I look into baby Fern’s crib, and my heart pounds. I’m her nanny, I was supposed to keep her safe. I hear the police downstairs, and the next words I hear make my legs buckle underneath me. ‘It was the nanny. She’s guilty’.
When I first walked into Jake and Megan ’s immaculate home, I felt totally at ease. Sitting in the crisp white living room, they held hands and talked lovingly about their baby girl, Fern .
As the weeks passed, I began to think I’d made a mistake in taking the job. Jake was overly friendly from the start, watching my every move and always offering to drop me home, even though it was out of his way. And Megan seemed to take pleasure in telling me off in front of her husband, blaming me for things I hadn’t done.
The first time I heard the Haringtons arguing behind the door to their bedroom, I heard my name mentioned, and then they went silent. I should have left right there and then.
Now, as I stand accused of something terrible, my whole past is revealed and the Haringtons admit to knowing every detail about why I was sacked from my last job. We all have secrets, but little do they realise, I know theirs too…
With twist after twist, this is perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train . A gripping thriller you don’t want to miss!
Hi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs 𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡… MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married? Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers? The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare… The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter… My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone… The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT. The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have. The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect. After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do? Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable? Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity … The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together? Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places … Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep. Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package. A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.
Ellie is 21 and works at a store that Jake owns. He and the wife are in a bind and he asks if she can babysit one night, which turns into a full time nanny position. She's hurting for money, so she jumps at the opportunity.
Jake's wife, Megan, is not too thrilled with the new nanny and comes off as a bad parent and all around mean person. But is that just how Ellie is seeing her, or will we learn something different when it switches to Megan's POV? Hmm...
Something I found funny ~ at the first meeting Megan tells Ellie not to touch her stuff and she will know if she did. Well, Ellie decides to wash her hair. Umm, who washes their hair in someone else's home that you're supposed to be babysitting in? Like she won't know when you just hang the wet towel. Maybe I could see it if the baby threw up on her, but nope she just had greasy hair.
There is a bit of repetition with the multiple POV's. And too much with Ellie hinting to us about something over and over in her past and taking ages to tell us. Overall, I enjoyed this one well enough, and I liked the twist, but hated the ending.
Narration notes: This is my 3rd book in a row that Tamsin narrated. I do feel her voice was a little older sounding for this character. And it was going along fine until we get Jake's 1st person POV and then Megan's 1st POV and she didn't alter her voice at all.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Domestic suspense author Sheryl Browne explores dysfunctional relationships, specifically, the damage of deception and relationship betrayal. She shows readers how it’s possible for secrets and lies, even single untruths, to jeopardize trust and lead to co-dependent relationships.
Megan and Jake Harrington hire 21-year-old Ellie Taylor to care for their six-year-old boy, Ollie, and three-month-old baby, Fern after their au pair leaves them stranded. It’s all going well…until it isn’t. Ellie has no idea, no understanding of the depth and the width of what she has become part of, and has no idea how to stop it once she realizes it. From the beginning, every one of Browne’s characters is deceptive and it’s up to the reader to wade through the ambiguity, half-truths, manipulation, secrets, and lies to figure out the truth.
I loved the multiple POVs and was immediately hooked by the prologue. When the plot took a sinister twist and I didn’t approve of a character’s actions, it was the spectacular writing and plotting that kept me interested. I loved seeing things from different points of view and laughed each time I realized I was pointing fingers at the wrong ‘suspect’. Clever. Browne uses the metaphor, ‘the snowball effect,’ to show readers the damage that a single untruth holds when it gains momentum, and grows in significance and intensity, resulting in a big impact.
Browne’s examination of toxic relationships will leave you gobsmacked.
