Together Apart

by Natalie K. Martin

When Adam proposes to Sarah, the last thing he expects is to be single and heartbroken less than forty-eight hours later. But Sarah has a secret, and she's willing to sacrifice everything to keep it.

Going through a break-up is hard enough but having to live together afterwards is even worse, especially when it's a break-up neither person wants. For Adam, only ways to deal with it are drinking and partying. For Sarah, it’s keeping her distance and her secrets.

Against a backdrop of lies, betrayals and passion, the delicate threads holding Sarah's secret begin to unravel when her past and present collide.

Romantic, intense and heartbreaking, Together Apart explores what it really means to love and be loved.

Revised This edition of Together Apart includes editorial revisions.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Ebooks, Drama, Contemporary Romance

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2014

About the author

Natalie K Martin was born in Sheffield, England, and grew up with a fascination for human relationships. After leaving her corporate career to travel and write, her novels became Amazon bestsellers on release.

Writing emotionally led contemporary fiction about life, love and the tricky parts in-between, Natalie's books are relevant and relatable to the everyday woman and have been featured in the Daily Mail, Woman's Own and Pride Magazine.

A dedicated advocate for women's empowerment, Natalie is also a Menstrual Cycle Coach and yoga teacher. She lives in Bavaria, Germany, with her boyfriend and their rescue dog.

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Together Apart is a great book if you enjoy a character led story that focuses on the dynamics of the relationship between the two main characters.

I found myself becoming very emotionally involved as the story progressed, and loved the nostalgia of Sarah’s diary entries, probably helped by me having been to Corporation in Sheffield a few times many years ago to see rock bands.

I thought this worked really well as an audiobook and was well narrated. I loved the narrator, Justine Eyre’s voice, or should that be voices.

I borrowed this through Kindle Unlimited.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam and Sarah are in love. They have just moved in together and are now on a relaxing foreign holiday, enjoying each other’s company. Everything looks perfect until Adam proposes and Sarah immediately turns him down and ends the relationship there and then without any explanations. Unfortunately they cannot afford to separate yet. They have only just moved and haven’t arrived at the break clause date in their lease yet so for the next few weeks we follow them tip toeing around each other, Adam wanting answers and Sarah refusing to speak. What a nightmare of a situation to be in and you really do feel the unpleasant atmosphere in the flat in this story that is told partly from Adam’s point of view and partly from Sarah’s through her diary extracts. We know from the start that Sarah has a secret in her past, one she cannot share with anyone and which has meant that she has built up walls around herself to prevent herself from being hurt and has cut her off from her family.

Although it is a short book it is quite a slow read, but one that draws you in, wanting to know more. Little hints are dropped throughout as to the nature of the Secret but you don’t find out exactly what happened right until the end.

Whilst I felt that I really got to know Adam, I wanted to sympathise with him and give him a good shake at the same time to tell him to man up and confront Sarah once and for all. On the other hand, whilst I got a good picture of Sarah the teenager through her diaries, I felt as if I never really got to know Sarah the adult, or even care about her that much. However, when I did know everything there was to know about her, it set me thinking and wondering how I would have dealt with things in her situation. Despite my misgivings, this isn’t a bad read at all, but not one that I can say I really “Loved”. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

[Natalie K. Martin]

HARPERCOLLINS AUTHONOMY EDITOR REVIEW:

Together Apart

I was hooked from page one of this manuscript. It is really refreshing to read mass-market women’s fiction with a distinctly intelligent edge. The manuscript rang true as a depiction of modern British twenty-somethings - it wasn’t forced, it wasn’t contrived, it just felt genuine. Even better, both of the lead characters, male and female, were equally well realised. It was the particularly convincing male character in Adam, from a female writer, that impressed me. Although this book is bound to appeal largely to a female audience, the male characters are likely to ring true with anyone.

The story is propelled by the secret that underpins it. Starting with Adam’s proposal in the very first chapter and Sarah’s subsequent rejection of it – I raced through the book, desperate to find out the reason why. The occasional crumbs of information and hints along the way really helped to pique interest. A real strength of the book is that you become emotionally involved very quickly. I found both main characters extremely likeable despite their differences, and it was easy to empathise with the situation in which they found themselves.

