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Every Little Secret
From the outside, it seems Grace has it all. Only she knows about the cracks in her picture-perfect life… and the huge secret behind them. After all, who can she trust?
Her brother Josh is thousands of miles away, and he and Grace have never been close – he was always their parents’ favourite.
Her best friend Coco walked away from her years ago, their friendship irreparably fractured by the choices they’ve made.
And her husband Marcus seems like a different man lately. Grace can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something.
But when her seven-year-old daughter makes a troubling accusation, Grace must choose between protecting her child and protecting her secret… before she loses everything.
Her brother Josh is thousands of miles away, and he and Grace have never been close – he was always their parents’ favourite.
Her best friend Coco walked away from her years ago, their friendship irreparably fractured by the choices they’ve made.
And her husband Marcus seems like a different man lately. Grace can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something.
But when her seven-year-old daughter makes a troubling accusation, Grace must choose between protecting her child and protecting her secret… before she loses everything.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2022
286 people are currently reading
1017 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Clarke
6 books127 followersSarah Clarke worked as a copywriter for 20 years before joining the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course and starting her first psychological thriller.
Sarah was signed by HarperCollins HQ Digital in March 2021. Her debut novel A Mother Never Lies published later that year, and she has since published three more thrillers - Every Little Secret, My Perfect Friend and The Ski Trip. Sarah's next book - The Night She Dies - will be published in July 2024 and Sarah has recently signed with HQ Digital for two more thrillers - coming in 2025.
Sarah lives in London with her husband, two children and super-energetic cockapoo. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her losing a tennis match, or planning her next ski holiday.
Twitter: @SCWwriter
Instagram: @sarahclarkewriter
Facebook: @sarahclarkewriter
Sarah was signed by HarperCollins HQ Digital in March 2021. Her debut novel A Mother Never Lies published later that year, and she has since published three more thrillers - Every Little Secret, My Perfect Friend and The Ski Trip. Sarah's next book - The Night She Dies - will be published in July 2024 and Sarah has recently signed with HQ Digital for two more thrillers - coming in 2025.
Sarah lives in London with her husband, two children and super-energetic cockapoo. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her losing a tennis match, or planning her next ski holiday.
Twitter: @SCWwriter
Instagram: @sarahclarkewriter
Facebook: @sarahclarkewriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
January 3, 2023
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: *drops to knees* WHYYYYYYYYYY/5
SYNOPSIS
After Kaia suffers a concussion, she starts making disturbing accusations against her father, Marcus, leaving Grace in the difficult decision of siding with her daughter or her husband.
MY OPINION
It pains me to not give this four stars, but the last couple of chapters were sooo out of pocket I felt like I was reading an entirely different book. Solid endings are few and far in between, so I feel like my standards have been lowered, but still. This... this was....everything PLUS the kitchen sink. The yeetage of logic requirement was simply too high for me to acquiesce (see that fancy vocab??? don't tell me I'm using it in the wrong context; let me have this tysm)
Besides that whackadoodle final stretch, the writing is STRONG. The Rock strong. Homegirl can write. And if she can get her plots tightened up, I can see her having a lot of commercial success. Like Netflix success. Factor in she wrote three books in one year, it's quite impressive that she can maintain such high writing quality. There were a few awkward transitions (Coco talking about her spray tan and then thinking... she's stained in other ways 😂 pls ma'am), but overall she be writing.
The strongest part of this book is the start. I was seriously spooked out. Had me looking at my dog Nobu like he may be plotting to k!ll me in my sleep too LOL. There was lots of suspense. I know kids do be saying the braziest shit. I remember my in-laws telling a "funny" story about how my nephew (not related by blood – let me be clear LOL) asked his mom "would you be mad at me if I went to jail? Because I want to murder X." Everyone was laughing but I was like... someone call the police??? If he knows murder = jail then he knows it's bad but he still wants to seriously harm her. Just steal her apple or something idk. If my kid said this to me it's time for the straight jacket!! (jk?)
Unfortunately, the storytelling was up-and-down. Some filler scenes, lots of repetitiveness (who should Grace believe???) plus my least fave type of foreshadowing: the clickbait. Ie. repeatedly writing something like "She thinks about that horrible night 5 years ago"and not revealing the activities of said horrible night until almost the end of the book and it turns out to be something stupid like she got diarrhea and had to poop in a bush. It's kinda like when a kid is going "mom, mom, mom, look!" and then she finally looks and he's just standing on one leg doing a weird face. Like cool??? But you wasted my time.
She also did a great job of creating what I believe the dark romance girlies call "morally grey" characters. The most likeable of them all in Grace; she's just kinda naive. It made me sad that Marcus was a tool. LOL. I guess he loved Kaia, but he needed therapy, DESPERATELY. I would've liked to dive in Josh a bit more, especially his book (if there was one?). I wanted to beef the mom, she can catch these hands outside, inside, underground, idc. I don't agree with her decisions whatsoever, but the reality is that many moms would do the same thing. And Coco... almost felt like an old man wrote her. Peter Swanson is that you???
Anyways, I'm still going to read her other book because I quite enjoy her prose. I hope her next books are a bit tighter plot and ending wise, because she's got the skills to write some uncontested bangers.
PROS AND CONS
PROS: prose on pizzzzoint, juicy premise, strong start, great structure with multiple povs and flashbacks
CONS: final couple of chapters were so off the wall brazy :'(, a bit repetitive in some spots
SYNOPSIS
After Kaia suffers a concussion, she starts making disturbing accusations against her father, Marcus, leaving Grace in the difficult decision of siding with her daughter or her husband.
MY OPINION
It pains me to not give this four stars, but the last couple of chapters were sooo out of pocket I felt like I was reading an entirely different book. Solid endings are few and far in between, so I feel like my standards have been lowered, but still. This... this was....everything PLUS the kitchen sink. The yeetage of logic requirement was simply too high for me to acquiesce (see that fancy vocab??? don't tell me I'm using it in the wrong context; let me have this tysm)
Besides that whackadoodle final stretch, the writing is STRONG. The Rock strong. Homegirl can write. And if she can get her plots tightened up, I can see her having a lot of commercial success. Like Netflix success. Factor in she wrote three books in one year, it's quite impressive that she can maintain such high writing quality. There were a few awkward transitions (Coco talking about her spray tan and then thinking... she's stained in other ways 😂 pls ma'am), but overall she be writing.
