colt physically and emotionally, but not enough to go public with it. He's her dirty little sec...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Alexa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-2012-advisory

Colt and Julia were secretly dating. Colt and Julia came from very different parts of the neighborhood, but went to the same school. They were happy, and in love with each other, but they never told anyone. That was because of two main reasons. The first was that they came from different lives, and where they come from, things like that don’t happen. The second is that Julia was dating the popular boy, Austin, and also cheating on him by dating Colt. Then one night after a party, Julia gets into...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Kristen Queen rated it 5 of 5 stars

5 star book. I appsolutely loved it. I wanted so much more after I finished the book. It did get a little adult to me or you could say like more for someone a little older than me, but I still loved it. If you have not read this book or do not own this book go buy it or borrow it from a library it is a must read to me. The back of the book says: "How do you get over someoner who was never really yours to begin with? Julia and Colt were together for a year, but nobody knew of their secret love. T...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Camila rated it 3 of 5 stars

Julia dies in a car crash after she gets into the car drunk, with her drunk friend Pam. Pam Survives but Julia doesn't. She lived with the rich kids on Black Mountain. Her official boyfriend was Austin Chadwick.
Colt lives in the flats, with the poor kids, with a drunk father and a hostile mother. His only brother, Tom, is at college. Colt had no official girlfriend, but he un-officially was seeing Julia for a year.
Mostly they would hook up in the back of her car, but even with the suppsedly no...more

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Jun 15, 2011 Lauren James added it

I love this book.... I mean I nver really read but I really like this book.. Its about this girl Julia and she is rich but she falls in love with this not so rich boy so they are dating buty they keep it a scret so nobody will know but when they see each other in school they pass each other like they dont know each other so people dont know they are in love so julia is dating this one boy nameed Austin while she is dating the not so rich boy and they meet under the bridgelike every night and she...more

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Apr 16, 2011 Novel Novice rated it 4 of 5 stars

There’s something magical about a book that has the ability to transport you away from your world and into its very own. That’s exactly what happened in the short time it took me to read The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard.

The book follows the story of Colt Morrissey, in the aftermath of his ill-fated secret romance with the lovely Julia Vernon. Colt and Julia came from different worlds, but they fell in love and for an entire year had a secret romance, unbeknownst to their friends, families,...more There’s something magical about a book that has the ability to transport you away from your world and into its very own. That’s exactly what happened in the short time it took me to read The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard.

The book follows the story of Colt Morrissey, in the aftermath of his ill-fated secret romance with the lovely Julia Vernon. Colt and Julia came from different worlds, but they fell in love and for an entire year had a secret romance, unbeknownst to their friends, families, or significant others. When Julia is killed, Colt suddenly finds himself lost. That feeling of floundering only increases when he is handed her journal, chronicling the year of their secret romance. His relationship with Julia changed Colt — and The Secret Year follows him as he tries to come to terms with her death, the person she was, and the person he wants to be.

Sad and romantic, without being sappy or saccharine, The Secret Year is a haunting tale about interesting characters, set in a place that is both unique and universal. We never really know where this story takes place — it could be Anywhere, U.S.A. — but Hubbard writes it in such a way, that we can all relate to this world. We’ve all had a Black Mountain Road, where the rich kids live; a bridge for secret meetings; a backyard where we can gather with our friends or sit alone and think. We all have families with issues and friends who aren’t always the best influences and relationships that stutter and falter and fail.

The Secret Year isn’t just about a romance between Colt and Julia, either. It’s about the other people in our lives who shape our world and influence who we are. Our parents and siblings; our friends and lovers. Our enemies and acquaintances. It’s all of these elements layered together which make The Secret Year such a successful novel.

Hubbard’s writing will sweep you away to this place that is both new and familiar. More than anything else, The Secret Year is a fascinating study in character, grounded and inspired by the setting in which it takes place.(less)

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Mar 15, 2011 Alissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Blown away by Colt's insight.