I knew that the book would hinge on the inevitable reveal of the secret, and that a potentially good book could become unstuck if it was either too far-fetched or disappointingly mundane. Happily, it was neither of these and my one criticism would be that the ending felt a little rushed. I wasn’t quite sure that I bought the speed at which things were resolved, but some editorial advice could help with this. Ultimately though, it was a really satisfying and moving conclusion which rounded off the ‘will-they, won’t they’ roller-coaster of events.

A tiny quibble is that there are a few grammatical mistakes throughout, but these can be cleared up very easily. Overall, it is a professional manuscript which has been well thought-out and self-edited. It feels a bit on the brief side for a novel, but on the other hand the writing is so concise and the plot so lacking in unnecessary ‘flab’ that it feels churlish to criticise this. Its current brevity also gives you the opportunity to consider drawing out the ending slightly, should you choose to take on that piece of advice.

Though the subject matter is rather different, the tone of the book reminded me of ONE DAY. The immense success of that title suggests there is a huge market for similarly easy-to-read yet intelligent and moving fiction. There is comparable subject matter and characterisation in the novels of Marian Keyes, which is also on the intelligent end of the ‘chick-lit’ spectrum. I feel that this extremely readable manuscript has strong commercial potential and would recommend that it is considered further for publication.

Review date - March 2012

[Jemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Together Apart’ was a really original concept for a book and I felt it was well executed for what it was. It was actually more light-hearted than I was anticipating but heartfelt and profound moments were littered in the most unexpected places.

It all begins when Adam proposes to Sarah during their romantic getaway together. The scenery is stunning, the mood is perfect; nothing could go wrong. Until she says no. Unsurprisingly, Adam is heartbroken and, later, angry. He’s been given no answers and is suitably frustrated – and on the other side of the coin, Sarah is confused and scared, running away from a dark past which clouds any future she could have had with Adam. Little by little it is revealed what Sarah is hiding, and why, in her world, saying ‘yes’ to Adam could never be possible.

Though it was initially the mystery which drew me into this story, I found I half abandoned my curiosity and instead made the most of the emotional turmoil surrounding their complicated non-relationship. The author’s portrayal of the breakup was truly realistic – the tension was just screaming at me from every page. The story is told intimately through Sarah’s personal diary, and Adam’s masculine narrative; two entirely different versions of a broken heart.

As many others have commented, I really relished the dual narrative and the opposing male and female viewpoints – it was really interesting to see two completely different perceptions of the same event. I bet most couples would kill to have that kind of insight into each other’s thoughts! Both perspectives are genuine and really convincing – I actually liked both characters, though the author made sure to illustrate their flaws alongside their strengths, which just enhanced their credibility.

Despite my love for the characters, I do feel compelled to say that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the conclusion; whilst it wasn’t bad, it just seemed slightly rushed and perhaps a little staged. I also felt the mystery side of the plot was a little slow, but the latter half of the novel did pick up when it was unveiled, and at no point did I guess Sarah’s secret.

Whilst ‘Together Apart’ was by no means full of heart-pounding excitement, it did keep my interest until the finish. I recommend this book more to people who are interested in relationship dynamics than a true suspenseful mystery; it is much more suited to the former genre. Although I did really enjoy this book, I feel like it was the style of writing which impressed me more than the story itself and for this reason it gets 3.5 stars.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited.
Cost: Free

Title: Together Apart
Author: Natalie K. Martin
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Overall Rating: 4 stars

Together Apart was one of those books I downloaded on a whim, the cover was cute but I didn't actually expect to like it. It was probably going to be cheesy...