The strongest part of this book is the start. I was seriously spooked out. Had me looking at my dog Nobu like he may be plotting to k!ll me in my sleep too LOL. There was lots of suspense. I know kids do be saying the braziest shit. I remember my in-laws telling a "funny" story about how my nephew (not related by blood – let me be clear LOL) asked his mom "would you be mad at me if I went to jail? Because I want to murder X." Everyone was laughing but I was like... someone call the police??? If he knows murder = jail then he knows it's bad but he still wants to seriously harm her. Just steal her apple or something idk. If my kid said this to me it's time for the straight jacket!! (jk?)
Unfortunately, the storytelling was up-and-down. Some filler scenes, lots of repetitiveness (who should Grace believe???) plus my least fave type of foreshadowing: the clickbait. Ie. repeatedly writing something like "She thinks about that horrible night 5 years ago"and not revealing the activities of said horrible night until almost the end of the book and it turns out to be something stupid like she got diarrhea and had to poop in a bush. It's kinda like when a kid is going "mom, mom, mom, look!" and then she finally looks and he's just standing on one leg doing a weird face. Like cool??? But you wasted my time.
She also did a great job of creating what I believe the dark romance girlies call "morally grey" characters. The most likeable of them all in Grace; she's just kinda naive. It made me sad that Marcus was a tool. LOL. I guess he loved Kaia, but he needed therapy, DESPERATELY. I would've liked to dive in Josh a bit more, especially his book (if there was one?). I wanted to beef the mom, she can catch these hands outside, inside, underground, idc. I don't agree with her decisions whatsoever, but the reality is that many moms would do the same thing. And Coco... almost felt like an old man wrote her. Peter Swanson is that you???
Anyways, I'm still going to read her other book because I quite enjoy her prose. I hope her next books are a bit tighter plot and ending wise, because she's got the skills to write some uncontested bangers.
PROS AND CONS
PROS: prose on pizzzzoint, juicy premise, strong start, great structure with multiple povs and flashbacks
CONS: final couple of chapters were so off the wall brazy :'(, a bit repetitive in some spots
May 10, 2022
EXCERPT: 'Concussion heals, right?' she asks, searching for eye contact with the doctor, impatient for the clinician to lighten her expression.
'It tends to have a more severe effect on children in the short term as their brains are still developing, but yes, it heals.'
'That's good news then, isn't it?' Grace doesn't understand why Dr. Gupta couldn't have said all this to Marcus too.
The doctor sighs and leans against the wall, obscuring a poster on what to do if you suspect a stroke. Act FAST. 'Concussion can cause confusion as well, and I'm trying to work out whether that's what's at play here.'
'She's confused? What about?'
'Kaia told Seb something on the way to x-ray. Then when I asked her about it, she repeated the story. She's showing clear signs of concussion, so she may well have just confused things in her mind. But her claim was very clear, and she sounded so sure.'
'Her claim?' Grace asks. 'What do you mean?'
Dr Gupta shifts round and looks straight into Grace's eyes. 'Kaia claims that her falling out of the tree wasn't an accident. She said her father pushed her.'
ABOUT 'EVERY LITTLE SECRET': From the outside, it seems Grace has it all. Only she knows about the cracks in her picture-perfect life… and the huge secret behind them. After all, who can she trust?
Her brother Josh is thousands of miles away, and he and Grace have never been close – he was always their parents’ favourite.
Her best friend Coco walked away from her years ago, their friendship irreparably fractured by the choices they’ve made.
And her husband Marcus seems like a different man lately. Grace can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something.
But when her seven-year-old daughter makes a troubling accusation, Grace must choose between protecting her child and protecting her secret… before she loses everything.
MY THOUGHTS: Every Little Secret by Sarah Clarke is a rather clever domestic drama that moves into psychological drama territory. It's not a fast paced book, but Clarke's writing kept me interested.
I thought I knew what was happening, thought it was obvious, but was I ever way off base with just about everything! There's a lot more to this story than it first seems.
Set over two timelines, the current when Grace's life is imploding with Kaia making accusations against Marcus, and the past, starting with Grace, Josh, Marcus and Coco as teenagers and moving forward to the current time.
Initially this seems like a pretty ordinary read but Clarke slowly turns up the tension and throws in a few twists which cast doubt on everything I thought I knew.
And then that ending. It's a pretty thrilling ending, but that last paragraph? That's what sent chills down my spine and earned Every Little Secret an extra half star.
I listened to the audiobook of Every Little Secret narrated by Katy Federman. The narration was, for the most part, pretty good, but there were a few places where she dropped the ball with the voices accents.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#EveryLittleSecret #NetGalley
I: @sarahclarkewriter @harpercollins
T: @SCWwriter @HarperCollinsUK
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #mystery #psychologicaldrama
THE AUTHOR: I love reading psychological thrillers and have always dreamed of becoming an author in the genre, but I took my time getting here. After studying for a degree in Politics & International Relations, travelling the world for 6 years, and completing 5 ski seasons, I moved to London and became a copywriter, wife and mother. In 2018 I enrolled on the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course and finally learned the craft I loved. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio, HQ Digital via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of Every Little Secret written by Sarah Clarke and narrated by Katy Federman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'It tends to have a more severe effect on children in the short term as their brains are still developing, but yes, it heals.'
'That's good news then, isn't it?' Grace doesn't understand why Dr. Gupta couldn't have said all this to Marcus too.
The doctor sighs and leans against the wall, obscuring a poster on what to do if you suspect a stroke. Act FAST. 'Concussion can cause confusion as well, and I'm trying to work out whether that's what's at play here.'
'She's confused? What about?'
'Kaia told Seb something on the way to x-ray. Then when I asked her about it, she repeated the story. She's showing clear signs of concussion, so she may well have just confused things in her mind. But her claim was very clear, and she sounded so sure.'
'Her claim?' Grace asks. 'What do you mean?'
Dr Gupta shifts round and looks straight into Grace's eyes. 'Kaia claims that her falling out of the tree wasn't an accident. She said her father pushed her.'
ABOUT 'EVERY LITTLE SECRET': From the outside, it seems Grace has it all. Only she knows about the cracks in her picture-perfect life… and the huge secret behind them. After all, who can she trust?
Her brother Josh is thousands of miles away, and he and Grace have never been close – he was always their parents’ favourite.
Her best friend Coco walked away from her years ago, their friendship irreparably fractured by the choices they’ve made.
And her husband Marcus seems like a different man lately. Grace can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something.
But when her seven-year-old daughter makes a troubling accusation, Grace must choose between protecting her child and protecting her secret… before she loses everything.
MY THOUGHTS: Every Little Secret by Sarah Clarke is a rather clever domestic drama that moves into psychological drama territory. It's not a fast paced book, but Clarke's writing kept me interested.
I thought I knew what was happening, thought it was obvious, but was I ever way off base with just about everything! There's a lot more to this story than it first seems.
