The Secrets Sisters Keep

by Abby Drake

Amanda, Babe, and Ellie have very busy lives, but that doesn't mean the three women don't have the time for their beloved Uncle Edward's seventy-fifth birthday. It's an opportunity to celebrate-and to find out exactly who is included in the rich old man's will. When Edward disappears, however, the sisters have far more to worry about than just money. It may not be the first time he's gone missing, but they all fear it might be the last.

When estranged sister Carleen shows up, all four must confront their long-buried past-and figure out what they're going to do in the present. Will Amanda leave her husband, who's cheating on her with a Brazilian back-waxer? Will Babe dump her has-been action star husband to return to the man of her dreams? Will Ellie be able to stand on her own Birkenstock-sandalled feet? Will anyone ever forgive Carleen? And where on earth could Edward be? The journey won't be easy, because while each needs something different, they could all use a little understanding-and a windfall of cash.

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Family

Hardcover

First published September 27, 2010

Reviews

[Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet. An easy read that would be good for a day at the beach or a long international flight. Slightly predictable although I did jump to a conclusion that was only partially correct.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Not outstanding but a good story.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.

[Amy Garvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not outstanding but a good story

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the 4 Dalton sisters were growing up they were always together but they had their moments when the disagreed. So after years of them not being together Uncle Edward decides to throw a 75th birthday party and invites the sisters back along with 200 guests. Now after all these years will each sister's secrets stay buried or will they come out and make it worse then before.

[Kathy Hiester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from the only girl in a family of four siblings (3 boys and me) I have now experience in having sisters. The story is about a family who has been separated for years But they come together for a 75th birthday party of a beloved uncle. However when they get there, Uncle Edward has vanished. The sisters must make the decision to either stay together and find him or allow their past to continue to reign chaos with their lives and drive them apart again.

The four sisters are all very different from each other. I didn't concur with all the choices the women made but I could understand why they did what they did. Out of the four of them, I would probably say that Amanda is my least favorite but that's because she chose to make herself distant and disagreeable. I felt Carleen to be the most fascinating of the four because she's introduced before we actually meet her. She's described by her sisters as a nasty individual who they all want to avoid. However when we actually meet her, she's not the person they've described. Instead she's the most ordinary out of the four of them and wants to have a regular bond with her sisters again.

The secrets that are revealed throughout the book are actually quite tear-jerking. It's sad when families keep such colossal secrets from each other because they cause such vast rifts in relationships. If the family had chosen to share their feelings or the reasons behind their decisions, a lot of hurt feelings could have been avoided. Instead the family became estranged for many years, never becoming the strong entity they could have been.

This book was never over dramatic. On the whole, this was a really good read. I enjoyed learning about the Dalton sisters and learning about their furtivness. The book emphasizes the importance of family. The book created a great way to escape for a few hours. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books and well as any future ones from Abby Drake.
4 Stars

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I wouldn't say the characters were multi-faceted, each one had a distinct persona and carried it throughout the book. I grew to like Edward. He definitely is not a perfect person, but he has come to a realization about what is important in his life and he tries to help his nieces do the same.


Spoiler Alert
The one character's story I am probably the most unhappy about is Amanda's. She takes her husband back in a heartbeat--I'm not sure if its because he has made her feel guilty for not putting out in over a year (which is not an excuse to hang out with a prostitute, its an incentive to communicate or get with a counselor or something) or if she is so desperate to not be destitute, or what. However, I do like that they go forward with their lives together and leave the opulence they can't afford behind. I like that she starts parenting her children.

I'm glad Babe ends up with Ray, but its sad that marriage is no longer a commitment. Wes was her third husband and a rebound one at that. They were using each other for fame more than anything, so it wasn't hard for Babe to drop him once she reconnects with her one true love (that she met when she was 15...).

I must say I didn't love Ellie, but I did like the self-discovery process she went through.

As for Carleen, I liked Carleen. What she did was misconstrued as evil when it was purely a protective measure for her mother. I really loved the integration of the pink ribbon.

To find out Babe was most likely Edward's daughter made me roll my eyes, mostly because Edward says something along the lines of how God must have wanted Babe to be on the earth (Edward is gay and Mazie, the girls' mother, was the one woman he would ever love).

Overall, I liked the book, hence the three stars.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out Funny, but got serious right away. By the end I shed a few tears. It is about 4 sisters, Ellie, Amanda, Babe, and Carleen. They have all been summonded to their Uncle Ed's estate for his 75th birthday anniversary. Eliie is her uncle's housekeeper, Babe is an actress, Amanda is a socialite and Carleen is a teacher. They have not gotten along very well since their parents' death in a house fire when they were teenagers, and Uncle Ed ended up raising them.

Ed plans a huge party, with the ultimate goal of getting them all back together in speaking to each other. There are many secrets revealed during their stay at his house. The reader will find out that Babe had an abortion at 15 with Carleen's advice and now is unable to have children, Amanda Seems to be well off but her family is drowning in debt, Carleen is blamed for the housefire that killed their parents, and Ellie is a recluse who has never been away from Ed's house for years.

Ed disapears before the party and can't be found. Everyone takes a turn looking for him. The party goes on without him, but he is eventually found. He has his secrets too that are revealed. To tell them would spoil the book, so read it and find out what they are.

[givemeabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Secrets Sisters Keep from the first to the last page.
Uncle Edward had wandered off. I could not put this book down, because I wanted to find out why eccentric Uncle Edward had wandered off - and his fate.
The characters of the four sisters are interesting and very different. The tension is high and some of the secrets they keep are quite tragic. The story is intriguing and makes you wonder if they will ever be able to beat their demons and rebuilt their relationships.
I am glad I did win this book (thank you, Goodreads), and I definitely want to read more of Abby Drake.

[Lorri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. Very interested and always kept you reading, never wanting to put it down!
I enjoyed all of it... but had a little issue with the end... Edward has the love of his life, a woman, but he was gay.. Okay. .which is it?? Good Lord Edward! Anyways, very good book and I enjoyed it. Thanks to whomever left it at the gym!!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this one as much as her other book, Good Little Wives, but it was still a good read. Some of the characters were really hard to feel anything for until close to the end but that didn't really deter from enjoying the book.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book by Abby Drake was wonderful. It kept my interest through to the end, lots of twists and turns, the characters were very real, I could relate to the family dynamics as they unfolded. A very nice story over all. Women with some history will particularly enjoy this read.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5 - a quick read with a fairly predictable climax and denouement. Still moving and powerful, as love, especially amongst siblings, is hoped to be. Very believable characters - we've all known and been various shades if these men, women, and even the children.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book -- sort of. There was quite of bit of reaching for the plot to hold together, and the story itself was pretty predictable -- although that could be a direct result of having mystery as a favored genre.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute story about secrets and sisters.

[Clare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sounds like "Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters" but it all depends on which one i read first.

[Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

can relate to the friction these girls lived by... an enjoyable read

[Catrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book. I think our book club would enjoy this :)

[Nicole Matushenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

No the most stimulating story, but an easy read.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with the characters. They weren't believable to me. I finished the book, but won't run out and get another by the author.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, sometimes it seemed to drag, but it is a good read.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an easy read. Good for the beach. Once again, the female characters are divided by jealousy and feelings of superiority/inferiority. I found it hard to like any of them.

[Heather Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought your family was fraught with drama? This gatsby-esque novel highlights family drama from childhood through adulthood shenanigans. A very easy and enjoyable read.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this novelists' other books better.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quick read, not too heavy.
I have not read anything by this author before. I liked her writing style.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

(more of a 3.5 but worth the read)