The Art of Keeping Secrets in Aussie Readers

Jun 28, 2016 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, net-galley, romantic-suspense, read-on-kindle, own-read, 2016-release, arc

For the past five years Flick, Emma and Neve had been best friends; meeting to chat about their reading once a month had been the beginning then gradually their friendship settled into a comfortable and well-oiled knowledge of each other. There was rarely a day go by when they didn’t speak or text one another – they knew each other’s families, dramas and foibles inside out.

Emma was a single mother after Max had left her for a younger woman; her son Caleb was friends with Neve’s son Will and Flic ...more

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Sep 15, 2016 Bree T rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, contemporary, australian, netgalley, issues, kindle-version, aww2016

Popular rural romance author Rachael Johns takes a couple more very brave steps outside of her familiar comfort zone with her second ‘life lit’ offering, The Art of Keeping Secrets. Focusing on a trio of women brought together by their sons starting a prestigious high school together some 5-6 years ago, Flick, Emma and Neve have developed a tight knit friendship where they probably thought they knew all of each others secrets. But as their sons get ready to graduate, each woman faces the possibi Popular rural romance author Rachael Johns takes a couple more very brave steps outside of her familiar comfort zone with her second ‘life lit’ offering, The Art of Keeping Secrets. Focusing on a trio of women brought together by their sons starting a prestigious high school together some 5-6 years ago, Flick, Emma and Neve have developed a tight knit friendship where they probably thought they knew all of each others secrets. But as their sons get ready to graduate, each woman faces the possibility of secrets that they’ve kept from each other and perhaps even themselves coming out and their lives as they know it drastically changing.

Flick has two children, a daughter about to be married and the son about to graduate. Both Emma and Neve are single mothers – Emma for only a short amount of time and Neve has raised her son entirely on her own. Both are envious of Flick’s seemingly perfect marriage to the wonderful Seb but if only they knew….. Although Seb is a fantastic husband and father, their marriage hides a secret that Flick has been prepared to cope with for the past twenty years. When she discovers (is blindsided) by the fact that Seb wants to take this secret much further, Flick is thrown savagely into a cesspit of horror, uncertainty and confusion. She knows she needs to make a decision about what she wants to do with her marriage and it’s not going to be easy. She fluctuates, because she loves Seb but she’s not sure she can get on board with what he needs to do. Flick’s through processes are brutally honest in the book – it’s confronting and ugly and uncomfortable but quite realistic as well. She has had her status quo rocked and her mind goes to some pretty dark places, even if it’s only briefly.

Neve’s son has expressed a desire to meet his father, who has never been in his life. Although Neve expected this day to come at some stage, for Neve it means admitting to her son that she lied to him. The two of them have always been close as it’s been just the two of them and Neve fears that what she has to confess will destroy their relationship, perhaps irreparably. Not only does Neve have to confess something to her son but she also needs to track down the former love of her life and admit something to him too, the thought of which makes her feel ill. Neve’s journey takes her to New York, with Flick and Emma tagging along for moral support and the chance to escape from their own situations.

Emma is now a struggling single mother of three as her former husband left her for a much younger woman and has somehow managed to manipulate the financial situation so that Emma is left without much support. He then lavishes expensive holidays and gifts on their children that Emma cannot compete with, leaving her fearing that the children will eventually prefer to live with their father in his McMansion. She’s also harbouring some crush-type feelings on her lovely, handsome boss that everyone thinks might possibly be gay as well as experiencing some crushing headaches that just don’t seem to go away. Emma is also reevaluating her friendship with Neve after some of Neve’s secrets were spilled and although Neve is trying to make things right, Emma’s situation means that it takes some time for her to be able to to accept that.

These three women are written with such honestly. I had a range of emotions whilst reading this book from cheering for them, wanting them to be my friends to disbelief, irritation and even horror at some of their thoughts and actions. It was impressively real and made their secrets all the more believable because their reactions to theirs and to their friends were so realistic. They had ugly moments, beautiful moments, strong moments, weak moments. All throughout however, that strong friendship was underpinning everything, holding the three of them together both individually and as a group, even when there was some discord. The friendship is written as the core of the book, the secrets are in a way, what serves to strengthen and showcase that friendship as each of them face something in their lives and move through it with the help, support and understanding of their friends. Even though there are some times where things don’t always go smoothly, the three women are always able to move on and be almost better for it. This is why I love Rachael Johns’ books so much, be they her rurals or her women’s/life lit because she captures emotion and human nature so well. I enjoyed the fact that at times I viewed their actions or thoughts negatively because it was brutally honest and reflected the sort of thoughts or reactions I myself might have had in the same situation……they were things that it would be hard to react positively or thoughtfully to straight off the bat and it’s human nature at times to react first and think later. I think we also all harbour those secret thoughts, ones that we might not admit to or be ashamed to admit to but they’re there nonetheless and so I can find them quite understandable given the situations!