Set over two timelines, the current when Grace's life is imploding with Kaia making accusations against Marcus, and the past, starting with Grace, Josh, Marcus and Coco as teenagers and moving forward to the current time.
Initially this seems like a pretty ordinary read but Clarke slowly turns up the tension and throws in a few twists which cast doubt on everything I thought I knew.
And then that ending. It's a pretty thrilling ending, but that last paragraph? That's what sent chills down my spine and earned Every Little Secret an extra half star.
I listened to the audiobook of Every Little Secret narrated by Katy Federman. The narration was, for the most part, pretty good, but there were a few places where she dropped the ball with the voices accents.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#EveryLittleSecret #NetGalley
I: @sarahclarkewriter @harpercollins
T: @SCWwriter @HarperCollinsUK
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #mystery #psychologicaldrama
THE AUTHOR: I love reading psychological thrillers and have always dreamed of becoming an author in the genre, but I took my time getting here. After studying for a degree in Politics & International Relations, travelling the world for 6 years, and completing 5 ski seasons, I moved to London and became a copywriter, wife and mother. In 2018 I enrolled on the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course and finally learned the craft I loved. (Amazon)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio, HQ Digital via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of Every Little Secret written by Sarah Clarke and narrated by Katy Federman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 20, 2023
4⭐
What a predicament this mother is in.
Grace has known Marcus since she was 16 and has never had a single doubt about his character. When their daughter makes an accusation about her father ~ do you believe your husband of 14 years or your 7 year old child? There are some old secrets that come to light that really bring the story together.
I like that it switches narration between Grace, Marcus and Coco (Grace's best friend that she lost contact with) and between the past and present, however it's all over the place so you really have to pay attention.
Katy Federman did a good job for 10 hours and 3 minutes, I do wish there was a male narrator for the male parts though.
My thought was that it was who was lying the whole time, but I didn't guess what was really going on. I was on the edge of my seat for a few chapters there towards the end.
Overall, this was a nice family drama thriller that kept me pretty engaged throughout. I would give this author a go again.
*Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Uk and Sarah Clarke for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
What a predicament this mother is in.
Grace has known Marcus since she was 16 and has never had a single doubt about his character. When their daughter makes an accusation about her father ~ do you believe your husband of 14 years or your 7 year old child? There are some old secrets that come to light that really bring the story together.
I like that it switches narration between Grace, Marcus and Coco (Grace's best friend that she lost contact with) and between the past and present, however it's all over the place so you really have to pay attention.
Katy Federman did a good job for 10 hours and 3 minutes, I do wish there was a male narrator for the male parts though.
My thought was that it was who was lying the whole time, but I didn't guess what was really going on. I was on the edge of my seat for a few chapters there towards the end.
Overall, this was a nice family drama thriller that kept me pretty engaged throughout. I would give this author a go again.
*Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Uk and Sarah Clarke for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
April 28, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and HaperCollins UK Audio for this audiobook arc.
What a terrible choice for a mother, believe your husband or your daughter?
Four young teens having a ball, some make terrible choices that follow them into adulthood. Grace faces difficult questions concerning her daughter accusing her husband of abuse. Her best friend Coco, is missing and she needs her to get hold of her to help her through this terrible time. Her brother, Josh the psychologist who she isn't close with, but reaches out for advice. Her husband Marcus, who she starts to doubt.
This book is full of twists. I felt like I could shake Grace at times for putting off trying to uncover the truth. A really good plot line, easy to listen and a good ending. The narrator was amazing, could clearly distinguish each voice character. This was my first book from Sarah Clarke, and will definitely not be my last!
What a terrible choice for a mother, believe your husband or your daughter?
Four young teens having a ball, some make terrible choices that follow them into adulthood. Grace faces difficult questions concerning her daughter accusing her husband of abuse. Her best friend Coco, is missing and she needs her to get hold of her to help her through this terrible time. Her brother, Josh the psychologist who she isn't close with, but reaches out for advice. Her husband Marcus, who she starts to doubt.
This book is full of twists. I felt like I could shake Grace at times for putting off trying to uncover the truth. A really good plot line, easy to listen and a good ending. The narrator was amazing, could clearly distinguish each voice character. This was my first book from Sarah Clarke, and will definitely not be my last!
April 11, 2022
Secrets, secrets, and more secrets.
When you're happily married and your 7-year old daughter accuses your husband of physical abuse, whom do you believe?
Who is telling the truth?
This book started out strong with an ultra-compelling premise.
However, as the book progressed, the author became overly wordy and began to ramble and, therefore, the book quickly lost steam. (Where was the editor????)
Flashbacks were used and the transitions were not always smooth.
The book featured several twists that were predictable and contrived.
Although I felt that the characterizations of the two main husband/wife protagonists were very strong, the book would have benefited from in-depth characterizations of the book's ancillary characters. (The wife's mother and best friend)
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a superb job. Since there were many husband/wife flashbacks, the book would have been more listener-friendly had the publisher used two narrators.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When you're happily married and your 7-year old daughter accuses your husband of physical abuse, whom do you believe?
Who is telling the truth?
This book started out strong with an ultra-compelling premise.
However, as the book progressed, the author became overly wordy and began to ramble and, therefore, the book quickly lost steam. (Where was the editor????)
Flashbacks were used and the transitions were not always smooth.
The book featured several twists that were predictable and contrived.
Although I felt that the characterizations of the two main husband/wife protagonists were very strong, the book would have benefited from in-depth characterizations of the book's ancillary characters. (The wife's mother and best friend)
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a superb job. Since there were many husband/wife flashbacks, the book would have been more listener-friendly had the publisher used two narrators.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2022
5☆ Secrets, Lies, Twists and Turns a Gripping Mystery Thriller!
Every Little Secret drew me in and kept me there till the very end.
There are lots of plot twists I didn't see coming and just when I thought I had things figured out a huge curve ball was thrown into the mix.
The story does contain information of physical child abuse so some readers might find this very sensitive.
The subject matter within the story really gets you thinking about lies, manipulation and to how far some people will go to protect the ones they love.
I did like that the story goes back and forth in time as you uncover snippets of the puzzle or at least you think you uncover bits. I was completely bamboozled and it's not like me, as I can normally figure things out.
So what to expect.... a gritty, addictive thriller, shrouded in mystery, twists and turns and plenty of secrets! This is one roller coaster of a book I really enjoyed!
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2022/0...
Every Little Secret drew me in and kept me there till the very end.
There are lots of plot twists I didn't see coming and just when I thought I had things figured out a huge curve ball was thrown into the mix.