I look into Fern's crib, and my heart pounds. I'm her nanny. I was supposed to keep her safe. I hear the police downstairs, and the next words I hear make my legs buckle underneath me. "It was the nanny. She's guilty." When I first walked into Jake and Megan's home, I felt totally at ease. Sitting in the crisp white living room, they held hands and talked lovingly about their baby daughter, Fern. As the weeks passed, I began to think I'd made a mistake in taking the job. Jake was over friendly from the start, watching my every move and always offering to drop me home, even though it was out of his way. And Megan seemed to take pleasure in telling me off in front of her husband, blaming me for things I hadn't done.
This story is told from multiple points of view. Jake and Megan both have busy lives. They hire Ellie to look after their son Ollie and their baby girl, Fern. This is an addictive and gripping read. I was hooked by the prologue, and I couldn't put the book back down again. We get twist after twist. There are hidden secrets, sinister tones, and I loved the twist at the end. Sheryl knows how to weave a suspenseful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SherylBrowne for my ARC of #WeAllKeepSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
14th book by this author for me ( can hardly believe its 14 as remember Book 1 as was one of the first books reviewed ) and this time, as the title suggests, we have a book about secrets As always though with the author it’s not just a basic look at a subject but an in depth multi layered character driven story Without giving much away this is about a marriage, a sibling and someone who enters the marriage as a worker unaware of what they are getting into, although its made quickly apparent….. Loved ( of course ) the reference to a P/T cruiser car 😎 A not so much quick moving as evolving storyline that got the reader to see more and more of these characters as the book went on, a court case and a sharp last line making it a very good interesting read
We All Keep Secrets by Sheryl Browne is a 368-page psychological thriller that is due to be published on November 6, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Tamsin Kennard and spans 9 hours and 34 minutes. Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
Megan and Jake Harrington bring Ellie Taylor, a 21-year-old, into their home to care for their six-year-old son, Ollie, and their three-month-old baby, Fern, following the sudden departure of their previous au pair. Initially, all appears well, but what initially seemed like a dream job takes a nightmarish twist, and reality becomes a far cry from what it might have been.
My Thoughts
"We All Keep Secrets" by Sheryl Browne left me with mixed feelings. The initial prologue had me intrigued, but the story lost its momentum as I delved deeper. The first half is primarily told through the eyes of Ellie, a character who repeatedly makes questionable decisions, which can be frustrating. It's hard to believe she wouldn't have quit early on based on how she was treated, derailing the entire plot.
The characters in the book are generally unlikable or detestable, making it challenging to invest emotionally. I found myself unconcerned with any potential consequences for them which is unsatisfying. The only real exceptions were the two kids, Ollie and Fern, who deserved better.
The second half of the book retells the first half but from different perspectives, often repeating the same dialogue. While this provided some new insights, it felt very repetitive and didn't add much to my overall enjoyment.
The book's ending fell flat for me, as I was hoping for a grand twist that never materialized. The epilogue left me similarly frustrated.
On a positive note, the audio version of the book features a skilled narrator with a pleasant voice. Her performance aptly captured Ellie's innocence and Meghan's bitterness and spitefulness.
Recommendation
I might be an outlier in my opinion, as many others seem to have enjoyed the book. Sometimes a particular story simply doesn't resonate with a reader so your mileage may vary but this just wasn’t a hit for me.
