by Trisha Leaver
To be published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
on April 28, 2015
Source: ARC for review
Synopsis from Goodreads: Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world. When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.
My take: I really love twin books and books about impersonators and books about twins who impersonate one another. I've loved this trope since the original The Parent Trap and all those cheesy soaps I was watching instead of doing my homework, in which everyone seemed to have an evil twin.
So let's just say I've seen this plot a few times before. Perhaps as a result of all those twin switch books I've read, I've developed my preferences. While I liked The Secrets We Keep, I can't say I loved it. In my opinion, twin switch plots work better if they choose a lane: comic or creepy. This book was sort of ... neither. As the synopsis suggests, Maddy dies and Ella feels responsible for her death and, in a sort of strange twist, decides to pretend to be the dead sister out of guilt. Which also prevents her from facing her guilt. And that should make her feel even more guilty...
I think this book was trying to do too many things. It had to be a switching places book and a grief book and a guilty secrets book and a romance and then there was also a mystery thrown in -- not about Maddy's death, which I think could have improved the story, but about some shady stuff that Maddy had been up to before she died. For me, this prevented this book from being as suspenseful and/or emotional and/or romantic as it could have been. On the plus side, this story avoided messy love geometry, as can happen in these kind of life swapping stories.
If you love impersonator books, definitely give The Secrets We Keep a try, and you can also check out my review on Goodreads, which includes a list of twin/impersonation books I've read.
Be sure to stop by on Friday, because I'm giving away an ARC of this book!
This book sounds like it's afflicted with an ADDisorder. Probably not going to be an enjoyable one for me.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it felt that way. Others on Goodreads have enjoyed it, though.
DeleteI have never read a twin switch book before and it sounds interesting. I am going to checkout your list of others - Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou must read a twin switch book!!
DeleteThis is the first time I read about this book, and I love how it sounds. I've never read a book like this, so I think I'll enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your review, Jen!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts! I did see some positive reviews, so I hope you like it!
DeleteIt's not uninteresting, but as you yourself note, it's not exactly a novel concept. Personally, I'm not too big a fan of the idea, though I can't quite explain why. I suppose I'm having a hard time stomaching it. I'm not a twin, but I do have a little sister and we're close :) Sisterhood, from my experience, is sacred and I guess don't like it portrayed any other way. Which I guess make me a big weirdo, but there you have it. Another lovely review, Jen :)
ReplyDeleteI think the concept works better when it's for laughs, as in Parent Trap or those Olsen twin movies. Or maybe if Ella had been trying to solve Maddy's murder. I just didn't find her motives for the switch compelling enough.
DeleteI actually just finished this one too Jen. although I think this one worked for me way more than it did for you. I can see how you had a few issues with this one and I understand your qualms about this one being about a bit too much. I definitely see that but at the same time, it just worked for me. Great review Jen! I love reading about different opinions!
ReplyDeletelily@ Lilysbookblog
lol -- read your review yesterday. I'm glad it worked better for you, and I could see your point of view as well. I think because I've read so many of these books, I can't help but compare!
DeleteI like the concept of this book but if there's too many things happenings the book a trying to be and do it would put me of.. I am going to add this to my TRL and hopefully give it a try.
ReplyDeleteMegan @ http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.co.uk
Hope you enjoy it!
DeleteGreat review. I've had mixed feelings on reading this one. I'm not sold on the book yet, but I might give it a try if I get around to it.
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think!
DeleteI read this one back in December, while I do love the premise and the pretty cover - the plot bothered me a bit because it wasn't that creepy of what Maddy did, I expected something more shocking and creepy you know? Wonderful review overall. <3 Benish | Feminist Reflections
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree! I think it needed to be either more comic or way more creepy. There were moments in the book -- like when Maddy's boyfriend started moving in on Ella because he thought she was Maddy -- that had the potential to be creepier, but the book always backed off on that.
DeleteI haven't read a lot of twin impersonating books, but the things you brought up about this book makes me weary when I read a synopsis about the topic. It can either be awesome and explore so many things, or it can be terrible. I'm glad this book avoids the messy love geometry. I wonder how.
ReplyDeletelol -- see my comment above. It definitely avoided that, which I appreciated, but at the same time, pretending to be Maddy should have felt more ... dangerous!
DeleteThis book sounds a little bit messy, but I like the concept. I was also a huge fan of The Parent Trap, and I like the whole impersonation idea. I hope I have the time to read this one day!
ReplyDeleteI can't even count the times I've seen The Parent Trap, both the original and the LiLo remake!
DeleteGreat point about trying to do too many things, but I ended up connecting with her more so I liked a bit more
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed -- I saw reviews on Goodreads that agreed with you and some reviewers that felt more the way I did. So people should make up their own mind!
Deletebummer. I think you are so right though. Twins can go creepy or comically not really much in between. Sometimes when books try to fit everything in the story...romance, realistic fiction, mystery and so on it works and other times it doesn't. its a think line to walk.
ReplyDeleteThat was my issue. I wanted it to be a little edgier, scarier, more dangerous. It just never got there for me.
DeleteSounds too much like its all over the place for my liking. The cover is great though :)
ReplyDeleteI need to add it to my silhouette cover post!
DeleteI haven't had great luck with sister books so far. I usually connect to one and get annoyed by the other.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or are a lot of books suffering from "too many things" syndrome lately?
Karen @For What It's Worth
I think there's the temptation to keep throwing stuff in to make the book exciting, and then it ends up like a recipe with too many things in it!
DeleteOh, man, that's disappointing. I was ready to give this book a go, but if it's all over the place and doesn't focus on a central theme, then I'd be frustrated. I want something tighter and meaningful, than one that tries to do alot of things at the same time :/ Sadness.
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
Try it, or at least read a few more reviews!
DeleteAh, the premise sounds intriguing, but sometimes when books try to do too much, they end up failing at all of it. Sorry this wasn't a winner!
ReplyDeleteI agree -- I think this book had a bit of an identity crisis.
DeleteI completely agree with the comic or creepy part and I must say that I prefer creepy. I'm very picky when it comes to humor. Anyway, I don't think this would work for me, unfortunately. It sounds like a decent read, but I'd definitely want more.
ReplyDeleteI can go either way!
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