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The Secret Chord
When Kate York accepted a temporary position as the music teacher at her former Catholic boarding school, St. Joan of Arc, she expected to deal with rowdy adolescents, strict nuns, and memories of her intense friendship with her old roommate, Tilly Wattle. The last thing Kate expected, however, was for Tilly to show up as the substitute teacher.
The last time the two had seen each other, Tilly had her heart set on joining the sisterhood of nuns that had raised her as an orphan. Tilly longed for a simple life devoting herself to God while Kate longed for a simple life devoting herself to Tilly. Now, twelve years since she forced herself to say goodbye, Kate realizes that she never really got over her sweet, beautiful friend—or the secret kisses they shared as girls.
In her heart of hearts Kate believes that Tilly can match her passion with equal intensity. When Tilly steadfastly refuses to talk about their past, what choice does Kate have but to try to control her own longings and concentrate on renewing their friendship?
But what if Kate isn’t the only one desperate to hide her true feelings…
Genre: Romance
Editor: Cath Walker
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
The last time the two had seen each other, Tilly had her heart set on joining the sisterhood of nuns that had raised her as an orphan. Tilly longed for a simple life devoting herself to God while Kate longed for a simple life devoting herself to Tilly. Now, twelve years since she forced herself to say goodbye, Kate realizes that she never really got over her sweet, beautiful friend—or the secret kisses they shared as girls.
In her heart of hearts Kate believes that Tilly can match her passion with equal intensity. When Tilly steadfastly refuses to talk about their past, what choice does Kate have but to try to control her own longings and concentrate on renewing their friendship?
But what if Kate isn’t the only one desperate to hide her true feelings…
Genre: Romance
Editor: Cath Walker
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
18 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Hale
4 books46 followersVirginia Hale lives in Sydney, Australia, and is currently working on her master’s degree in Children’s Literature. When she isn’t writing or studying, she is dreaming up trips to New York City and Boston. Her debut novel Echo Point—set in the heartland of the Blue Mountains, Australia—won a Golden Crown Literary Award in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
July 6, 2019
4.25 Stars. This was another excellent book by Hale. This is Hale’s third book and while it might not be my favorite, I think it was her best written. I loved Hale’s debut Echo Point. It was impressive for a debut and yet she has still grown as an author with every new book she puts out. In truth I think Hale is a little underrated, but I’m hopeful that if she keeps putting out book likes this, pretty soon everyone in the lesfic community will know who she is.
One of the things I really appreciate about Hale is she writes books that feel slightly different than the normal romance books we are used to. I mean her last book took place inside a famous murder house and it was still wonderful. Her books also don’t have that cookie cutter fluff to them. Don’t get me wrong I love some good fluff, but sometimes I want something a bit deeper that really gets under my skin. Betty actually mentioned this in her review and it was the same word that kept popping in my head to describe this book was that it was “intense”. It did not take long for this book to grab me and after it did, it did not want to let me go. The way Hale writes is impressive and just really works for me.
Since I’m such a character driven reader, I’m happy to say that I fell in love with the character of Kate. I thought she was wonderfully written, both very honest and believable. I love her relationship with her kids (she’s a teacher) and just her general outlook on life. While this book is in third person, we are only ever in Kate’s POV. Actually, it almost felt like reading first person to me. I thought the psychic distance to Kate’s character is so close, that you feel like as a reader you are going through the story with her. It was really well done and I just loved Kate’s character because of it.
The only one slight negative I had was that the other main character Tilly was a bit hard to like. I don’t mind flawed characters, the problem I had was never being in Tilly’s POV she was harder to understand and to get to know. I completely get why Hale did it this way. As a reader we are supposed to understand Tilly how Kate understands her. We are supposed to go on that journey with Kate and not know Tilly’s true feelings until Kate does. In this way the book was successful because that is exactly what happened. It’s just for me personally, because how wonderful Kate was, I wanted to really make sure Tilly deserved her.