Secrets, lies, and deception prove to be deadly in this twisted domestic thriller. Murder, suspicion, and paranoia saturate the lives of the toxic coupling of Megan and Jake. Ellie, the new nanny, is quickly pulled into their world of quiet accusations and betrayal. Who is unstable and who is telling the truth? The lines of reality are blurred and the role of victim and villain are interchangeable depending on whose truth is real. This whodunnit definitely kept me on my toes as I attempted to decipher fact from fiction. I was gripped from start to finish. The narration expertly brought the characters to life while adding a sense of foreboding and intrigue. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
This is a high quality gripping listen with a trusted narrator who always brings the characters to life.They are filled with emotion. The prologue is so intriguing to listen to it starts the questions and hooks you in for one hell of a ride. The story is told from the points of views of ellie the child nibder and her employers fern and Jake. I loved the way this wasn't true for so long it was just ellie and rhen ot was fern. This gave real depth to tge cgaracters as it was their voice and character . The mystery and secrets and lies were drip fed in all pov and i found myself so engrissed time just slipped away as the plot intensified. I found that on their own each pov lead the story in different directions but together they made a well rounded story full of teists and tirns. The final reveal was so spot on it mase me smile and the narrator clearly showed the arc of the story and the true natured of hiw secrets are very complexed. You startiff with a childminder with a sexret pass then a disfunctional marriage bit end up with a compelling secret. Which although one character in the eyes of the law csn e guilty of you know there is more guilt from other characters I can't recommend this enough its a solid 4 star listen . Thank you netgallery and publisher and narrator
Oh my frigging soon good!!! This book holy... it's hard to explain in words that give it justice just how great this book was The story that weaves and pulls a big huge punch is so riveting. Sheryl Browne is such an amazing story teller. I think this has been one of my favorite books from her and that's saying alot as all her books are great Perfectly pulled off
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
The narration on this book was very easy to listen to and get captivated by! Even though it’s a sole female narrator, she was still able to fully encompass multiple characters expertly! The story seemed a little similar to some others I’ve read but I was still interested and guessing throughout the book. I really needed to know what the cause was for the dynamic between the husband and wife and how the nanny’s involvement would come into play! If you like mysteries and thrillers, try this one out!
Ellie has been trying to work as much as she can because she needs a new water heater in her bed sit. This is what she was doing when she got the notice of her boss Jake who was in desperate need of a nanny for him and his busy wife Megan. Ellie was so impressed with their beautiful house made of glass but not so impressed by Megan and how she totally disrespected her husband but when Jake asked if she would like to be their nanny full-time she agrees. Unlike Megan Jacob is so kind to Ellie So she really gets upset the more she is around in the more she sees how Megan avoid her children and totally puts down Jacob who seems to be downtrodden but goes out of his way to tend to the needs of Little Ollie and baby Fern, Who Ellie is also starting to care for especially when she thinks about the haunting memories of her brother Theo and the “thing“ that happened to him. The house is in a frenzy because they’re having a big to do for the award winning artist, who it Megan seems to be over the moon about but before that happens there will be a personal tragedy for Ellie. It will also be the beginning of the end! This book is toll from three different POV‘s and I loved it I love the narrator I loved the innocent way she portrayed Ellie and the classy but bitchy way she portrayed Megan I think she is a stellar narrator whenever I see the Tamsen canard is the narrator you know it will probably be a great thriller end it definitely was a Sheryl Browne has written a twisty surprising read in one I definitely recommend. I want to thank Bookoucher audio and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes I am blind.
I seem to be in the minority here because this book has gotten a ton of great reviews, but I just did not enjoy it. The first half is told from Ellie’s point of view, but about halfway through it alternates between Jake and Megan. Because of this, I found much of it to be repetitive and… boring. I also didn’t connect or relate to any of the characters and found myself not really caring about what happened to them. It was a struggle to get to the end but I didn’t want to quit without finding out the twist. I don’t think I’ll be reading other books by this author.
The queen of prologues did it again. From this chapter, I knew I was going to need to strap in for a twisty ride and my first impression was right. Buckle up!
I couldn’t put down, ‘We All Keep Secrets.’ As soon as Ellie walked into Jake and Megan’s home, I felt the tension between all the characters. Megan’s immediate hostility had me flicking through the pages wondering why she’d reacted that way.
The secrets wowed me and the heartbreak was powerful too. Every character in this book had something to hide as the title suggests. Just when I thought I had it figured out, my theory was turned on its head. I loved how Sheryl treated us to both Megan’s and Ellie’s POVs in abundance. There are two sides to every story and I got to see both. Then Jake’s chapters came along, like little tantalising nuggets and I was like… hello. Then there was even more insight.
If you’re looking for an engaging, addictive, and brilliant psychological thrill ride, this is the one for you!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Oh, this book gave a little ''the housemaid'' vibes at first. I loved the writing style of this author, then, came a few POV changes, and sometimes it felt a bit repetitive. But it was an interesting read, even if I felt sad for Ellie at the end.