The story does contain information of physical child abuse so some readers might find this very sensitive.
The subject matter within the story really gets you thinking about lies, manipulation and to how far some people will go to protect the ones they love.
I did like that the story goes back and forth in time as you uncover snippets of the puzzle or at least you think you uncover bits. I was completely bamboozled and it's not like me, as I can normally figure things out.
So what to expect.... a gritty, addictive thriller, shrouded in mystery, twists and turns and plenty of secrets! This is one roller coaster of a book I really enjoyed!
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2022/0...
February 5, 2022
From the outside, it seems Grace has it all. Only she knows about the cracks in her picture-perfect life.... and the huge secret behind them. Her brother Josh is thousands of miles away, he and Grace have never been close - he was always their parents' favourite. Her best friend Coco walked away from her years ago, their friendship irreparably fractured by the choices they.ve made. Her husband Marcus seems a different man lately. But when her seven year old daughter makes a troubling accusation, Grace must choose between protecting her child and protecting her secret.
The story has a dual timeline flipping between the past, 2005 and the present day. The storyline tackles some of our worst fears. The characters are well developed and believable, it's told from multiple points of view and there's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. There were some chapters that were dragged out. This is an engaging and some what addictive read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQDigital and the author #SarahClarke for my ARC of #EveryLittleSecret in exchange for an honest review.
The story has a dual timeline flipping between the past, 2005 and the present day. The storyline tackles some of our worst fears. The characters are well developed and believable, it's told from multiple points of view and there's plenty of twists to keep you guessing. There were some chapters that were dragged out. This is an engaging and some what addictive read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQDigital and the author #SarahClarke for my ARC of #EveryLittleSecret in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2022
I liked this book, though it did leave a few unanswered questions. The story revolves around Grace, whose daughter Kaia gets hurt and suddenly starts accusing her father (and Grace’s beloved husband) Marcus of deliberately injuring her. Grace doesn’t know who to believe, as both strongly assert that their version of the story is the truth. The book is primarily told from Graces’s POV in the current time, intermingled with Marcus’s story from 14 years prior.
I love an unreliable narrator and you definitely get that in this story. The author does a good job building up suspense by alternating between current events and the potential lead-ups to those events from the past timeframe. When I figured out the twist it felt very obvious and I didn’t know why I hadn’t figured it out earlier. I’ve seen some other reviewers say that the book was slow paced but I didn’t feel that way: in fact I read it in one sitting over the course of 3-4 hours.
As mentioned above, there were some unanswered questions from me and I wish I could’ve gotten more backstory n the characters that would better explain the decisions they made. Marcus was well characterized but I didn’t feel that I got the same depth from the other characters, and some of them felt stereotypical versus authentic.
Overall, I liked the book and appreciated the twist that took me longer than usual to figure out. I’d recommend the book to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I love an unreliable narrator and you definitely get that in this story. The author does a good job building up suspense by alternating between current events and the potential lead-ups to those events from the past timeframe. When I figured out the twist it felt very obvious and I didn’t know why I hadn’t figured it out earlier. I’ve seen some other reviewers say that the book was slow paced but I didn’t feel that way: in fact I read it in one sitting over the course of 3-4 hours.
As mentioned above, there were some unanswered questions from me and I wish I could’ve gotten more backstory n the characters that would better explain the decisions they made. Marcus was well characterized but I didn’t feel that I got the same depth from the other characters, and some of them felt stereotypical versus authentic.
Overall, I liked the book and appreciated the twist that took me longer than usual to figure out. I’d recommend the book to those who like psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2022
Every little secret was a book about keeping secrets to protect the people who you love and the consequences of keeping those secrets. I thought it was a pretty average thriller. I did like the character development but the twists were pretty predictable.
May 26, 2022
Ebook release 25 February
Looking from the outside Grace, Marcus and Kaia look like a perfect family. A happy couple with a bright little seven-year-old. But things can change quickly when everyone is keeping their own little secrets.
Kaia has an unfortunate accident and Grace and Marcus’s lives are turned upside down. Who do you believe when your daughter suddenly accuses your husband of abuse, do you believe her even when there have been no signs of abuse before, do you question your husband even if he denies it all?
It seems like such a clear cut decision, why would a seven-year-old lie about that? But life isn’t so black and white is it?
“Unconditional love, Grace. That’s what a mother owes her child.Unconditional love” – Every little secret, Sarah Clarke
Clarke does a great job at making the reader feel utterly conflicted, torn between so many characters and so many secrets the story just keeps getting more and more complicated, unfolding in every direction. With the story playing off in duel timelines the characters are developed with intimate details of their conflicting emotions and stories making the reader all the more intrigued.
Some of the characters, unfortunately, felt superficial and lacked authenticity, leaving the reader wanting more information to get fully immersed in the story. Even though the story is gripping it felt drawn out and somewhat dark. Some of the events described are disturbing and not for the faint-hearted.
“For all Grace’s strengths, her stubborn refusal to give up on a goal or wallow in self-pity if things don’t go her way, she can never keep up that warrior demeanour in front of her mum.” – Every little secret, Sarah Clarke
The twist however felt completely unexpected and made me feel like kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner. Some of the aspects of the story, especially the relationship between Grace and her mother felt a bit unrealistic, especially seeing how the book ends, but every story needs a little room to wiggle.
Clarke does leave the reader with a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end possible leaving the door open to a second book or up to the reader's imagination.
“He’s still out there somewhere, and who knows when he might reappear?” –Every little secret, Sarah Clarke
Overall a great psychological thriller with a twist worth waiting for.
Thank you, NetGalley and HQ Digital for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Looking from the outside Grace, Marcus and Kaia look like a perfect family. A happy couple with a bright little seven-year-old. But things can change quickly when everyone is keeping their own little secrets.
Kaia has an unfortunate accident and Grace and Marcus’s lives are turned upside down. Who do you believe when your daughter suddenly accuses your husband of abuse, do you believe her even when there have been no signs of abuse before, do you question your husband even if he denies it all?
It seems like such a clear cut decision, why would a seven-year-old lie about that? But life isn’t so black and white is it?
“Unconditional love, Grace. That’s what a mother owes her child.Unconditional love” – Every little secret, Sarah Clarke
Clarke does a great job at making the reader feel utterly conflicted, torn between so many characters and so many secrets the story just keeps getting more and more complicated, unfolding in every direction. With the story playing off in duel timelines the characters are developed with intimate details of their conflicting emotions and stories making the reader all the more intrigued.
Some of the characters, unfortunately, felt superficial and lacked authenticity, leaving the reader wanting more information to get fully immersed in the story. Even though the story is gripping it felt drawn out and somewhat dark. Some of the events described are disturbing and not for the faint-hearted.