I would absolutely recommend this to romance fans. In fact I would recommend any of Hale’s books to romances fans. All of them are well written and worth the read. In my opinion Hale is a special author and I can’t wait to see what she puts out next.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
One of the things I really appreciate about Hale is she writes books that feel slightly different than the normal romance books we are used to. I mean her last book took place inside a famous murder house and it was still wonderful. Her books also don’t have that cookie cutter fluff to them. Don’t get me wrong I love some good fluff, but sometimes I want something a bit deeper that really gets under my skin. Betty actually mentioned this in her review and it was the same word that kept popping in my head to describe this book was that it was “intense”. It did not take long for this book to grab me and after it did, it did not want to let me go. The way Hale writes is impressive and just really works for me.
Since I’m such a character driven reader, I’m happy to say that I fell in love with the character of Kate. I thought she was wonderfully written, both very honest and believable. I love her relationship with her kids (she’s a teacher) and just her general outlook on life. While this book is in third person, we are only ever in Kate’s POV. Actually, it almost felt like reading first person to me. I thought the psychic distance to Kate’s character is so close, that you feel like as a reader you are going through the story with her. It was really well done and I just loved Kate’s character because of it.
The only one slight negative I had was that the other main character Tilly was a bit hard to like. I don’t mind flawed characters, the problem I had was never being in Tilly’s POV she was harder to understand and to get to know. I completely get why Hale did it this way. As a reader we are supposed to understand Tilly how Kate understands her. We are supposed to go on that journey with Kate and not know Tilly’s true feelings until Kate does. In this way the book was successful because that is exactly what happened. It’s just for me personally, because how wonderful Kate was, I wanted to really make sure Tilly deserved her.
I would absolutely recommend this to romance fans. In fact I would recommend any of Hale’s books to romances fans. All of them are well written and worth the read. In my opinion Hale is a special author and I can’t wait to see what she puts out next.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
June 28, 2019
Intense, Emotional, Mind Blowing, Brilliant!
So this is my first book by this author and I’m amazed by how well written the book was!
The connection between the MCs, the love they had, the angst and the fireworks between them is just crazy! The writing is sooooo good that it moves you from inside! Rarely do I get emotional with books, in general I’m either happy, entertained, frustrated or just simply with a big smile on my face.
This book is different, the emotions are so real! It’s the kind of book that will make you think, and it will last in your head for a while! The struggle they go through, is so well written that you feel it in your gut!
The idea of nuns and convents wasn’t very appealing to me at the beginning, but storyline is so much more than that!
I highly recommend this book! You will not be entertained, but rather you will be deeply moved!
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”
So this is my first book by this author and I’m amazed by how well written the book was!
The connection between the MCs, the love they had, the angst and the fireworks between them is just crazy! The writing is sooooo good that it moves you from inside! Rarely do I get emotional with books, in general I’m either happy, entertained, frustrated or just simply with a big smile on my face.
This book is different, the emotions are so real! It’s the kind of book that will make you think, and it will last in your head for a while! The struggle they go through, is so well written that you feel it in your gut!
The idea of nuns and convents wasn’t very appealing to me at the beginning, but storyline is so much more than that!
I highly recommend this book! You will not be entertained, but rather you will be deeply moved!
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”
June 23, 2019
Wow wow wow. I had to make myself stop halfway to get some sleep before going back to The Secret Chord as soon as I woke up this morning. This novel is a rollercoaster of feelings, emotions and angst and I’d happily go for more.
Tilly and Kate were schoolmates at St. Joan’s Catholic school, they were roommates and then a bit more but didn’t go very far, as Tilly was planning on becoming a nun. When they meet again twelve years after graduation as temporary teachers at their old school, Tilly is engaged to a much older man, a vicar who seems mostly interested in her as a nanny for his two young children. Kate, on the other hand, is still as in love with Tilly as she was at sixteen.
I don’t know what it is with books involving Catholic characters but I often postpone reading them (I’m not a Catholic, which might be partly why) only to find that they’re often the most intense. Reconciling religious feelings and being attracted to women makes for a great romance when it’s well done. Tilly is so naive and at the same time so willing to understand, so strong and sweet and complicated, Kate doesn’t stand a chance. My heart was breaking along with Kate’s and mended with hers as well. It could be very annoying, this back and forth Tilly is doing, but it’s so cleverly written that it’s inherently poignant.