But how wrong was I? I actually ended up really enjoying following our two main characters as they tackled their breakup in their own way. Adam resorted to drinking and sleeping around, avoiding going back to the apartment that he and Sarah shared, while Sarah became depressed as she battled with her internal secrets. This story had you wanting to shake the characters with how they were treating each other as it was kind of obvious that they belonged together, despite Sarah having a secret from her past about children. I'm glad I randomly decided to read this one as it wasn't cheesy, it actually had a really good plotline.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed TOGETHER APART by Natalie K Martin. It is hard for me to believe it is a debut novel. She really made me feel all of Adam's frustrations and his heartbreak. At times I just wanted to shake him and tell him to move on and at other times I just wanted to reach in to the pages and give him a big hug. For being only a little less than two hundred pages, TOGETHER APART really pulls you in and has you flipping the pages quickly to see what is going to happen next. Natalie K. Martin's description of the characters strengths as well as their flaws will have you cheering them on and hoping they can get it together. What they go through is truly heart wrenching and can only make you wonder if Sarah's past will be overcome or tear them apart.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had Together Apart on my TBR for quite awhile, so I was looking forward to finally getting to this one. Sarah and Adam have been living together, and he is happy to finally make it official. What he doesn't expect it that she not only turns down his proposal, but she breaks up with him. She has a secret, one she will do whatever she needs to do in order to protect it. The difficult thing is that they remain in the same apartment, but are now in separate rooms; Together, Apart. Adam tries to move on but loves Sarah and cannot understand why she won't explain herself. His friends try to convince him to move on and get him to party, but he still can't give up. When he finds her diaries and with some hesitation reads them, he finally gets her to tell him everything.

I had mixed feelings about this book. It moved slowly, and it was difficult to get into it at that pace. I also didn't like Sarah very much. She really annoyed me by the way she treated Adam. What did she think would happen when they moved in together? I felt terrible for Adam and could feel his frustration. The mystery that was part of the plot seemed forced to me and this turned out to be just an okay read for me. I listened to the audiobook and think that listening to Justine Eyre's narration is one reason I finished this one. She did a wonderful job with the voices and expression which kept me listening.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This starts off with Sarah and Adam taking a holiday abroad. Everything on the surface seems good, they are in love, they live together, nothing can go wrong, right?
.....

Not the case. Adam proposes marriage to Sarah and Sarah turns him down. No explanation, nothing.

The trouble is, they can't afford to separate due to finances.

We see them walking on egg shells around each other, trying not to get in each others way, each with their own personal innermost feelings locked inside each other.

We later have revealed that Sarah has a dark past.


My Thoughts

Although this was a nice book, pleasant enough to read, it didn't hook me to the degree that I thought it would.

I wish the book was longer to widen out and build more on Sarah and more on Adam. It seemed too compact for an indepth read.

Its rather slow paced, I had to struggle to make myself carry on reading it.

One positive thing, I do love the cover, it reminds me of a Jodi Picoult cover but in a different colour.


* Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Net Galley for my early copy*

[Honeypie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the few instances where the blurb is the book. Go figure.

Anyway, I enjoyed this. It was a little lengthy and tended to go back to "square one" at times, but I had fun reading it.

The characters were also easy to like, but not puppet-like. They're not good and perfect, but were fun to read about. This didn't have too much angst, and "emotional emotions". It was quite light to read.

This is NM's first novel, and I don't mind reading more of her works. But maybe with less typographical (or maybe grammatical, can't remember what I read exactly) errors? There weren't too many, and nothing major, really. Just noticeable.

And the title. Together Apart. Niiiice:) haha! Ang babaw. I like "simple" phrases, that means a little more than it says.

[Melek · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb was way better than the book itself. I was interested after reading the blurb, which is why I downloaded it, but *dreams crushed*.

For one thing, all the characters in the book are either annoying or insignificant, without exception. I hated Sarah and her diaries, I was bored of Adam and his POV, the rest of the crew might as well haven't existed at all.

For another, the book was boring altogether. I only read to learn the oh-so-important secret and experienced another *dreams crushed*. Adam talked her into it too easily for it to be realistic, considering we're talking about a childhood trauma.

I can go on and on about bad writing and all, but I don't think there is any need to write further. Overall, it was weak and crappy and I didn't like it. Good luck next time.

[Caroline Batten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I utterly LOVE this book. It's up there with One Day for managing to get both the male and female perspectives bang on the money.