When I'm introduced to a male main character and point of view, I expect wry humor and blunt sexual encounters. But this is not the case in The Secret Year. Colt isn't a dark, brooding teenager. He's not a nerd or a freak. He is simply a boy, and I love that about him - that there's nothing special, that he's typical. It makes him all the more real.

The plot focuses less on Julia's letters and more on Colt coming to terms with her passing, which is both unexpected ye...more

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Nov 29, 2010 Hope Collier rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Hmm, where to begin. The gist, Colt is from the wrong side of the tracks (or mountain, in this story) and Julia is the trust fund, bratty princess. They have a forbidden love and no one is aware. She dies. He's sad but can't talk about it because no one knows they were ever together.

Longer version...

15 year-old Colt meets up with an older Julia in a happenstance kind of moment. They kiss for a while and decide they like in it in spite of the fact that Julia has a boyfriend and Colt is poor kid...more Hmm, where to begin. The gist, Colt is from the wrong side of the tracks (or mountain, in this story) and Julia is the trust fund, bratty princess. They have a forbidden love and no one is aware. She dies. He's sad but can't talk about it because no one knows they were ever together.

Longer version...

15 year-old Colt meets up with an older Julia in a happenstance kind of moment. They kiss for a while and decide they like in it in spite of the fact that Julia has a boyfriend and Colt is poor kid from the other side. Now they meet at the river each week for random, no-strings-attached sex. Problem number one: I have real issues with YA novels that promote gratuitous sex. Call me what you will, but this isn't the message we should send our young people, in my opinion.

Julia wants to keep their rendezvous a secret. She has a boyfriend and a social life to maintain, and Colt doesn't fit the bill for either role. Personally, I think Julia is portrayed as selfish and manipulative. While the story isn't from her perspective, I don't see why Colt would want to be with her regardless. If it was just for sex, that would be one thing, but the story tells of his grief and sense of loss because he loved her. Not realistic for me.

Julia dies in a car crash, largely in part to her partying and drunken state. Problem number two: Please, for the love of all that is moral, STOP promoting underage drinking! I know kids do it. I know some might think it's "normal," but it would be a lot less "normal" if we didn't CONDONE it. Also, that's about the teenagers do in this story. Get drunk at all hours of the day.

So now Julia is dead. Michael, Julia's brother, gives Colt a journal of letters that Julia had written him, detailing their time together. (Another example of Julia's selfishness, the journal is full of ramblings about her boyfriend as well as her thoughts about Colt. Very sweet, huh?) This leaves Colt grieving alone because no one knew about their relationship... that's pretty much the rest of the story. Colt finally meets another girl to have sex with, Kirby. He says he loves her after spending zero time together, so they have more sex. Later on, Kirby finds Julia's journal in Colt's room. She gets angry and asks Colt why he still has it if he's over Julia. He's not over Julia, otherwise the story would be over. She storms out and they spend some time apart.

Colt is lost, so he turns to his (randomly added fact) gay brother. The gay scenario didn't fit in with the rest of the story. The acknowledgment came in at a weird time and didn't affect the story really. I'm not sure if the author threw it in as a proponent or what, but it wasn't relevant. Colt's brother, Tom, who despite his random sexual orientation, actually adds some depth to the story. He tells his younger brother to stop lying to everyone.

The story really didn't have a lot of depth, despite the fact that I think it was meant to. The characters were flat. The dialog was uninteresting. We read it from Colt's POV, but you never get a feel for him. Often times, I didn't know if he was being glib, sarcastic, or if he simply didn't care. None of the characters felt real to me. I didn't connect with them. No one really stood out. A lot of stuff that should have been drawn out for the emotion and feel of the situation, was skimmed over. There is a lot of telling, not showing. I prefer a story that really paints a picture for me. I didn't get that at all with the story. There was nothing to get caught up in. Even now, I don't really know what the "point" was supposed to be? I don't feel like the characters grew in any way or changed. It simply ended.

So, 2 stars because I did actually finish it. I liked the idea of certain parts of the story such as the class division and the letters throughout. I just feel the execution lacked depth and realism.

Again, these are *my* thoughts about the work, not the author herself.