This book is going to stay in my mind for a while, no doubt.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Tilly and Kate were schoolmates at St. Joan’s Catholic school, they were roommates and then a bit more but didn’t go very far, as Tilly was planning on becoming a nun. When they meet again twelve years after graduation as temporary teachers at their old school, Tilly is engaged to a much older man, a vicar who seems mostly interested in her as a nanny for his two young children. Kate, on the other hand, is still as in love with Tilly as she was at sixteen.
I don’t know what it is with books involving Catholic characters but I often postpone reading them (I’m not a Catholic, which might be partly why) only to find that they’re often the most intense. Reconciling religious feelings and being attracted to women makes for a great romance when it’s well done. Tilly is so naive and at the same time so willing to understand, so strong and sweet and complicated, Kate doesn’t stand a chance. My heart was breaking along with Kate’s and mended with hers as well. It could be very annoying, this back and forth Tilly is doing, but it’s so cleverly written that it’s inherently poignant.
This book is going to stay in my mind for a while, no doubt.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2019
Another great story by Virginia Hale. It is about two best friends and more from a Catholic boarding school and their reunion at the same place as teachers. Could they ever be more than friends considering that only one of them accepts herself as she is, and the other is in big denial. As a deeply religious person she struggles with her feelings, needs and good old Catholic guilt. She is confused and sometimes quite irritating in her naivety and obedience.
Hale is again very successful in her storytelling. The book is easy to read, the protagonists are interesting and likable, the atmosphere at the school is shown convincingly. There is a nice bunch of supporting and minor characters. With all other elements done well, this makes for another good book by this author. I liked it, and will definitely check out her next offering. Recommended.
3.75 stars
June 23, 2019
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
Hale is again very successful in her storytelling. The book is easy to read, the protagonists are interesting and likable, the atmosphere at the school is shown convincingly. There is a nice bunch of supporting and minor characters. With all other elements done well, this makes for another good book by this author. I liked it, and will definitely check out her next offering. Recommended.
3.75 stars
June 23, 2019
*A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.*
July 12, 2019
Books about unrequited love make me feel all twisted and anxious. Then when you add a whole lot of religion into the mix, I'm at risk of panic attacks. However, I couldn't stop reading it. Kate has a temporary job as music teacher and house-mother at the catholic boarding school she attended as a child. When her childhood friend, Tilly, also turns up to teach at the school, all Kate's memories that she's been trying to bury for years, return to her with heart-breaking clarity. Tilly is engaged to an older Anglican vicar with two children, having given up her desire to become a nun.
I loved the setting of an island school in Melbourne, steeped in traditions and religious conformity. Sometimes it seems the former colonies retain a stronger sense of tradition and decorum than is evident in the contemporary UK. Kate's strength of character and her resilience, in spite of her enduring love for Tilly, is always evident. She has consistent respect for Tilly and her religious beliefs even when her heart is breaking.
Tilly is too nice a person to dislike but she's frustrating. Having been raised in that repressive catholic environment I could see where she was coming from and the ongoing battle she seems (we only get Kate’s point of view) to be having with herself. I enjoyed the writing, the angst and the very sensual dynamic they had with each other but there is still a part me saying, 'that will never last'.
Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
I loved the setting of an island school in Melbourne, steeped in traditions and religious conformity. Sometimes it seems the former colonies retain a stronger sense of tradition and decorum than is evident in the contemporary UK. Kate's strength of character and her resilience, in spite of her enduring love for Tilly, is always evident. She has consistent respect for Tilly and her religious beliefs even when her heart is breaking.
Tilly is too nice a person to dislike but she's frustrating. Having been raised in that repressive catholic environment I could see where she was coming from and the ongoing battle she seems (we only get Kate’s point of view) to be having with herself. I enjoyed the writing, the angst and the very sensual dynamic they had with each other but there is still a part me saying, 'that will never last'.