“For all Grace’s strengths, her stubborn refusal to give up on a goal or wallow in self-pity if things don’t go her way, she can never keep up that warrior demeanour in front of her mum.” – Every little secret, Sarah Clarke
The twist however felt completely unexpected and made me feel like kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner. Some of the aspects of the story, especially the relationship between Grace and her mother felt a bit unrealistic, especially seeing how the book ends, but every story needs a little room to wiggle.
Clarke does leave the reader with a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end possible leaving the door open to a second book or up to the reader's imagination.
“He’s still out there somewhere, and who knows when he might reappear?” –Every little secret, Sarah Clarke
Overall a great psychological thriller with a twist worth waiting for.
Thank you, NetGalley and HQ Digital for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2022
Every Little Secret is the first novel I've read by author Sarah Clarke. A thrilling read that keeps you guessing until the end. Unreliable narrators that makes you wonder who is telling the truth.
Mom, dad, and a seven year old girl. In front of everyone else, they seem to be the perfect family. One day, the little girl fell two meters from a tree. At the hospital, the little girl made a terrifying accusation that the dad pushed her. The doctor attributes it to confusion caused by the concussion from the fall. There's a tiny voice in the mom's head saying this is ridiculous and that her husband would not hurt his daughter. Why then does the mom feel guilty about defending her husband when talking to the doctor?
Told in past and present fashion from Grace in 2019, Marcus in 2005, and third person point of view. There were chapters in the book that dragged for a bit especially the part where Marcus is telling his story in the past to make sense of the present. Not a big fan of this format in story telling as it is hard to switch from first person to third person storytelling. I don't mind several different characters but told all in first person.
I enjoyed the book in general.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher HQ for approving a digital advance reader copy. All opinions are voluntary, honest, and my own.
Read the full review on Nica's Musings.
Mom, dad, and a seven year old girl. In front of everyone else, they seem to be the perfect family. One day, the little girl fell two meters from a tree. At the hospital, the little girl made a terrifying accusation that the dad pushed her. The doctor attributes it to confusion caused by the concussion from the fall. There's a tiny voice in the mom's head saying this is ridiculous and that her husband would not hurt his daughter. Why then does the mom feel guilty about defending her husband when talking to the doctor?
Told in past and present fashion from Grace in 2019, Marcus in 2005, and third person point of view. There were chapters in the book that dragged for a bit especially the part where Marcus is telling his story in the past to make sense of the present. Not a big fan of this format in story telling as it is hard to switch from first person to third person storytelling. I don't mind several different characters but told all in first person.
I enjoyed the book in general.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher HQ for approving a digital advance reader copy. All opinions are voluntary, honest, and my own.
Read the full review on Nica's Musings.
February 19, 2022
This is a great book.
Grace and Marcus are happy until their daughter, Kaia starts to cause doubt between them.
Kaia is very close to her mum and dad but when she starts to appear to be scared of her dad, Grace starts to worry.
There’s more to this than meets the eye and it’s not revealed until later on the story.
There’s flashback chapters to Marcus and Grace when they met and at first I didn’t see the relevance, but again it becomes clear later.
A clever family drama with secrets at it centre.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Grace and Marcus are happy until their daughter, Kaia starts to cause doubt between them.
Kaia is very close to her mum and dad but when she starts to appear to be scared of her dad, Grace starts to worry.
There’s more to this than meets the eye and it’s not revealed until later on the story.
There’s flashback chapters to Marcus and Grace when they met and at first I didn’t see the relevance, but again it becomes clear later.
A clever family drama with secrets at it centre.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 29, 2022
This nail-biting thriller had my heart in my chest and I could not wait to reach its conclusion. With such an emotive topic, I wanted to believe Grace, disbelieve Kaia and dislike Marcus. However, doubting a child’s claims is so harrowing in itself that I think my emotions were all over the place with this pacey story.
When Kaia begins accusing her father of hurting her, it is a mother’s worse nightmare. Grace is under the impression that Kaia’s accident that left her concussed is the cause behind such allegations. Grace truly believes in her husband and his devotion to their daughter, dismissing Kaia’s claims very quickly. Yet, Kaia’s behaviour starts to change, even at school, and this leads Grace to accepting that perhaps some intervention is required. As Kaia receives formal therapy and Grace turns to her brother who seems to be a slight expert in this field, Grace’s doubts about her husband start to increase, particularly as he is known for his bad temper.
It is a harrowing topic and one that is seen in the media far too many times. However, the way that Clarke presents these accusations focuses more on the relationship between mother, daughter and husband, rather than the supposed violence taking place. Grace’s helplessness was palpable and I could not imagine how she could support her husband, support her daughter and not break down with the stress of the circumstances.
As the story progresses, readers find out about Grace and Marcus’s past. This was an intriguing part of the narrative because of the revelations that feed into the present day timeline. As connections are established, I felt like I had a better understanding of what was happening to Grace and Kaia. Indeed, Clarke’s manipulation of readers added to the tension of the story, especially when some key truths are finally revealed.
I raced through this story in the end and I was on tenterhooks to find out how the plot would conclude. It was particularly chilling at the very end of the book and it even brought me out in goose bumps. I had not predicted how the plot would conclude and I loved how much the writer was able to surprise me right until the very end.
This was a great read and a superb page-turner. Uncomfortable topics aside, this was full of character development that, once you delve even deeper, you start to find some significant revelations.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Kaia begins accusing her father of hurting her, it is a mother’s worse nightmare. Grace is under the impression that Kaia’s accident that left her concussed is the cause behind such allegations. Grace truly believes in her husband and his devotion to their daughter, dismissing Kaia’s claims very quickly. Yet, Kaia’s behaviour starts to change, even at school, and this leads Grace to accepting that perhaps some intervention is required. As Kaia receives formal therapy and Grace turns to her brother who seems to be a slight expert in this field, Grace’s doubts about her husband start to increase, particularly as he is known for his bad temper.
It is a harrowing topic and one that is seen in the media far too many times. However, the way that Clarke presents these accusations focuses more on the relationship between mother, daughter and husband, rather than the supposed violence taking place. Grace’s helplessness was palpable and I could not imagine how she could support her husband, support her daughter and not break down with the stress of the circumstances.
As the story progresses, readers find out about Grace and Marcus’s past. This was an intriguing part of the narrative because of the revelations that feed into the present day timeline. As connections are established, I felt like I had a better understanding of what was happening to Grace and Kaia. Indeed, Clarke’s manipulation of readers added to the tension of the story, especially when some key truths are finally revealed.