(less)

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Oct 06, 2010 Cornmaven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school

Rich girl goes after poor boy, and makes demand that their 'relationship' stay secret - just sex and secret meetings - and all will be well. Boy, with raging teenage hormones, goes along. Girl gets killed in a car accident, and now boy can't grieve publicly.

That's about the premise. The boy spends the entire time, with the girl's diary, trying to figure out what the 'relationship' was all about. I kept trying to figure out why he couldn't figure it out earlier, while it was going on, as he seeme...more

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Mar 21, 2010 Christina (Reading Extensively) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2010, romance, ya

Colt Morrissey had a year long relationship with Julia Vernon that ended with her tragic death in a car accident. Now he mourns her loss in secret because nobody knew that he was seeing Julia. She was one of the popular rich kids who lived on Black Mountain and she had a boyfriend. Colt lives in the poor area known as the flats. Even though he and Julia came from such different backgrounds, they had a passionate relationship that Julia detailed in her journal through letters and poems she wrote...more Colt Morrissey had a year long relationship with Julia Vernon that ended with her tragic death in a car accident. Now he mourns her loss in secret because nobody knew that he was seeing Julia. She was one of the popular rich kids who lived on Black Mountain and she had a boyfriend. Colt lives in the poor area known as the flats. Even though he and Julia came from such different backgrounds, they had a passionate relationship that Julia detailed in her journal through letters and poems she wrote to him. Now that journal has made its way into Colt’s hands as he tries to figure out how to live without Julia and how to deal with the guilt he feels over her death.

The relationship between Colt and Julia is described both through Colt’s thoughts and Julia’s letters to him. While Colt loved Julia in his way it is not clear if she really loved him. At times it seems that their secret relationship was just about the excitement of keeping it a secret and their physical attraction to each other. Julia goes back and forth about breaking up with her boyfriend Austin for Colt. Colt understandably has not been able to express his feelings about Julia’s death. His friends can’t stand the snobby kids from Black Mountain and wouldn’t be able to believe that Colt had a relationship with Julia. Julia’s classmates certainly wouldn’t accept Colt among them. At school, there is a strict line between the haves and the have-nots. There are three people who bridge that gap-Julia (although she kept her relationship with Colt a secret), Kirby, a girl who is neither from Black Mountain or the flats, and Michael Vernon, Julia’s younger brother who gives his sister’s journal to Colt. It is through his reluctant friendship with Michael and Kirby that Colt comes to terms with his loss.

When I first finished the novel I was left feeling a little disappointed. I thought that the book ended too abruptly. After thinking about it and going back and reading through different parts, I changed my mind. There are some things I was disappointed with. I felt that some of the minor characters were quite flat, including Austin. I was also sometimes irritated by the way Colt and Julia behaved at times even though it is very true to their characters. Fortunately, Colt and Julia are both well written characters. Some of the best parts of this novel are the letters that Julia wrote to Colt. The author really does a good job of capturing Julia’s voice and making Colt an authentic flawed character. Colt has grown over the course of the year during which the book takes place and the story leaves us with Colt having some closure. While I would not consider Julia and Colt’s behavior toward each other to be indicative of love, it is true to who they are. Overall I would say that The Secret Year is a moving story of friendship and coming to terms with grief. I look forward to reading more of Jennifer Hubbard’s work.(less)

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Mar 21, 2010 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This little book really surprised me, in a good way. The premise is in the style of West Side story but the twist is that the heroine is dead when the book begins. We get to know her through her own words, written in her journal, and through the memories of the hero, Colt. We get to see how he deals with her death in secret, just like their relationship. For a teen to have to lose someone they care about is hard but to have to grieve in quiet solitude must be even harder, causing pain and confus...more This little book really surprised me, in a good way. The premise is in the style of West Side story but the twist is that the heroine is dead when the book begins. We get to know her through her own words, written in her journal, and through the memories of the hero, Colt. We get to see how he deals with her death in secret, just like their relationship. For a teen to have to lose someone they care about is hard but to have to grieve in quiet solitude must be even harder, causing pain and confusion.