Book received from Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
June 21, 2019
I've been watching out for Virginia Hale's work since her award-winning "Echo Point" which first drew me to her writing style and story narrative. I loved her debut novel. "Where There's A Will" took up a notch in the storytelling category which impressed me. And now she has elevated the quality of her writing and story construction/creation to yet another level in her latest romance outing, "The Secret Chord," which is now my favourite book of hers, thusfar! I have so much respect for new authors who consistently hone in and improve their craft, pushing their skills to challenge themselves creatively. I marvel at those who have that mindset. Hale has that quality.
Which brings me back to "The Secret Chord." First off, it was the subject matter mentioned on the blurb that first piqued my interest. Catholic nuns/sisters and teachers. Convent school. Boarding school. Yup. I've always been drawn to and fascinated with stories about nuns and convents! Most prolly because I had such fond memories of the nuns and sisters in my convent school since Nursery. Hence, I always have a soft spot for them whenever I see them strolling on the streets or in public transport. Having said that, unfortunately most (if not all!) of the lesfic romance featuring MCs who're sisters/nuns, always seem to have sad, tragic endings. At least that's been my reading experience. But this time, after reading the blurb, I decided to bite the bullet and take the proverbial plunge. Why? Prolly because it's Hale? And also I just had a strong feeling that, this time around, maybe...just maybe...that there could be an HEA for a couple of Catholic school teachers after all and my heart wouldn't be ripped out after slogging through the entire book filled with angst, eh? Well... Needless to say, I found myself heaving a huge sigh of relief and smiling inside-out after reading the last sentence of the final page! Phew! Hope. Faith. Love. In the end...?
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
Which brings me back to "The Secret Chord." First off, it was the subject matter mentioned on the blurb that first piqued my interest. Catholic nuns/sisters and teachers. Convent school. Boarding school. Yup. I've always been drawn to and fascinated with stories about nuns and convents! Most prolly because I had such fond memories of the nuns and sisters in my convent school since Nursery. Hence, I always have a soft spot for them whenever I see them strolling on the streets or in public transport. Having said that, unfortunately most (if not all!) of the lesfic romance featuring MCs who're sisters/nuns, always seem to have sad, tragic endings. At least that's been my reading experience. But this time, after reading the blurb, I decided to bite the bullet and take the proverbial plunge. Why? Prolly because it's Hale? And also I just had a strong feeling that, this time around, maybe...just maybe...that there could be an HEA for a couple of Catholic school teachers after all and my heart wouldn't be ripped out after slogging through the entire book filled with angst, eh? Well... Needless to say, I found myself heaving a huge sigh of relief and smiling inside-out after reading the last sentence of the final page! Phew! Hope. Faith. Love. In the end...?
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
June 22, 2019
Romance at its finest.
"Tilly had longed for a simple life and devoting herself to God. Kate had longed for a simple life and devoting herself to Tilly."
Rarely do I feel like a book so emphatically resonates with me. All of the pieces have to come together just right. And they did.
Kate and Tilly were best friends at their catholic boarding school. After graduation, they lost touch. Kate has tried to get over Tilly for 12 years. Kate ends up taking a temporary teaching position at the school. And Tilly ends up walking right back into her life. To Kate's surprise, Tilly never took her vows to become a nun. To even more surprise, Tilly is engaged to be married to a handsome Vicar and stepmother to his children.
This was so very complicated. There was longing that I felt in my bones. Deep feelings so heavy they were destined to be revealed. Interactions charged with want. Emotions ran the gamut.
Virginia Hale is such a talented writer. She showed us this beautiful relationship between two women. No telling. Showing us with looks, words, and touches. I read a ridiculous amount of books and so few of them can make me feel what the characters are feeling. I loved. I ached. I desired. I hoped.
And who hasn't ever felt this way but never had the words as eloquent to describe?:
"It was hard to throw Tilly a buoy when she was in desperate need of a lifeline too."
I didn't even have to finish this book to know it was going to be one of my all time favorites. Not a single complaint. I loved all of the author's decisions and direction. I'm feeling like this review is inadequate because I can't find the right words to say how much I loved this.