We all keep secrets...do we? Except in Jake and Megan's case they really didn't. They shouted them from the rooftops in a bid to outwit the other. This entire domestic debacle is a shouting match from start to finish. I don't know who's worse as they are both as bad as each other. And Ellie? She's a deluded fool. There were warning bells and red flags flashing all about that house and still she stayed. I would have run a mile.
It is hard to like any of the handful of characters in this very messy tale. Because none of them are likeable. And none of them are completely believable either. So who is telling the biggest whoppers of them all?
And then there are the children. Six year old Ollie and three month olf Fern, who becomes a tragic victim at the centre of this nightmare. Both who completely deserved better. And still Jake and Megan scream at other. In front of their children, in front of Ellie, in front of dinner guests. Have they no shame?
It's clear the marriage is in tatters and it's beyond me why either of them stayed. And yet it's a secret that keeps them bound to each other. That and the kids. But really? And was it all worth it? For one of them, probably; for the other, definitely not. The entire book was a cat and mouse game between them that I just wanted to bang their heads together and couldn't wait to escape their presence altogether. The pair of them were clearly toxic.
The first half of the book is told from unsuspecting Ellie's perspective before we move into the second half which alternates between Jake and Megan's inflammatory narratives, most of which retells the first half but from their perspective. And then we get a different insight into what was actually happening when Ellie opened the door to find Jake there or when she was walking down the stairs as Megan came storming in. While it did provide a few insights it wasn't all that enlightening because it was clear they were both nutters anyway.
And then there was the ending. I was disappointed in that and unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. I was hoping for a twist that was bound to shock or surprise (as Sheryl has been known to do) but none materialised and the epilogue simply left me frustrated and unsatisifed. I mean, what? After the build up and that's what happened?
The writing was skillful and it was was well-plotted. I just didn't warm to any of the characters and was left disappointed for an ending I stuck around for expecting better. Not a bad read but not one of her best either. But never fear...Sheryl is a skilled writer with a fantabulous library of thrillers under her belt so I know that while I may not enjoy every book, her next one will probably leave me breathless.
I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WeAllKeepSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
this Author is one of my favorites'. You know. That it is going to be addictive from the first page and this story definitely was gripping addictive and so twisty once you start you won't want to stop. Ellie is living day to day she lives in a grotty bedsit. She works. For Jake Harrington in his computer company. He has never noticed her until one day. until she tells him she worked as a nursery nurse before this job Jake needs a babysitter and she says yes Jake and his wife Meg have a son and a baby girl Meg is cold to Ellie. but Ellie gets taken in by the fancy house. Her boyfriend Zach warns her to be careful as the Nanny disappeared. I not going to say anymore but it is so good. what is each character hiding and what will they do to have what they want?
I have to say I really enjoyed the first half of the book but the second half went downhill for me as I felt like I was reading the book again as the story was told again from the perspective of each character so had to skip a lot of the pages. The characters were good but the end could have been better I did feel a bit let down by the second half of the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC
Jake and Megan both live busy lives, running their own businesses, and hire Ellie as their babysitter. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, it’s a toxic environment full of tit for tat arguments. As Ellie spends more time with the bickering couple, she starts to wonder what secrets are in their closet…
Told from multiple points of view, this psychological thriller is like a tennis match, keeping you going back and forth between who is the good guy, and who is the bad guy. There’s never just one side to a story, after all!
If you enjoyed Freida McFadden’s “The Housemaid”, you’ll definitely enjoy this book as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of We All Keep Secrets by Sheryl Browne. This domestic thriller was quite entertaining. I t was based on a lot of secrets and lies amongst the characters of the story. This jeopardized all of the relationships. The story is told my various points of view of the main characters. This leads to some interesting insights. There were many twists along the way. I would recommend this book to others and I gave it a 4 star rating.