It's so refreshing to get a raw, honest male POV from a female author. And omg, do I love Adam. *sigh* He's like Mr Ordinary, but just lovely with it . The kind of guy you see your friends go out with but never manage to bag for yourself.

This is quality contemp romance - heart-wrenching, but not melodramatic, smile-inducing, but not cringeworthy.

Def worth a read!

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

no big secret reveal, knew what was coming. and really her reasons just didn't fit well if it was a good relationship. I didn't hate the story but was not impressed.

[Kristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about this book to be honest. For most of it I was thinking I'd mark it as 1 star and just DNF it but...idk...the ending was nice. But man I did not like the main female character and holy heck what drama. I don't know maybe others may enjoy it more but I think I'll move on now.

[Bex | TotallyBex.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Together Apart by Natalie Martin is a realistic portrayal of love, relationships, and the affects of a breakup. It is realistic, raw, and full of tension. The dual point-of-view works well, and gives you a glimpse into the mind of an ordinary guy in love with a woman who is leading a double life. While there is a suspense element to the story, I found that the dynamics of the main character’s relationship was the highlight of the book.

Adam is a kind, caring, and responsible partner, and he is completely in love with Sarah. Their relationship is perfect, or so it seems, until he makes the rash decision to ask Sarah to marry him. Sarah does the last thing he would have expected and says no. This sets off a catastrophic chain of events in their relationship and they decide to break up.

The majority of the book is about them dealing with the breakup and it’s aftermath. Adam is heartbroken and Sarah slips into depression. They are forced to live together until their lease ends, they tiptoe around each other, and they try to deal with the loss in their own ways. While it was excruciating to watch their partnership disintegrate, it was like a bad train wreck…I couldn’t look away. Every hurtful word made me want to give them both a good shake and tell them to stop being immature and fight for what matters. However, their behavior was understandable considering the circumstances.

Meanwhile, Sarah has a devastating secret in her past and she does not believe Adam will still love her after he learns about what she has done. Once a former friend dies, Sarah is sent spiraling into the past and Adam is forced to collect clues as to why Sarah has shut down.

I was initially intrigued by the mystery of Sarah’s secret when I chose this book, but I continued reading because of the genuine and convincing relationship dynamics between Adam and Sarah. That being said, however, the plot was a little slow moving until the final quarter of the book and the ending felt a little contrived. Discovering the details Sarah’s secret was heartbreaking, I am pleased to say that I didn’t guess what happened before it was revealed.

If you like romance/chick lit with a little angst and mystery, I would totally recommend Together Apart. The clever title and beautiful cover is only the beginning of what this book offers.

[Judy Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natalie K. Martin, delivers her debut, TOGETHER APART, a contemporary chick-lit love story-- when the past collides with the present, for a heart-breaking story of modern relationships, miscommunication, and secrets.

Adam and Sarah are living together, and in love. Except Sarah has a dark past and she is not sharing it with Adam. All is well until Adam, the young real estate professional proposes. Sarah turns down the proposal. She keeps those close to her at arm’s length. She is not ready to share her past and abruptly breaks off their relationship without an explanation.

Adam attempts to move on with other women; however, cannot get past the non-reasons for the breakup. What is Sarah hiding or afraid of?

As the book slowly moves on, we learn about Sarah’s life through diary entries, after Adam finds, in order to learn more about Sarah, since she is not very forthcoming. Prior to breaking up, they were in a lease of a flat, and financially the could not afford to break it. So they resume living together—filled with stress and tension.

A rather slow-paced novel,I found myself fast forwarding through the audiobook, narrated by Justine Eyre, leading up to the secret reveal. I chose not to read an advanced reading copy, as after reading the summary and with a full editorial calendar, knew I could listen to the audiobook later, while in the car and running errands.

