A Secret in the Family

by Lyn Andrews, Anne Dover (Narrator)

A captivating new novel from the best-selling author of A Daughter’s Journey and Days of Hope

When best friends Dee Campbell and Jean Williams leave school, in 1959, it feels like every opportunity awaits them. Their families haven't long moved from a rundown part of the city to leafy Kirkby when Jean's father wins the Irish sweepstake and soon Jean's set up her own hairdressing salon, while both girls have fallen for good-looking lads with prospects. It's hard to imagine being any happier. But Dee's father is about to discover a disturbing truth about her fiancé. With one revelation, the Campbells are torn apart. As Dee flees to Ireland, Jean marries Tony, blissfully unaware that she's not the only pretty girl to catch his eye....

Tumultuous years lie ahead. But true friendship lasts a lifetime - and Dee and Jean will learn that the people who love you will always be there when you need them most.

Genres: Fiction

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Lyn Andrews is one of the the UK's top one hundred paper-back bestsellers. Born and brought up in Liverpool, she is the daughter of a policeman who also married a policeman. After becoming the mother of triplets, she took some time off from her writing whilst she raised her children. Shortlisted for the romantic Novelists' Association Award in 1993, she has now written twenty-one hugely successful novels. Lyn Andrews divides her time between Merseyside and Ireland.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill]

Really enjoyed reading this book. Recommended.

[Jessica Andrews]

I'm Assuming some people won't have heard of this book because it hasn't been made into a film which is how most people hear about books so I'll give you a run through of the story line. It's set in Liverpool in the 1960's and Dee Campbell and Jean Williams have just finished secondary school. Jean has set her heart on being a hairdresser much to her mother's (Ada) distress. Dee is the more sensible one of the two and is planning on trying to find some office work in Liverpool which is much more easy to come by. At the start of the book they both live on the roughest side of Liverpool and their parents have been hoping to be rehoused for years which they eventually do get rehoused into the countryside on the edge of Liverpool and are extremely happy there. After they move Jeans Father (Harry) has a stroke of luck when he wins the Irish Sweepstakes and him and Ada decide to help Jean with her career by helping her to set up her own business. Everything seems to be Going well for both Girls as they meet steady boyfriends and over the next few years they both get engaged and remain the best of friends but what happens when disaster strikes for Dee will friendship really last through everything?
Overall I thought this book wasn't very good when I first started reading it , this was mostly because I've read other Lyn Andrews books and the starts of the books are very similar but after reading the first hundred pages there became a massive twist and one that i didn't expect there to be in this book. It's a story of true friendship and shows that no matter how much you plan life never works out as you thought it would. I think if you are going to read this book it is best to not read any other books that Lyn Andrews has written and read it when you have a lot of time on your hands because it is a tiny bit long winded but it is in itself a good book and I'm not saying that you shouldn't read it you just need to have a lot of time to read it all because you shouldn't read it a little at a time.

[Bronwyn Rykiert]

2 families who are close friends, Ada and Flo have been friends for years and 2 each of their children have grown up as friends, Jean and Dee and Peter and Davey. This story is really about Jean and Dee who at the start of the book are 19 years old and just finishing school. Dee wants to work in an office while Jean wants to be a hairdesser. Dee's father Bob is a steady man, he is a foreman at the docks and looks after his family well - he does not smoke or drink as most men seem to do. Jean's father Harry is a good fellow too but he likes to drink at the pub. They have been living in an area of Liverpool which has public houses that are due to be pulled down so the families have been re-located to a suburb of Liverpool, Kerby.

The story starts off well enough until the family secret is discovered - Bob had an affair during the blitz in London with the supposed aunt of Dee's fiance, only when Bob goes to see the aunt he finds out the lad is atually his son, therefore Dee's half brother so they cannot marry. When Bob finds this out the shock kills him. So much emotion and this family goes from a perfectly happy family to a devestated one. Flo changes her whole attitude to life and make living at home hell for her children.

Jean gets her own salon when her father Harry wins the Irish Lottery and she finds her husband. Dee decides to go on a vacation to Ireland where she meets Niall Clark, who is a lock keeper and he is looking for a wife so he an carry on the tradition of a Clark looking after the lock. After a partiularly bad time at home Dee just ups and leave home to go to Ireland to marry Niall. I thought this was over the top and especially what happens to him.

I found myself wondering how the family would have fared if Bob had of told Flo of his affair when it had happened.

I just thought everyone was so over emotional in this story it at times drove me crazy but I did still want to finish it and I did.