4.5 stars I've read a few books by this author, and this was by far the best one! It was a twisty cat and mouse suspense that was told from the three main character perspectives. I flipflopped numerous times as to who was the antagonist and who was believable.
Betrayal, lies, unreliable narrators...it was a super fun thriller. There were no likable characters, but being a fly on the wall of this dysfunctional bunch was entertaining. I will warn that there is a main theme of child abuse/murder, so this may not be a book for everyone.
When Elly, a young woman working at Jake's computer store, is asked to nanny his two kids after his last nanny abruptly left, she ends up in the middle of war of the roses. Jake and his wealthy wife are constantly at each other's throats. However, Elly has a few of her own secrets, too. Why did their former nanny leave? How did their baby die? And why do they continue to stay together? These are but some of the underlying questions that had me glued to the audiobook.
The narrators gave a colorful performance that brought the story to life. They made this book an engaging listen.
A gracious thank you to #NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Audiobook. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me have this advanced copy.
And happy publication day!!!
For my review, I had so many thoughts, I started logging them. Please enjoy lol
21% Ellie is an absolute idiot. I dislike her immensely. I get that she's 21 and as such, doesn't see the dime-a-dozen quality and alarm bells emanating off of Jake. But she's killing any sympathy I may have for her.
Oh now the talking cheese is gonna preach to us about alcohol.
Ma'am, your love life is none of Jake's business. Also when a man who is also your employer insists on talking to you about your private personal history, you don't do that. That's inappropriate. He's also not a gReAt HuSbAnD.
Oh wow, he's saying to be nice to Megan 🥺 what a hero.
Unless I'm dense, which is possible, it's clear he had a prior affair with Phoebe and Ellie is just an idiot.
Also if I hired a nanny who was drooling after my husband and showering in my shower and using my towel and trying to pretend she wasn't AND THEN USED MY MAKEUP WITH HER CRUSTY ASS, I would be such a crazy threat to her, OSHA would have to fine me for an unsafe work environment.
29% Something is happening. Idk what. Idk who. Idk how. But it is. And I'm gettin' tired of it. More tired of Ellie thinking the sun shines out of Jake's butt and that the hope diamond must be in his possession somehow. Megan may be... prickly but also YOU USED HER MAKEUP AND HER TOWEL AND THINK YOU KNOW HER CHILDREN BETTER THAN HER. Let me catch you acting like my child's mommy and DYING YOUR HAIR TO LOOK LIKE ME???
I know there's a prologue saying that something happens and Ellie (presumably) is on trial for child murder but I would also like to add the (lesser) offense of being a fucking weirdo to her charges, please. Thank you.
46% Ellie is so close to having self-awareness. So close. "Wah Megan is mean to me! Well...I did fuck her husband...BUT SHE'S MEAN!!!"
I'm so done. I hope they explain why Megan let her stay for so long when she clearly wants to fire her. Also, I didn't like him at first but justice for Zack. He was spot-on every single time. Jake hit it and seems like he's gonna quit it. Also the secondhand embarrassment i get from all of Ellie's interactions with Jake, post-sex. Also her "well, he HAS to tell his wife about us." Oh honey. They never do.
55% WOW JAKE IS TRASH. TEAM MEGAN.
67% Is Jake "poisoning" Megan? If he was, is it to keep her sane or is it nefarious? I kinda feel like she is maybe a little paranoid that he's trying to get her to kill herself but idk. It's possible. I don't wanna say that that's not what's happening but also if seems a little farfetched. Which may be enabling him to do it. It's also a thriller novel and thriller novel killers don't always follow logic or what seems immediately possible.
69% Megan is me. I am Megan. Her "ELLIE OPEN YOUR EYES", I felt that in my soul.
90% Oof.
I FUCKING KNEW MEGAN WAS THE BREADWINNER. Stupid Ellie being like "weh weh weh, she just spends his money..."
94% Megan is about to die, be implicated and/or be accused by Ellie.