I recommend this to everyone. Romance, second chances, feelings of unrequited love, religious guilt, emotional affair, infidelity, slow burn, will they/won't they, and ferries.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
"Tilly had longed for a simple life and devoting herself to God. Kate had longed for a simple life and devoting herself to Tilly."
Rarely do I feel like a book so emphatically resonates with me. All of the pieces have to come together just right. And they did.
Kate and Tilly were best friends at their catholic boarding school. After graduation, they lost touch. Kate has tried to get over Tilly for 12 years. Kate ends up taking a temporary teaching position at the school. And Tilly ends up walking right back into her life. To Kate's surprise, Tilly never took her vows to become a nun. To even more surprise, Tilly is engaged to be married to a handsome Vicar and stepmother to his children.
This was so very complicated. There was longing that I felt in my bones. Deep feelings so heavy they were destined to be revealed. Interactions charged with want. Emotions ran the gamut.
Virginia Hale is such a talented writer. She showed us this beautiful relationship between two women. No telling. Showing us with looks, words, and touches. I read a ridiculous amount of books and so few of them can make me feel what the characters are feeling. I loved. I ached. I desired. I hoped.
And who hasn't ever felt this way but never had the words as eloquent to describe?:
"It was hard to throw Tilly a buoy when she was in desperate need of a lifeline too."
I didn't even have to finish this book to know it was going to be one of my all time favorites. Not a single complaint. I loved all of the author's decisions and direction. I'm feeling like this review is inadequate because I can't find the right words to say how much I loved this.
I recommend this to everyone. Romance, second chances, feelings of unrequited love, religious guilt, emotional affair, infidelity, slow burn, will they/won't they, and ferries.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
July 5, 2019
This was a perfect read. People who read my reviews know that I don't give 5+ stars lightly. Honestly, I cannot fault this novel in any way, including my enjoyment. What a fantastic writer is Ms. Hale! She can write beautiful romances in diverse contexts like her previous 'Where there's a will' set in a murder house-turned into a tourist attraction or this one, in a Catholic boarding school. Talk about unromantic environments...
The 'friends to lovers' trope has been used quite a bit in lesfic but here Ms. Hale presents a plot with a clever twist. Best friends Kate and Tilly used to be classmates at St. Joan of Arc Catholic boarding school sharing some heated make-out sessions. After graduation, they parted ways, Kate to study teaching, Tilly to become a nun... yes, a nun. Twelve years later, they meet again at the same school, sharing teaching positions. Tilly isn't a nun but is engaged to an Anglican Church vicar, a much older widower with two kids. After so many years, Kate has lots of questions about the past and lots of feelings in the present, but Tilly is completely out of limits... or is she?
This book is written in third person from the exclusive point of view of Kate which provides Tilly's character with an air of mystery and focuses on Kate's emotional roller coaster of meeting again, and sharing the same living quarters, with her first and possibly only love. Some readers are not fans of third person single pov and it's true that sometimes a first person pov immerses the reader better in the character's headspace, but this is not the case. Ms. Hale has a talent to give us, word by word, scene by scene, a glimpse of the characters' feelings and emotions in an incredibly vivid way. What I love about this author is that she uses everyday situations to build up deep relationships. There is no need for overly dramatic gestures, just normal life circumstances and honest conversations that oh-so-slowly draw these characters together.
Without big declarations and avoiding patronising arguments, the author touches very controversial issues such as homosexuality and Catholicism, women's role in society, charity, celibacy, temptation, and religion. Both main characters are very well portrayed, Kate, disguising her insecurities with an apparent arrogance facade and Tilly deceivingly submissive and weak personality that hides a quiet strength and conviction. Tilly is such an unusual character in lesfic, whose naivety and relationship inexperience is endearing, while Kate is such a rock for her. They are completely made for each other.
The plot has a few flashbacks seamlessly intertwined with the present story that gives a sweet young adult feeling in Kate's and Tilly's interactions as teenagers. Ms. Hale writes sex so well, that the long lovemaking scene as adults is incredibly powerful and poetic in its beauty and intimacy. The very slow-burn buildup is really well done, temptation is such a powerful player in the plot that the tension could be cut with a proverbial knife.
