The Secret Between Us
by Barbara Delinsky
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Book Reviews of The Secret Between Us
Book Review: "Expectations are a powerful motivational tool"
Summary: 4 Stars
The Secret Between Us, a novel by Barbara Delinsky, defines "a fast read." The writing is clearly the effort of a pro and flows from page to page with lots of dialog and little description or prolonged prose. The storytelling is first rate. I was riveted.
The main character, a woman named Deborah, is likeable and believable. She's a divorced mother of two, a small-town doctor. In the opening pages, she and her daughter, Grace, have a terrible accident, when their car hits a pedestrian on a dark, rainy night. The story unfolds from there, when Deborah takes the blame, even though her 15-year-old daughter was behind the wheel. Throughout the police report/investigation, this is the "secret" between them and it causes a myriad of complications. Probably the strongest message coming from these pages is about parent and child relationships, and how expectations can both help and hinder. It certainly made me think about my relevant relationships.
Deborah's sister, Jill, an independent bakery owner and somewhat of family "black sheep," is likeable too. As for most of the other characters, I'm afraid I found them not only unlikable, but also contrived. The selfish ex-husband; the patriarchal--even cruel--father; the loopy, grieving widow; the kind-hearted chief of police; the philandering high-powered attorney and his pathetic wife/best friend of the protagonist; the brother of the accident victim, Tom McKenna, walking the tightrope between both sides of the issue; the accident victim himself, Grace's history teacher at the local high school; the visually impaired younger brother; and especially the teenaged daughter, Grace, all seemed to me like paper cutout dolls, with unsurprising words and actions.
All these characters notwithstanding, the story was compelling, truly outlining how a seemingly normal life can change in an instant. Overall I'd say it was worth the read, reminding me of authors like Anita Shreve and Jodi Picoult.
Michele Cozzens, Author of It's Not Your Mother's Bridge Club.
Book Review: Secrets are good or bad
Summary: 5 Stars
The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinksy is truthfully painful. A good novel but with so much guilt that you really start to feel like it's you in the story. It's a can't put down book til the end so that you can see if things come out for better or worse.
Deborah Monroe is mom, daughter, sister, ex-wife, and prominent town doctor to a quiet little town in New England. Highly respected and loved, independent, honest to a fault has her life upturned by one little incident. Oh, is it little or bigger than she thinks.
Grace Monroe is a loving, athletic, brilliant, devoted teen who knows right from wrong but the one little unfortunate incident throws her into such an emotional turmoil that you sit and wonder how your own child would react to the same thing happening to her. The entire town knows this teen as truthfully honest and reliable almost to perfection which sets Grace up for emotional pain that is unimaginable.
The story brings into question what lengths we would go to as a parent in order to protect our children. It also questions our ability to handle one crisis following another as an adult especially in a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone. Can secrets truly be hidden in such a small community. Will one little deception tear a family apart not only from themselves but from all prying eyes. Can one selfish person willing cause so much emotional pain and break the trust that has been here for generations. So many questions with too few answers.
The author is brilliant with the actual storyline. With living in Massachusetts myself I can actually visualize all the areas that the author takes us to. Even though this is fiction it could also be someone's real life story. It's something we say can't possibly happen to us but in all reality, "It only takes one time", and it could very well come to pass.
Book Review: Well written... loved it!
Summary: 4 Stars
Like reviewer Ann Mcpherson, I am a Delinsky fan. I have read her for many years and she doesn't disappoint me. She always leaves you thinking of her characters long after you've closed the book.
I thought this novel had a little bit of everything. Great discussion book. Lots of emotion - the scenario a young girl and her mother arguing while driving in the rain, and how in a split second something tragic can happen to change everyone's lives. The characters are likeable and believable, the accident one we can picture easily happening to anyone. The side stories contributed a lot to the enjoyment of the read: the boy with the eye disease/his feelings about playing baseball/his relationship with his dad and grandfather. I enjoyed the sister of the main character with her bakery venture, her choice for single parent pregnancy, and the small town scenario of everyone knowing everyone. The police chief being in the job forever makes the ending plausible, although doubtful in big city real-life.
The only reason I rate this a 4 instead of 5 is because there was one area that I found far-fetched, and that was about the victim in the accident, how he happened to be where he was at the time of the accident. Without giving anything away, I guess Delinsky needed to go that way to give us a satisfactory ending, and she did wrap it up nicely. I also felt it would have added a lot more to the novel to have a bit more character development about the victim and his family. Suffice it to say it didn't make me enjoy the book any less.
If you are in a book club, this is an excellent choice, as there is much to discuss. One thing to address if you are in a club:
1) Would you cover for your child if this happened to you in this way?
2) Is the teen driver here typical of young-girl-driver's today (guilt or relief)?
Book Review: realistic powerful family drama
Summary: 4 Stars
While driving home in a heavy rain Dr. Deborah Monroe and her sixteen year old daughter Grace are arguing. Visibility is extremely poor when suddenly on a remote stretch they hit history teacher Cal McKenna. Deborah calls 911 and sends Grace home to be with her younger brother Dylan. Leyland Police Chief John Colby asks Deborah what happened, but she fails to correct his assumption as to who was driving. Grace feels guilt as she had two beers before driving the car that hit Cal.
Grace feels ill so she comes home from school. Deborah goes alone to the police station to fill out a report. Not long afterward, Cal dies from a cerebral hemorrhage. Deborah is shocked as she saw no indication and the hospital tests likewise saw nothing. Grace fears her mom will go jail for her killing her teacher. Deborah's former husband Greg calls informing her that Dylan told him when she should have told him. Meanwhile guilt eats at Grace who cuts off her friends and is doing poor at school and track, but everyone gives her a break that she does not want. At home Deborah and the kids are not communicating; not only do they have legal issues, they face the trauma of feeling alone and guilt laden.
This is a strong cast in which every one of the major players has differing personalities to include Grace's sister and dad and Cal's brother Tom. By not rushing Tom and Deborah into a romance, the story line turns into a realistic powerful family drama. Except for a late spin that will divide fans pro and con, Barbara Delinsky writes a deep tale in which a mom's good intention turns into a damaging secret destroying her daughter and her.
Harriet Klausner
Book Review: Many lessons learned and much healing done
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a huge fan of Delinsky and buy her books without reading any reviews. This one didn't disappointment me---but I'm quite surprised by some of the other reviews. To me, this book had so much impact and depth. I loved it.
There are the issues of teens drinking and driving, the overwhelming issue of a parent trying to protect or perhaps over-protect her child, the trauma of divorce on the entire family, the guilt over your life's decisions, the keeping of secrets, the telling of lies that affect everyone you love,painful loss of a loved one, expectations that aren't fulfilled. The list goes on and on. There is so much in this story that it's at times painful to digest.
Deborah regrets her divorce and what it did to her family. But she lies by omission causing more pain and trauma to her children. There's also the piece that shows a softening of the relationship with everyone she loves--including the ex-husband. And then there's the promise of a new love in the future----perhaps she learned from her past mistakes.
How can you not love the story? Perhaps the writing isn't done in the depth of other writers but the story has a huge impact on life and all its issues of living. I couldn't put it down, lost some sleep and pushed work aside to finish this book. To me, that's the kind of book that gets a "5 star" rating.