I raced through this story in the end and I was on tenterhooks to find out how the plot would conclude. It was particularly chilling at the very end of the book and it even brought me out in goose bumps. I had not predicted how the plot would conclude and I loved how much the writer was able to surprise me right until the very end.
This was a great read and a superb page-turner. Uncomfortable topics aside, this was full of character development that, once you delve even deeper, you start to find some significant revelations.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2022
Meet Grace, Marcus and their daughter, Kaia, aged seven. They are a tight, happy little unit until the day that Kaia falls from a tree then claims she was pushed... by Marcus. Will Grace believe her daughter or her husband?
Following A Mother Never Lies was going to be a tall order for Sarah Clarke as I adored that book! However, the author managed it admirably. Set in Earlsfield, London the storyline moves between 2019 and flashes back fourteen years to 2005, told mainly from Grace's viewpoint but intermingled are some sections from Marcus. Sarah Clarke portrays her characters and their inner turmoil masterfully. The timeline switches were seamless and I really wanted to keep turning the pages. The reveal was a surprise and overall I was extremely impressed with this stunning family-based thriller. I truly did not know what to think throughout due to the terrific ambiguity and thus, did not anticipate the grand finale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Following A Mother Never Lies was going to be a tall order for Sarah Clarke as I adored that book! However, the author managed it admirably. Set in Earlsfield, London the storyline moves between 2019 and flashes back fourteen years to 2005, told mainly from Grace's viewpoint but intermingled are some sections from Marcus. Sarah Clarke portrays her characters and their inner turmoil masterfully. The timeline switches were seamless and I really wanted to keep turning the pages. The reveal was a surprise and overall I was extremely impressed with this stunning family-based thriller. I truly did not know what to think throughout due to the terrific ambiguity and thus, did not anticipate the grand finale.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 7, 2022
After reading the first book by this author A Mother Never Lies which literally blew me away and was an easy five star read. I could not wait to start reading this one. OMG WHAT A READ I could not put this book down I HAD TO KNOW THE TRUTH and finally turned the last page in the wee hours. The Windsor family have a lot of secrets but like all secrets they eventually raise their ugly heads. Full of shocks and surprises and an ending I never saw coming and left me speechless. Loved it!!!!
February 15, 2022
I have never read anything by this author before but this was a thrilling book that kept you guessing right until the end. I genuinely didn’t know who to believe or trust and it tied together brilliantly at the end. Will definitely be looking out for more by this author in the future.
March 17, 2022
Whoop, whoop, this book is just wow. Fast paced, with lots of twist and turns, gripping and fun, really well written and I highly enjoyed it.
October 9, 2023
From the outside it seems Grace has it all, until her daughter Kaia accuses her father of hurting her. Grace is under the impression that Kaia's accident that left her concussed is the cause behind such allegations.
Grace fully believes in her husband's devotion and love to their daughter, dismissing Kaia's claims but she doesn't know what to do as her brother Josh is miles away, her best friend Coco abandoned her years ago and her mother is taking Marcus's side, even though the signs suggest something more sinister is going on!!'
The story goes back to when Grace and Marcus were teenagers and we slowly find out the truth.
There are lots of twists and turns along the way which keeps the tension running high. All is not how it seems!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Grace fully believes in her husband's devotion and love to their daughter, dismissing Kaia's claims but she doesn't know what to do as her brother Josh is miles away, her best friend Coco abandoned her years ago and her mother is taking Marcus's side, even though the signs suggest something more sinister is going on!!'
The story goes back to when Grace and Marcus were teenagers and we slowly find out the truth.
There are lots of twists and turns along the way which keeps the tension running high. All is not how it seems!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2022
Every Little Secret is the follow up (but completely stand alone) book to Sarah Clarke's debut novel A Mother Never Lies. I have read both books hosted by Pigeonhole and as I gave A Mother Never Lies 5 stars, this second novel had a lot to live up to!
I have not been disappointed. Clarke is a talented author particularly when it comes to developing taut storylines that examine how love, when it is distorted, can do so much damage, and how sometimes these strong feelings are very far from real love at all.
Every Little Secret is dark, engaging, thrilling and builds in intensity to the point that the reader is switching thoughts back and forth unable to decide who is telling the truth and what will happen next, well at least that was my experience!
I love a novel that keeps you guessing and has you changing your ideas about characters, from not understanding someone's behaviour to the dawning realisation that even if it is still wrong/appalling/impulsive/dangerous/unjustifiable etc you acknowledge and accept how events have shaped subsequent decisions and responses.
Clarke creares a whirlwind of emotions from jealousy, competitiveness, betrayal, deceit, desperation, love, anger and you find yourself caught up in it all, tossed about and left gasping for breath, because even when the wind dies down it is all too clear to see the devastation left in its tumultuous wake.
This is the sort of book that can have you sacrificing sleep as usual feverishly turn one page after another. Will your guesswork be correct? Are you being deliberately misled? Where will it all end?
Dive headfirst into Every Little Secret and swim against the tide. All is not as it seems and there are some huge waves looming!
I have not been disappointed. Clarke is a talented author particularly when it comes to developing taut storylines that examine how love, when it is distorted, can do so much damage, and how sometimes these strong feelings are very far from real love at all.
Every Little Secret is dark, engaging, thrilling and builds in intensity to the point that the reader is switching thoughts back and forth unable to decide who is telling the truth and what will happen next, well at least that was my experience!
I love a novel that keeps you guessing and has you changing your ideas about characters, from not understanding someone's behaviour to the dawning realisation that even if it is still wrong/appalling/impulsive/dangerous/unjustifiable etc you acknowledge and accept how events have shaped subsequent decisions and responses.
Clarke creares a whirlwind of emotions from jealousy, competitiveness, betrayal, deceit, desperation, love, anger and you find yourself caught up in it all, tossed about and left gasping for breath, because even when the wind dies down it is all too clear to see the devastation left in its tumultuous wake.
This is the sort of book that can have you sacrificing sleep as usual feverishly turn one page after another. Will your guesswork be correct? Are you being deliberately misled? Where will it all end?
Dive headfirst into Every Little Secret and swim against the tide. All is not as it seems and there are some huge waves looming!
January 30, 2022
Rating: 2.3/5
I was impressed by Sarah Clarke's debut novel, "A Mother Never Lies", so I made a note to make sure that I came back for her next book. Unfortunately, although there were aspects of "Every Little Secret" that I enjoyed, overall it didn't live up to the promise of the author's previous offering - perhaps a case of "Second Novel Syndrome"?
