I didn’t expect to find much of interest in this novel, having little in common with an alcoholic single mother. The narrative voice engaged me from the beginning so that I couldn’t stop reading after I got started. Before long, I discovered that I had several things in common with Cadence Sutter, after all. I identified with her struggles to write, her gradually developing interest in good cooking, and the steps on her path to sobriety that aren’t all that different from the steps on the path to sane eating.

Best Kept Secret will appeal to mothers, since it explores many issues around societal expectations, feelings of inadequacy, and family dynamics. As I proved, however, it will also appeal to women who were never mothers. The themes are broad enough to capture the angst of the modern woman no matter what her roles are in the world. By revealing the stresses and cracks in our lives, this novel is ultimately redemptive.

More detailed thoughts on my blog: http://www.joyweesemoll.com/2011/06/2...