Not particularly any likable characters; could have used more humor. Even though there were some good parts; overall, it was not for me. I am sure there is an audience for this type of drama with a character carrying past feelings into a modern day relationships with fallout. The other reviews seem to be at the extremes of low and high—keeping it in the middle of the road. Nice cover, though!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. Right from the start we find out that Sarah has a big secret, something that stops her accepting Adam's proposal. I was hooked and was desperate to find out what that secret was, and if they could overcome it and be happy. A great read and will look out for this author again.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't love this story. It felt so unnaturally drawn out. While I was reading it, I felt like I understood the characters and the reason for their separation. But after I finished the book, all I could think was "there's an afternoon I'll never get back." I don't think Sarah deserves Adam. I understand she has pain in her past, but we all do. What killed me was her ridiculous overreaction to his proposal. If you've been with someone for 18 months, you even live together, and your first reaction to the next step on the road of life together is to completely shut down, break things off, and give zero explanation for your actions? Moving in didn't trigger that response? Being intimate didn't either? Oh, and to later tell him you're pregnant, but terminating the pregnancy and you don't want his opinion. Expect to have your journals read as your live-in ex tries to figure out the mixed signals you continue to send his way.

The only reason I'm giving two stars is because I really did like Adam's character. I sympathized with him and wanted him to be happy. I had a hard time pulling for their relationship to work out. If I were one of his friends in the story, I probably would have strongly encouraged him to move on, especially if Sarah had terminated the pregnancy. Maybe even if she hadn't. (I'm not advocating abandoning a child, EVER -especially considering my father abandoned me and my siblings- but Sarah was that off-putting. In fictional character land, I would easily have told Adam to cut his losses.)

[buzy_reading · Rating 1 out of 5]

Main characters: Sarah and Adam.
Sarah and Adam lived together. While on vacation Adam proposed but Sarah said,"no". Then she broke up with him. Sarah had a secret that kept her from saying yes to his proposal. Rather than share her secret she chose to distance herself. Adam however chose sex, drugs, and alcohol.
Together apart was about a couple who lived together for six months loving each other until Adam proposed and Sarah declined. They still lived in the same place but in separate rooms. Neither could afford to stay by themselves and they were committed for another two months.
The story had journal entries created by Sarah. The story had diary entries that were about Sarah and her young relationship with Richard when she was fourteen.
The story focused on Adam's coping mechanisms rather than digging deep in uncovering the truth behind Sarah and her secrets. I'm not interested in reading about Adam getting drunk or having sex because he is a man with needs.
Sarah's secrecy led to too much speculation by Adam. When Adam found the diary he hoped to find the secrets that Sarah would not share with him.
The story spent a great deal more time on the supporting characters while delaying Sarah's secret. The story carried on for far too long. I thought Sarah never was going to reveal her secret, but she did.
The story held to that secret for far too long trying to create an angst filled story, but I got bored with the subplots and proceeded to skim through that material anxious for Sarah to finally reveal her secret.

[BooksandBeyondFiftyShades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie Martin
Natalie Martin is a new author with a huge potential to make it to the NY Best Sellers List!! This amazing book teaches you that no matter how dark and horrific your secret is always good to shared it with the person you love.

She takes you to those places in life where you weight in all your decision and makes you think if you had always done the right thing!!! I had never had a book stir so many emotions while I was reading it!!!

Meet Sara a quiet, shy, young lady with a passion for her work, and madly in love with her living boyfriend. Sara felt happy and she thought she had everything that she needed. With an exception of her dark past.

Meet Adam a young, professional real state agent with a loving family and madly in love with Sara his living girlfriend. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and he was not going to be completely happy until he marry Sara.

Can Adam and Sara have their happy ending or will Sara's past tear them apart?

***Review has been done in conjunction with BooksandBeyondFiftyShades.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: https://www.facebook.com/BooksandBeyo...***

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this debut novel by Natalie Martin. I always enjoy reading books told from different perspectives and in this case I think that the feelings and emotions of both Adam and Sarah were convincing. I think it's a real challenge for a female author to convey a male's POV but I really felt that I understood Adam and all of his frustrations and heartbreak. I felt that I knew Sarah more as a teen than as a young woman.

Adam and Sarah are on holiday when he proposes and Sarah tells him no, with no further explanations to come. Prior to the trip they have just moved in together and because of leasing clauses they have to live together for a few months which is uncomfortable and stressful for both of them.