I think part of the reason I liked this book so much and was able to connect with it so quickly was because of Colt. It's told in his POV. I liked his dark, dry humor and found myself laughing at some of the strangest times. He tells it like it is, and doesn't go easy on himself. What we get is his guilt over Julia's death and his questions about what role he played in her death. Colt doesn't do a whole lot of "why me" which was refreshing. He knew where he was from, the flats as it's called. The blue collar neighborhood where his mother works as a waitress and his father drinks, a lot. And Julia was a kid from Black Mountain Road where the mansions and money are. Completely different worlds.

Colt and Julia meet along the river bank. They strike up a peculiar relationship, meeting in secret, mostly by the river. Julia is afraid of being caught but she also gets a secret thrill from "almost" being caught. Colt is a laid back guy and seems to get swept up in her. Completely overpowered by her personality is a good way to describe what happens to him. She's so different than what he's encountered in his very limited experience with the opposite sex.

The aftermath of Julia's death leaves Colt at odds with his group of friends. He needs to talk to someone about Julia and their relationship but he can't. Then her journal falls into his hands and he gets to find out what she thought of their relationship. He gets to relive their year together through her eyes. While he is doing that he is also caught up in the middle of the rivalry of the kids from the flats and the kids from Black Mountain. Colt has some issues with Austin Chadwick, one of the Black Mountain guys. Austin was Julia's boyfriend and Colt can't stand him. The dissension between the two groups emphasizes how the high school society would have viewed Julia and Colt's relationship.

The one real problem I had with the story was the teen angst. Too heavy for my liking but remember, I'm not a teen so of course this is totally from my older perspective. Would I have thought the same when I was a teen? Maybe. I don't think it would have irritated me as much. I do think Hubbard did a good job with the characterizations. Some even reminded me of people I knew when I went to high school. lol

The Secret Year is an interesting and different story. I think by having it begin with Julia already dead, the focus could be on Colt. Had she still been alive, I have a feeling her presence would have overpowered his and we would have missed out on the unique perspective of the teen male. The Secret Year, Hubbard's debut novel, is a quick read at just under 200 page, but it packs a solid punch. Dealing with forbidden love, social class conflicts, secrets and loyalty.
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Feb 08, 2010 Jenny Maloney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, literary

Disclaimer: Just because I won this book, had it personally signed to me, and have spoken personally with the author and her agent does not mean that I've adjusted my review in any way.

The really good stuff: the main character is not a teen-angsty kinda guy. Colt feels real and has real emotions, which is refreshing to find among the teen novels of today. He responds with all the questions and anxiety that teens experience when faced with difficult situations.

For example--not only does he lose a...more

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Feb 04, 2010 L.J. Boldyrev rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

Product Description from amazon:
Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.
Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death....more

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Jan 31, 2010 Clementine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fiction, ya

In Colt Morrissey's world, things are pretty black and white. The rich kids who live up on Black Mountain stick to themselves and don't associate with the poor, trashy kids who reside on the Flats. As one of the kids from the Flats, Colt doesn't really question the status quo. Then he begins a secret affair with Julia, a beautiful girl from one of Black Mountain's wealthiest families.

Even though Julia already has a boyfriend, and friends, and a whole separate life, the two of them continue to h...more In Colt Morrissey's world, things are pretty black and white. The rich kids who live up on Black Mountain stick to themselves and don't associate with the poor, trashy kids who reside on the Flats. As one of the kids from the Flats, Colt doesn't really question the status quo. Then he begins a secret affair with Julia, a beautiful girl from one of Black Mountain's wealthiest families.

Even though Julia already has a boyfriend, and friends, and a whole separate life, the two of them continue to have clandestine meetings down by the river most Friday nights for an entire year. When Julia is killed in a car accident, Colt is left alone to grieve, since no one ever knew they were dating.

But then Julia's brother Michael shows him a journal that Julia kept. It's a journal where all the entries are addressed to Colt. As he gets sucked further and further into Julia's private thoughts, Colt notices less about the outside world. How can he say goodbye to Julia's ghost when he feels her presence in the journal?