Overall, a perfect friends to lovers book with an unusual setting. 'The secret chord' goes straight to my best books of 2019. 5+ stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
The 'friends to lovers' trope has been used quite a bit in lesfic but here Ms. Hale presents a plot with a clever twist. Best friends Kate and Tilly used to be classmates at St. Joan of Arc Catholic boarding school sharing some heated make-out sessions. After graduation, they parted ways, Kate to study teaching, Tilly to become a nun... yes, a nun. Twelve years later, they meet again at the same school, sharing teaching positions. Tilly isn't a nun but is engaged to an Anglican Church vicar, a much older widower with two kids. After so many years, Kate has lots of questions about the past and lots of feelings in the present, but Tilly is completely out of limits... or is she?
This book is written in third person from the exclusive point of view of Kate which provides Tilly's character with an air of mystery and focuses on Kate's emotional roller coaster of meeting again, and sharing the same living quarters, with her first and possibly only love. Some readers are not fans of third person single pov and it's true that sometimes a first person pov immerses the reader better in the character's headspace, but this is not the case. Ms. Hale has a talent to give us, word by word, scene by scene, a glimpse of the characters' feelings and emotions in an incredibly vivid way. What I love about this author is that she uses everyday situations to build up deep relationships. There is no need for overly dramatic gestures, just normal life circumstances and honest conversations that oh-so-slowly draw these characters together.
Without big declarations and avoiding patronising arguments, the author touches very controversial issues such as homosexuality and Catholicism, women's role in society, charity, celibacy, temptation, and religion. Both main characters are very well portrayed, Kate, disguising her insecurities with an apparent arrogance facade and Tilly deceivingly submissive and weak personality that hides a quiet strength and conviction. Tilly is such an unusual character in lesfic, whose naivety and relationship inexperience is endearing, while Kate is such a rock for her. They are completely made for each other.
The plot has a few flashbacks seamlessly intertwined with the present story that gives a sweet young adult feeling in Kate's and Tilly's interactions as teenagers. Ms. Hale writes sex so well, that the long lovemaking scene as adults is incredibly powerful and poetic in its beauty and intimacy. The very slow-burn buildup is really well done, temptation is such a powerful player in the plot that the tension could be cut with a proverbial knife.
Overall, a perfect friends to lovers book with an unusual setting. 'The secret chord' goes straight to my best books of 2019. 5+ stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
July 15, 2019
In a perfect world, Tilly and Kate are the angsty high school sweethearts of many long told tales. Stolen moments in bell towers, soft kisses on Ferris wheels, and that life and death longing that you feel most when you’re 16 and everything is so incredibly raw. I say perfect world because two girls together as a couple in a Catholic prep school present a dilemma. Tilly lives inside the boundaries of her faith and won’t cross, not even for Kate.
The book begins 12 years after graduation when the two reunite back on the island school as teachers. Tilly never became a nun but did travel the world as a missionary and is now engaged to an Anglican Vicar. Kate is a recognized music teacher and lives her life openly. The story doles out that sweet pain of will they won’t they because Tilly struggles with what does my heart want vs. what do I think I’m mandated to do by church and society. Meanwhile, Kate is devoted to Tilly body and soul. Details are the champion in this book and they’re used to lovingly create the seaside towns and all of the characters. It’s third person pov but we only get Kate’s so we never know about Tilly’s decisions until they happen. Frustrating but I never feel bad about accepting an author’s storytelling decisions.
Mentions of their past are brief and pop up naturally the way memories are often triggered by present events so they integrate into the flow rather than interrupt. There’s such an easiness to this book that I never felt a lull or a break. A very smooth read. ARC read courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book begins 12 years after graduation when the two reunite back on the island school as teachers. Tilly never became a nun but did travel the world as a missionary and is now engaged to an Anglican Vicar. Kate is a recognized music teacher and lives her life openly. The story doles out that sweet pain of will they won’t they because Tilly struggles with what does my heart want vs. what do I think I’m mandated to do by church and society. Meanwhile, Kate is devoted to Tilly body and soul. Details are the champion in this book and they’re used to lovingly create the seaside towns and all of the characters. It’s third person pov but we only get Kate’s so we never know about Tilly’s decisions until they happen. Frustrating but I never feel bad about accepting an author’s storytelling decisions.