Adam tries to move on but loves Sarah and cannot understand why she won't explain herself. He finally finds her diaries and with some hesitation reads them. He finally convinces her to tell all.

I found the pace a little slow and found myself wanting to zip through it faster. When told the big secret I was confused as to why, if she loves Adam, she couldn't confide in him. To absolutely shut him out after a year long relationship just seems unrealistic to me.

I would recommend this more to people who like young romance stories with a little twist.

I received this ARC copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Ian Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Adam asks his girlfriend a particular question, the response he gets is not the one he was expecting. Why Sarah reacted the way she did is a mystery to him, but is hinted at through the excerpts from Sarah's diary, which are interwoven with the story told from Adam's point of view. Natalie Martin expertly uses Sarah's diary to give us her internal thoughts from the present, as well as her past, so by the end we can sympathise and understand her behaviour.

Any men who may be put off because this is labelled 'Romance', don't be. Chick Lit this ain't, and it should be enjoyed by either sex. I encourage you all to read it.

[Babus Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Adam proposes to Sarah in Santorini, he never thought it would lead to the end of their relationship, but Sarah terminates their relationship leaving Adam with the realisation that he really didn't know much about her at all. Sarah has hidden her sister and her past,which is so traumatic for her that she cannot bring herself to talk about it. However, with recent stresses Sarah starts to become unravelled and Adam starts to learn about her past from her old diaries.

A compelling read which kept me engaged but was more a traumatic romance rather than a psychological thriller. A tantalisingly told story, which doesn't take long to read.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Together Apart for me was a great read mainly because of the brilliant and vivid writing which I thoroughly enjoyed from page one. The story-line was intriguing and kept me entertained, some of the story was rather predictable but yet there was quite a bit of suspense throughout.
The characters were easy to identify with, even though their lifestyles were nothing like my own, which again is a good reflection of the writers ability to draw you into the story.
I enjoyed Natalie Martin's style of writing so I will definitely try more of her books.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no.

I did not like Adam at all or Sara even. Their story didn't grab me or touch me like I think it was supposed to. Yes, Sara had some serious stuff happen in her childhood, but I don't think or feel like it justified her character. And Adam, good grief! I understand his character was hurt, but seriously? Ugh!

I just didn't like it.

[Lisbeth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard to accept/forgive the reading of the diaries issue but if you can put that aside, it does make for a good storytelling method from two different points of view and I must admit to worrying about both Adam and Sarah when I didn't have my nose stuck in the book!

This is great stuff for a first novel and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more by Natalie Martin.

[Sammy Dawes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't say this was my favourite book of all time but it was definitely enjoyable and kept me interested. For me the ending was a little a bit blasé, I think I just wanted something mega to happen! But all in all a great book to add to the list to read

[Win · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book, once you start reading, you can't put it down. You get easily drawn into the characters and even talk back to them. loved the book! Will there be a sequel I wonder??

[Samantha Clysdale · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book from Netgalley.


I really dislike the book. I thought it would get better but it didn't. I really didn't like Sarah. I found her robot like.

[Carrie Clem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

This book was a great read. Definitely a warm tender loving happily ever after kind of book. Definitely a must read.

[Janka H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam proposes. Sarah's reaction? Immediate break-up.
As they can't afford to loose the deposit, they stay together in the small flat. And it is pretty awkward.
And what is worse is that Sarah loves Adam, but there is a reason locked in her past that makes her to break their relationship.

Interesting idea, but prolonged play.
I very much like the idea of something from the past, left hidden and unsaid, can influence the present. It might be the reality for the most of us.
And untreated secrets just feed the pain and shame.
So I get Sarah.
And I get Adam, a nice guy, who is totally confused, hurt, angry...and yet, still there. I like them together.

But the way to the truth is really prolonged and the ending (the big secret) feels rushed, as everything is solved just within pages.
Now don't get me wrong, the truth is therapeutic. But the 'ruthless' editor might make the good novel being a truly good novel by cutting a few pages here and there.

Having said all that, this is a nice read. Unsaid secrets can rule us, let's not let them to do that!