The writer's first first book was an accomplished family / domestic drama that put me very much in mind of Linda Green's work. The plot of "Every Little Secret" is also very family centric, but on this occasion Sarah Clarke has chosen to place greater emphasis on creating more of a psychological thriller. I enjoyed the early stages of the book. The set-up was good and there were a variety of potential avenues for plot development. I was intrigued to see which path would be taken and how events would unfold.
Sadly, I feel that the promise of these early chapters was squandered. As the story progressed, so I felt increasingly that the whole plotline and narrative deteriorated. The tone was too often melodramatic and developments were overly convenient or even contrived. In any piece of literary fiction the reader needs to grant the author some dramatic licence, but to be effective and maintain authenticity, this needs to remain within certain boundaries - and Sarah Clarke was guilty of crossing the line.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
I was impressed by Sarah Clarke's debut novel, "A Mother Never Lies", so I made a note to make sure that I came back for her next book. Unfortunately, although there were aspects of "Every Little Secret" that I enjoyed, overall it didn't live up to the promise of the author's previous offering - perhaps a case of "Second Novel Syndrome"?
The writer's first first book was an accomplished family / domestic drama that put me very much in mind of Linda Green's work. The plot of "Every Little Secret" is also very family centric, but on this occasion Sarah Clarke has chosen to place greater emphasis on creating more of a psychological thriller. I enjoyed the early stages of the book. The set-up was good and there were a variety of potential avenues for plot development. I was intrigued to see which path would be taken and how events would unfold.
Sadly, I feel that the promise of these early chapters was squandered. As the story progressed, so I felt increasingly that the whole plotline and narrative deteriorated. The tone was too often melodramatic and developments were overly convenient or even contrived. In any piece of literary fiction the reader needs to grant the author some dramatic licence, but to be effective and maintain authenticity, this needs to remain within certain boundaries - and Sarah Clarke was guilty of crossing the line.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 26, 2022
This was an interesting read that combined family saga and thriller genres. It raises the question of how far a mother will go to protect and hide what she knows about her child even if so doing puts others at risk.
I read this through my online Book Club Pigeonhole, and guessed way early who the main culprit was. Filled with for me unlikeable and weak characters I felt little sympathy for those enabling their abuse but this is a clever ploy by the author. Do we start deciding who is more wrong, more guilty, more worthy of blame when none are innocent? When little Kaia aged 7 accuses her father Marcus of hurting her, her mum Grace wrestles with who to believe? Marcus is for the most part a decent if somewhat simple man who idolises rugby. He does however have in his history incidents where he lost control and/or was nasty towards his own sisters. Add to this a head injury that put paid to his rugby career and the reader is left to decide whether he inflicts pain on his daughter. Josh, Grace's brother is a professor of psychology and writer of books on the subject, adored by Kaia and oh so clever. Does his involvement with Coco, Grace's best friend go deeper than Grace knows or did Coco have an indiscretion with Grace's own husband? Lastly, does Faith, mother to Josh and Grace, who I christened Hope-less know more about her children than she lets on. Overall enjoyable and a clever ending which redeemed the last part of the story somewhat for me. 4 stars
I read this through my online Book Club Pigeonhole, and guessed way early who the main culprit was. Filled with for me unlikeable and weak characters I felt little sympathy for those enabling their abuse but this is a clever ploy by the author. Do we start deciding who is more wrong, more guilty, more worthy of blame when none are innocent? When little Kaia aged 7 accuses her father Marcus of hurting her, her mum Grace wrestles with who to believe? Marcus is for the most part a decent if somewhat simple man who idolises rugby. He does however have in his history incidents where he lost control and/or was nasty towards his own sisters. Add to this a head injury that put paid to his rugby career and the reader is left to decide whether he inflicts pain on his daughter. Josh, Grace's brother is a professor of psychology and writer of books on the subject, adored by Kaia and oh so clever. Does his involvement with Coco, Grace's best friend go deeper than Grace knows or did Coco have an indiscretion with Grace's own husband? Lastly, does Faith, mother to Josh and Grace, who I christened Hope-less know more about her children than she lets on. Overall enjoyable and a clever ending which redeemed the last part of the story somewhat for me. 4 stars
January 31, 2022
I've never read anything from Clarke in the past, but I'm quite likely to pick up her books in the future! I didn't want to put this book down, as I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The characters are well-developed, realistic, and relatable, and the pace keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are numerous twists to keep the reader engaged and guessing. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
April 25, 2022
This was my first book by Sarah Clarke and I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I surely didn't expact that!
Well it starts off with a girl falling down a tree. She is daddy's girl but all of a sudden she comes up with odd claims and things start to get weired. Accusations all over that leave her mum Grace stunned and she does not know what to beleave or do since she and Marcus do have some things hidden in their pasts.
As I said: I didn't know where this would end but keept my attention for sure!
Thanks #Netgalley #HarperCollins UK Audio for the advanced Audio copy
Well it starts off with a girl falling down a tree. She is daddy's girl but all of a sudden she comes up with odd claims and things start to get weired. Accusations all over that leave her mum Grace stunned and she does not know what to beleave or do since she and Marcus do have some things hidden in their pasts.
As I said: I didn't know where this would end but keept my attention for sure!
Thanks #Netgalley #HarperCollins UK Audio for the advanced Audio copy
February 26, 2022
I enjoyed this book as the writing was very cleverly done. Lots of ambiguity and a trail of breadcrumb clues leading to first one, then another.
Some of the characters were a bit annoying, not listening, not believing, or not realising what was happening under their noses. But that is what makes a good plot.
Loved the cliff hanger ending, which surely means we will return to Coco's story?
Thanks to Pigeonhole and Sarah Clarke for an interesting read.
Some of the characters were a bit annoying, not listening, not believing, or not realising what was happening under their noses. But that is what makes a good plot.
Loved the cliff hanger ending, which surely means we will return to Coco's story?
Thanks to Pigeonhole and Sarah Clarke for an interesting read.
March 3, 2022
In the beginning I wasn't too sure whether this book was for me, but as I read on I became engrossed in the story and had to find out who was the person playing with people's minds.
A good story which jumped from past to present, which made it hard to remember which time frame you were in.
Thank you Sarah for an interesting read.
A good story which jumped from past to present, which made it hard to remember which time frame you were in.
Thank you Sarah for an interesting read.
March 2, 2022
This was a fast unexpected ride. Lots of twists and turns and full of suspense. I was engaged right from the very start and the ending has me hoping for a sequel. Read this at lightning speak because it was that good.