This is the sort of book that I think it’s best to set aside a couple of hours/a whole afternoon or evening before you start it because once you do start, it’s hard to find a break in the story to put it down. Don’t start it late at night or you could end up being up all night! It’s not just a compelling story, it’s several compelling stories woven together into one big one. I do have to admit, it did leave me with a few curiosities at the end of the story, things I was pondering over and wondering about. I’m annoyingly addicted to closure though and knowing everything, so sometimes my nosiness backfires on me when it comes to reading!

Incredible writing and a great story. A must for old fans and should definitely attract some new ones. ...more

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Sep 01, 2016 Helen rated it it was amazing

This story had me riveted from start to finish three best friends Felicity (Flick), Emma and Genevieve (Neve) who met when their boys started high school 6 years before now share a special bond and will do anything for each other but all have their own secrets that they have kept but are now starting to unravel and this is where their friendship steps up and they take a trip to New York together and lives will change there will be tears there will be smiles but the love of these girls never fade ...more

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Sep 27, 2016 Tanya rated it it was amazing

You know those moments when you pick up a book and it is exactly what you need for that time in your life? The Art of Keeping Secrets was that book for me.

An entertaining book about the secrets we keep, and how they can grow with time. Even the little things we keep to ourselves can snowball into larger issues later in life.

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Jul 29, 2016 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars.

The Art of Keeping Secrets by Rachael Johns is a delightful novel that explores the bonds of friendship between three best friends.

Emma McLouglin is a divorced mom of three, Caleb and twin daughters Laura and Louise, who has been financially struggling ever since her marriage ended. Still hurt and bitter over her ex-husband leaving her for a woman half her age, she is exhausted from trying to juggling a full-time job with the demands of single parenthood. Moody and short-tempered, are 4.5 stars.

The Art of Keeping Secrets by Rachael Johns is a delightful novel that explores the bonds of friendship between three best friends.

Emma McLouglin is a divorced mom of three, Caleb and twin daughters Laura and Louise, who has been financially struggling ever since her marriage ended. Still hurt and bitter over her ex-husband leaving her for a woman half her age, she is exhausted from trying to juggling a full-time job with the demands of single parenthood. Moody and short-tempered, are Emma's sudden health issues stress-induced or are they a symptom of something much more serious?

Single mum Genevieve "Neve" Taylor is extremely close to her seventeen year old son, Will, but she is not expecting his sudden questions about his (never in the picture) father. She is dismayed to discover he has been already begun searching for him and she panics when she realizes he is not going to be dissuaded from finding him. Suddenly questioning a long ago decision, Neve is terrified how Will is going to react once she confesses the truth about a long held, closely-guarded secret about his dad.

Felicity "Flick" Bell's seemingly perfect marriage is the envy of her friends and her husband Seb is well liked by both Neve and Emma. More than just husband and wife, she and Seb are best friends who share everything with each other. However, cracks begin to appear in their marriage when Seb makes a shocking announcement that could shatter their happy family. Betrayed and hurt, Flick is uncertain about whether or not she can live with Seb's sudden decision and she is forced to rethink everything she knows about the man she loves.

With the chapters alternating between each of the women's perspectives, readers are privy to their innermost thoughts as they try to worth through their individual problems. Although quite close, they have not confessed their darkest secrets to each other but when they are forced to confront these issues, they naturally turn to one another for support. Neve's disclosure is quite shocking and while Flick is understanding, Emma's reactions surprises her friends. Flick's revelation is explosive and although both Neve and Emma are absolutely stunned, they are supportive but they also express concern over their friend's decision. While Emma has tried to keep an issue with her health to herself, both Flick and Neve have been concerned about her for quite some time and when they make an impromptu trip to New York, they are even more worried. With each of the women facing life-altering issues, their rock-solid friendship is occasionally tested yet ultimately strengthened as they help one another through unexpected crises.

An engaging story with a realistic plot, multi-layered characters and compelling secrets, The Art of Keeping Secrets is an emotional novel that is quite captivating. While mostly focusing on Neve, Emma and Flick's secrets, there is also the tiniest hint of a romantic element that is quite understated. This latest release from Rachael Johns is a beautiful story of friendship that is sure to resonate with readers of contemporary women's fiction. ...more

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Nov 05, 2016 Nicola Marsh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: chicklit, women-s-fiction, aussie-authors, commercial-fiction

Started this in the afternoon, just finished it, only stopping to cook the kids dinner.

I just HAD to keep reading to discover how Flick, Emma and Neve's 'secrets' would play out.

One of those lovely books to curl up with on a relaxing day.

Thoroughly enjoyed! ...more

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