[Tracey]

Lovely story about friendship.
Dee and Jean are best friends and neighbours in Liverpool. The book is set between 1959 and 1972, which is a bit late for me as I like wartime or other historical fiction but I had a very pleasant surprise as this story kept my interest.
Both girls go through traumas and life changing situations but they are always there for each other.

[Ali Pibworth]

Utterly unbelievable dialogue... gammy plot, pointless read. However I did finish it just out of spite.

[Cherrie]

A Comforting 1960s Saga of Sisterhood, Secrets, and New Beginnings — An easy, comforting listen filled with heart, tragedy, and female friendship

[1960s Social Shift & Female Independence]
Lyn Andrews captures the changing social landscape of the 1960s with her signature accessible touch. The decade serves as an ideal setting for exploring women's evolving roles, as characters navigate new opportunities to choose careers, delay marriage, and build independent lives. When Jean’s family comes into money, it opens doors for business ownership, yet creates a poignant contrast with her friend Dee, who remains trapped under the thumb of a selfish, overbearing mother. The contrast between Jean's financial leap and Dee's everyday struggle adds realistic social tension to their bond.

[Parallel Lives, Tragedy & Strong Sisterhood]
While the story gets off to a noticeably slow start, the narrative gains momentum through the turbulent romantic lives of the two leads. Dee faces a shocking revelation about Billy’s identity that shatters her engagement, leading her to seek escape in Ireland where she finds true love with Niall—only for it to be tragically snatched away. Meanwhile, Jean faces the heartbreak of her husband's infidelity despite her newfound business success. Through every loss, secret, and setback, the core strength of the novel lies in the enduring friendship between Jean and Dee, culminating in an uplifting reunion as they set off to build a future together in France.

[The Verdict]
A solid saga that shines as an easy, engaging Audible listen. Though it takes some time to build momentum in the opening chapters, Lyn Andrews delivers a heart warming, emotionally satisfying story about love, loss, resilience, and the power of female friendship across a changing decade.

[Linda Leedham]

This book from Lyn Andrew’s was a pleasant read , nothing spectacular but Interesting. All about the lives of two Liverpool girls who were best of friends from young girls, there Joys, disappointments, and heartaches for both as they grew up and matured into successful young ladies with lives of their own

[Natalie]

This book follows two childhood best friends and their families throughout the 10 years following their graduation from school. It’s a very entertaining (and dramatic) read about friendship, loss, and forgiveness.

[Maryam Sambo]

This is a story two best friends Dee and Jean. It follows there life from teenagers to coming of age. It shows the meaning of loyalty and standing by your friendship no matter the challenge. It is intriguing and easy to read at the same time. I totally love it.

[Hollie]

Always loved Lyn Andrews. Not one of my favourites but still enjoyed.

[Sandra]

No surprises. Can do as light reading

[Karina Davis]

Really enjoyed this book, quick pleasant read. Would recommend!

[Linda Hobson]

Loved reading this book

[Deborah Lewis]

A really good read for a chilled out weekend. True to life family dramas but true friendship prevails.

[Vinali | Bookworm_lyf]

Conventional meets modern.
Bold determination of two friends.
Young love.
Family secret tears love apart.
Scandalous.
Recovery in life.
New discoveries.

[S Woodworth]

Loyalty

A lifetime of friendship and loyalty is portrayed in this ever mov ing story.I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone.

[Faye Smith]

It was a very easy read.
Not enough depth for me.

[Sherin William Tambimuttu]

The book was a great read; it's about friendship, love, and betrayal, and how your loved ones will always be there for you no matter what happens in life; I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Mary Marshall]

An enjoyable read

[Dylia]

I did not expect anything from this novel, but it gave me a lot.... ❤️❤️

[Lesley]

Very enjoyable book

[Jacqueline]

I enjoyed this book from cover to cover … a great story about life, good and bad.

[Lucy Brown]

Started slow but turned into a lovely story

[Kerry]

I cant believe that this is written by the same person who wrote my sisters child which is one of my favourite books of all time.
It was predictable it lacked depth and I have to agree with one of the previous reviews everyone was so over emotional.

[Lucy Crook]

On read. It passed the time. Was really slow in parts and predictable in others.

[Christine]

lyn andrews at her best funny sad and mysterious couldnt put it down

[Maria Argent]

Not one of her best but fairly enjoyable

[Sarah Prudham]

This book was alright and wasn't boring enough to not finish however, I found it slightly predictable from the start.

[Karen]

Predictable throughout! Set in 50s and 60s Liverpool and Southern Ireland, so I read it. Simply written, if you get my drift!

[Isabella]

More like 3.5