95% Welp. There it is. Jake is either a sociopath or idk wtf but wow. Okayyyy. Megan describes Phoebe's lips as kissable. Okay so Megan killed Phoebe. She might actually be a little insane.
96% Jesus Christ. She wasn't fucking Michael. Jake is the worst but maybe not a killer? "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." Okay, Jake.
99% God, I hate Ellie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Since the name of this book is "We All Keep Secrets" I will honor the title and try to keep this spoiler free. But there is no secret here, this book was 50% too long. The story was building intrigue with Ellie working for the most messed up couple via Nick and Whats Her name in Gone Girl. They only tolerated each other and seemed to be only in the marriage because of some secret that held them together. Ellie, while totally frustrating niggled her way into their home as a child carer for a 6 year old. boy and infant girl. Hubby had a past with hiring young eye candy, red flag number one, so Megan treats Ellie terribly. But Ellie is not winning any brownie points because she does things like, "I walked past the master bedroom and saw her makeup bag open so I used some of her make up.." On the first time alone in the home she TAKES A SHOWER AND USES THE TOWELS. Like what? Who does that....she even makes comments like, I know I should do this but.....Yeah Ellie, you shouldn't. So unlike (I cannot believe I am about to say something positive abut McFadden, but here we go....) in the Housemaid I felt no sympathy for Ellie because she was just so dumb. Sleeping with the boss thinking he actually loved her, yet he saw how pitiful his marriage was? She was always snooping and using Megans stuff, Im sorry I was just so frustrated with her. But I plowed on because I really wanted to know what was behind the stupid closet door and what the big secret was between the married couple. Well enter boring land. Browne used the all too familiar troupe of retelling the eXACTT SAME STORY from Megan and Husband's POV. Like almost WORD for WORD, with very little new insight. I was so mad/bored and frustrated. I suggest reading the first 1/2 then totally skipping over the last part until you get to about 90% when new information is released.
The new information that was released was so obvious that you probably could get the way the cookie crumbles. It must have been a vegan gluten free dairy free cookie because those crumbs wern't so good. The ending was pretty unsatisfying..... Hoping my next cookie is a nestle chocolate chip cookie with all the real stuff!
Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy listen of "We All Keep Secrets" I was not paid or influenced in exchange for this honest review.
Another impressive ‘can’t put down’ novel by Sheryl Browne, which grabs you by the throat with the prologue and grips you tight all the way through to the final explosive scene. I love how the story is told in multiple viewpoints with the three main characters, Ellie, Jake and Megan so brilliantly drawn that I found myself sympathising with all of them in turn. Twist followed twist and I found it intriguing to see the same scene from both Jake and Megan’s POV. As always, the story is well-researched and the twist completely unexpected. An absolute must-read.
Megan and Jake Harrington hire 21-year-old Ellie Taylor to care for their six-year-old son, Ollie, and three-month-old daughter, Fern after their au pair leaves them stranded. Megan seems to be suspicious of Ellie from the get go, apparently as there were issues with the au pair that left. Jake, on the other hand, trusts Ellie and tries to smooth over any issues with his wife. Ellie has no idea what she has become part of. It seems that everyone has secrets, and motives that we learn about as this book unfolds. From the beginning, we know something has happened to the baby, but who did what?
Wow, this was quite a twisty story, that left me not knowing who was telling the truth and what secrets did they all have. The story is told from 3 POVs and everyone has a different story. They are all keeping secrets, all see things from a different perspective and are manipulative. I don't know who to believe. There was a bit of repetition due to the different POVs, but it gave me a fuller picture of what is happening, even though it also kept me guessing. There were actions in the book that I was not happy with, but Browne's writing kept me gripped. This is a multi-layered story, one that kept me guessing every time new information was revealed. This is a book about toxic relationships, self-centered people, lying, adultery and more. One that kept me listening long after I should have been doing something else. The narration by Tamsin Kennard was okay, but I found all her voices sounded similar. She did use tone and expression to add that tense feeling, but I would have liked if the three main characters had individual voices.