Jennifer Hubbard's debut novel for young adults has a fascinating premise with a really shoddy execution. What could be fascinating insight into Julia's world is so flat and so bland that the reader might be inclined to skim over Julia's letters. While Colt himself has some interesting aspects, he becomes so wrapped up in the loss of his first love that it becomes a chore to stay with him as he comes to terms with the finality of that love.

Hubbard peppers the story with some characters that might be interesting if they were ever given the chance to grow. The only character that we get any insight into is his older brother Tom, but even that is fleeting. One can't help but feel like the author had great ideas and couldn't seem to follow through on any of it. All of these characters circle around Colt, but none of them ever get the chance to do anything.

Overall a quick read, and while it's not exactly fluff, there are better titles out there. This reader was pretty disappointed.(less)

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Jan 31, 2010 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

For a year, Colt was with Julia, but no one knew but themselves. How could they tell anyone? Colt and Julia were from completely separate worlds. She lived in a mansion on Black Mountain Road, and his entire house on the flats could probably fit in her living room. Besides, Julia already had a boyfriend from the right neighborhood. Nobody would understand why the two continued to secretly meet up at night; sometimes, Cold wasn’t sure he did either. When Julia suddenly dies in a car accident, his...more For a year, Colt was with Julia, but no one knew but themselves. How could they tell anyone? Colt and Julia were from completely separate worlds. She lived in a mansion on Black Mountain Road, and his entire house on the flats could probably fit in her living room. Besides, Julia already had a boyfriend from the right neighborhood. Nobody would understand why the two continued to secretly meet up at night; sometimes, Cold wasn’t sure he did either. When Julia suddenly dies in a car accident, his secret life with her threatens to throw his life into complete chaos. Though he outwardly pretends everything is the same, he continues to agonize over thoughts of her, especially their last, less than cordial meeting. But what Cold struggles with the most is why he can’t even get over the girl who wasn’t his to begin with.

The Secret Year is a story of heartbreak and loss told from a male’s perspective. It’s very rare that I find a book whose protagonist doesn’t gross me out by being, well, too much the adolescent male. So while this novel’s character Colt does exhibit many of these tendencies (this story is after all pretty much about them), his maturity and thoughtfulness show him to be a more realistic and interesting character. I found reading from Colt’s point of view fascinating, especially regarding his grief and confusion over his secret relationship with Julia. I commend Hubbard for her ability to create such a vivid main character in Cold that so that many readers will be able to connect to him. Although there were probably a few points in the story that could’ve been better developed, the story itself is thoughtful and very satisfying. Overall, The Secret Year is a very solid debut novel.

The Secret Year will be enjoyed by those who liked Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott, The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde, and Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I look forward to seeing what Hubbard writes next.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Jan 24, 2010 Jasmyn9 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, arc, grief

The secret year is a story about living in the past. For a year, Colt and Julia were having a secret affair. She was from a rich family, had rich friends, and they all tended to look down on the people that lived in the area Colt lived in. Until a chance meeting down at the river changed everything. Now Julia is dead and Colt finds himself unable to publicly mourn her, because no one has any idea that they even knew each other. To top it all off, Colt feels that he is partly responsible for the...more

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Jan 19, 2010 fennie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

the main storyline of this book is what attracted me to it - colten, a guy from the the poor, 'flats' of town is having an affair with julia, a girl from the top of black mountain (the locations of where they live is quite cliche), and yes, it's an affair since she does have a black mountain boyfriend. and while this is already interesting in itself, it is taken a step further: julia is suddenly dead and colten doesn't know how to properly grieve since no one knew about them. his only window int...more

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About Jennifer R. Hubbard

Thanks for visiting my page. A few words of explanation about how I use Goodreads:

I find it difficult to rate books with stars, or to review friends' books. Therefore, I don't list reviews or ratings here. Rather, if I like an author's work, I will become a Goodreads fan and list him/her as a "favorite author" here. I also have one shelf listing some contemporary, realistic YA books that you migh...more

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“Once you're out here in the world, nobody cares where you used to live. Who you are, that's what counts.” — 16 people liked it

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