Thank you Netgalley for this arc
Thank you Netgalley for this arc
April 19, 2022
This one started out quite strong with realistic characters and a good storyline. However, I did find it started to lose my interest a little. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters with left my investment lacking. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
February 23, 2022
Great book..I love family drama and this had it all. Just pulls you in..a definite read.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book
September 18, 2022
Riveting thriller that twists and turns like a corkscrew!
This is the first book by Sarah Clarke that I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last! I was totally hooked to this book from the very first accusation, right through to the thrilling climax. It’s a fast-paced read, but it’s also an incredibly complex and finely detailed mystery too. Clarke is brilliant at layering secrets throughout the narrative, misdirecting the reader and gradually peeling the deceptions away to reveal the dark heart of this book. I genuinely felt the conflict and anguish that Grace felt in her situation. It’s easy to say that she should have automatically believed Kaia, but I completely sympathised with how difficult it must have been to accept that Marcus - the husband she knew and loved - was capable of doing what he was accused of. This immediately imbued the narrative with a heart wrenching tension that was so humanly relatable. I too was conflicted with what to believe, which made for a thrilling experience whilst reading. I spent a lot of time suspecting that Marcus was not all he seemed and could very much be guilty, but I also had moments where I sympathised with him and really felt how horrific it was for him to be vilified as he was. As more and more secrets were revealed and other stories explored, I enjoyed forming many different theories for what the truth might be.
I did eventually guess some of the final revelation, but that didn’t matter in the slightest, as the final portion of this novel was a heart-pounding, page-turning thrill race that was exhilarating to read! I cared less about who was guilty and more about being absorbed in the reason why and how the different strands of the narrative converged. In fact, this novel is a really fascinating exploration of guilt. All of the characters hold some level of guilt and I loved how Clarke wove this into the very fabric of the narrative, to pose thought-provoking questions and spark intrigue in all of the characters for the reader.
I really enjoyed how the novel was told from multiple perspectives and across a multitude of timelines. Despite moving around these from chapter to chapter, it was always easy to follow and was an incredibly clever and effective way to reveal the secrets at the heart of the story, but to also hold them back when required. I often ended a chapter wanting to immediately continue reading from that timeframe or character’s perspective, only for it to shift to another in the next chapter, where new layers of the plot either added to the suspense or helped to reveal a little more of the truth. This made it really hard to put Every Little Secret down and it is definitely the definition of a ‘just one more chapter’ read!
This is the first book by Sarah Clarke that I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last! I was totally hooked to this book from the very first accusation, right through to the thrilling climax. It’s a fast-paced read, but it’s also an incredibly complex and finely detailed mystery too. Clarke is brilliant at layering secrets throughout the narrative, misdirecting the reader and gradually peeling the deceptions away to reveal the dark heart of this book. I genuinely felt the conflict and anguish that Grace felt in her situation. It’s easy to say that she should have automatically believed Kaia, but I completely sympathised with how difficult it must have been to accept that Marcus - the husband she knew and loved - was capable of doing what he was accused of. This immediately imbued the narrative with a heart wrenching tension that was so humanly relatable. I too was conflicted with what to believe, which made for a thrilling experience whilst reading. I spent a lot of time suspecting that Marcus was not all he seemed and could very much be guilty, but I also had moments where I sympathised with him and really felt how horrific it was for him to be vilified as he was. As more and more secrets were revealed and other stories explored, I enjoyed forming many different theories for what the truth might be.
I did eventually guess some of the final revelation, but that didn’t matter in the slightest, as the final portion of this novel was a heart-pounding, page-turning thrill race that was exhilarating to read! I cared less about who was guilty and more about being absorbed in the reason why and how the different strands of the narrative converged. In fact, this novel is a really fascinating exploration of guilt. All of the characters hold some level of guilt and I loved how Clarke wove this into the very fabric of the narrative, to pose thought-provoking questions and spark intrigue in all of the characters for the reader.
I really enjoyed how the novel was told from multiple perspectives and across a multitude of timelines. Despite moving around these from chapter to chapter, it was always easy to follow and was an incredibly clever and effective way to reveal the secrets at the heart of the story, but to also hold them back when required. I often ended a chapter wanting to immediately continue reading from that timeframe or character’s perspective, only for it to shift to another in the next chapter, where new layers of the plot either added to the suspense or helped to reveal a little more of the truth. This made it really hard to put Every Little Secret down and it is definitely the definition of a ‘just one more chapter’ read!
March 1, 2022
Wow, wow and WOW!!
Grace seems to have it all, a great career as a writer, a handsome husband, Marcus, who is an ex professional rugby player and a beautiful 7-year-old daughter, Kaia. However, when Kaia starts acting strangely and then makes a disturbing revelation Grace’s seemingly perfect life starts to crumble and she is faced with a big decision, does she believe and protect her daughter despite the risk of her biggest secret coming out? Or should she trust her husband of 14 years? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Again WOW! I honestly can’t believe this is only the authors second book! After really enjoying her debut novel I was very keen to read her second and it did not disappoint at all. The story got going really quickly and that fast pace continued throughout the book. I have seen some reviews mention the story dragging but I didn’t feel this at all and thought the pace was just perfect. I also really liked the unreliable narrator as it really kept me guessing. I did figure out the twist before it happened but this, by no means, ruined the book for me. This is the first book in a long time that I was reading in tv show advert breaks because I just had to know what was happening and so therefore, I had no choice but to award it 5 stars!
Another stunner from Sarah Clarke and I wholeheartedly recommend it for any fans who love psychological thrillers, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Clarke and HQ publishing for my advanced reading copy. Due out 25th February 2022.
Grace seems to have it all, a great career as a writer, a handsome husband, Marcus, who is an ex professional rugby player and a beautiful 7-year-old daughter, Kaia. However, when Kaia starts acting strangely and then makes a disturbing revelation Grace’s seemingly perfect life starts to crumble and she is faced with a big decision, does she believe and protect her daughter despite the risk of her biggest secret coming out? Or should she trust her husband of 14 years? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Again WOW! I honestly can’t believe this is only the authors second book! After really enjoying her debut novel I was very keen to read her second and it did not disappoint at all. The story got going really quickly and that fast pace continued throughout the book. I have seen some reviews mention the story dragging but I didn’t feel this at all and thought the pace was just perfect. I also really liked the unreliable narrator as it really kept me guessing. I did figure out the twist before it happened but this, by no means, ruined the book for me. This is the first book in a long time that I was reading in tv show advert breaks because I just had to know what was happening and so therefore, I had no choice but to award it 5 stars!
Another stunner from Sarah Clarke and I wholeheartedly recommend it for any fans who love psychological thrillers, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Clarke and HQ publishing for my advanced reading copy. Due out 25th February 2022.
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