This story is narrated by Ellie for the first half of the book and by her employers the second half of the book. While I felt it started out strong, it lost momentum for me. It is definitely a domestic type thriller, but the character development didn’t quite make the mark for me. I was really invested at first, but Ellie and her boss get together way too quickly and without any chemistry build up at all. Also, even in the book summary the death of baby Fern is mentioned , but it is so incredibly anticlimactic in the book that nobody even seems upset that it happened. The way it was presented was just so odd to me.
Lastly, the multiple points of view were just repeating the story you already heard from Ellie, but just coming out of the other character’s mouths. It was VERY repetitive.
The narrator for the audiobook was good though and had a lovely, easy to understand voice.
Anyway, I wanted to like it, thought I would like it, and was invested in it for the first 30% of the book, but then it fell short for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.
3.5/5 rounded down We All Keep Secrets by Sheryl Browne is a thriller that will keep you enthralled from the first page to the very last. Although very captivating, the first half of the book seemed very repetitive. I felt that the same thing kept happening time and time again with no developments made. The second half then sort of tries to make up for it by speeding up the pacing. It was a bit jarring, but didn’t take too much away from my experience. I do think that the main character was written a bit strangely. At times, she acted a lot younger and more naive than necessary. Over all, this book was a fun read that had a compelling story. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
We All Keep Secrets started off strong, with a prologue that sucked me in. The first half is told in the nanny’s POV (Ellie). As the story went on I found myself liking Ellie less and less, and really questioning the choices she made.
The second half is basically the first half retold from the POV of the married couple (Jake and Megan). Each unreliable narrator made me question who was at fault. Normally I enjoy different POVs but found these to be too repetitive and not add very much.
The ending was alright, nothing terribly exciting but it wrapped up nicely.
I thought the narrator did a great job with the different voices.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I liked this book - it was written from 3 different perspectives. I was engaged and interested throughout. The ending was unexpected.
The author could and should have done a better job handling the mental health aspect that was introduced in the book. Big thumbs down and one star deducted - I’d actually take my overall rating down to 2.5 stars if I could.
Okay, talk about an absolute mind boggle. There is so much going on, and only one person is completely innocent in everything. This book keeps you on your toes the entire time. I really enjoyed this book, the plot, and, of course, the characters. I'm still stunned at how it ended and what all happened with this book. I highly recommend this book and feel everyone will enjoy it.
Another fantastic book by Sheryl Browne. The is told from multiple points of view. Megan and Jake both have busy lives, they hire Ellie to look after Ollie and their baby girl Fern. I found this book very addictive and couldn’t put it down, it had me on the edge of my seat right to the very end. Every time I thought I had it figured out I was wrong which made me want to keep reading more and more. If you like Freida McFaddens’s the housemaid, then you will love this book. I love Sheryl Browne writing style and can’t wait to read her next book.
I would like the thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for the advance copy for a honest review.
Without his wife's prior knowledge, Jake Harrington hires 21-year-old Ellie Taylor as a child minder to their two children, six-year-old Ollie and three-month-old Fern. Jack's wife Megan is none too pleased with the arrangement, especially considering that there were problems with the children's former nanny.
But, things seem like they will work out. Ellie will mind the children, but the household proves to be quite strange. For one thing, Megan appears to be a shrew, and there are moments where she appears to gaslight Ellie. Then there is the fact that Ellie is more than drawn to Jack, even though she currently has a boyfriend, needless to say that Jack is married to Megan.
Ellie is consumed with a tragic loss from her past and this flavors the situation that she finds herself in now. Considering that she is dealing with a difficult Megan and the heat growing between her and Jack, things are quite wary. There is also the mystery of the previous nanny and this bothers Ellie.
So, this book of deception, betrayal, secrets and lies was definitely an addictive read. The book moved at a terrific pace which led to a thrilling conclusion. Sheryl Browne does a fabulous job with her psychological thrillers, and this book is no exception..
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.