Mentions of their past are brief and pop up naturally the way memories are often triggered by present events so they integrate into the flow rather than interrupt. There’s such an easiness to this book that I never felt a lull or a break. A very smooth read. ARC read courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2020
I was incredibly impressed by Virginia Hale’s “Where There’s a Will” and I wanted to repeat that experience so I picked up “The Secret Chord” right away.
And, it was very different.
“Where There’s a Will” had its share of drama but it also had humor and the witty banter between the leads and the directness of one of its main character offered some levity.
“The Secret Chord”, however, had none of that. Just know, the tone is serious and it took me a long time until I ENJOYED it.
Hale did a superb job bringing a Catholic school for girls to life on a remote location in Australia. Kate is a strong character that knows herself pretty darn well at 30 years of age and she’s returned to her alma mater to teach for a year. Fortunately, and unfortunately, so has her unrequited childhood love, Tilly, who is deeply Catholic and engaged to a vicar.
Everything about this read felt authentic. The teenagers, their behavior and chatter, the nuns, the atmosphere, the dynamic between the leads. It didn’t feel like Hale skirted some topic she barely knew. She immersed us in it. And every scene between Kate and Tilly was palpable.
The writing was very well done but darn it if I wasn’t on the edge of my seat with a pit in my stomach for nearly the entire read. Kate spends 70% of the book pining, pining, and twisting in misery knowing her love will never be returned. I can’t say it’s a fun book.
But, we do get a happy ending and that last 30% felt so good to revel in. On a side note, I really enjoy reading about leads who have a long history together before we ever come on the scene. It adds a lot of dimension.
It’s been nearly a week since I finished the book and the characters and details of the read still come back to my thoughts.
Overall, the book is very well written and it was really interesting to have such unique characters (main and minor), exploring the impact of religion on our life’s course, and turning some stereotypes on their head.
Well done but, geez, it’s angsty on steroids. Just be prepared.
4.25 stars
And, it was very different.
“Where There’s a Will” had its share of drama but it also had humor and the witty banter between the leads and the directness of one of its main character offered some levity.
“The Secret Chord”, however, had none of that. Just know, the tone is serious and it took me a long time until I ENJOYED it.
Hale did a superb job bringing a Catholic school for girls to life on a remote location in Australia. Kate is a strong character that knows herself pretty darn well at 30 years of age and she’s returned to her alma mater to teach for a year. Fortunately, and unfortunately, so has her unrequited childhood love, Tilly, who is deeply Catholic and engaged to a vicar.
Everything about this read felt authentic. The teenagers, their behavior and chatter, the nuns, the atmosphere, the dynamic between the leads. It didn’t feel like Hale skirted some topic she barely knew. She immersed us in it. And every scene between Kate and Tilly was palpable.
The writing was very well done but darn it if I wasn’t on the edge of my seat with a pit in my stomach for nearly the entire read. Kate spends 70% of the book pining, pining, and twisting in misery knowing her love will never be returned. I can’t say it’s a fun book.
But, we do get a happy ending and that last 30% felt so good to revel in. On a side note, I really enjoy reading about leads who have a long history together before we ever come on the scene. It adds a lot of dimension.
It’s been nearly a week since I finished the book and the characters and details of the read still come back to my thoughts.
Overall, the book is very well written and it was really interesting to have such unique characters (main and minor), exploring the impact of religion on our life’s course, and turning some stereotypes on their head.
Well done but, geez, it’s angsty on steroids. Just be prepared.
4.25 stars
January 7, 2020
I finally found out why Goodreads sometimes decides the book is done. If I read on the Kindle app on my phone and I finish the book it automatically sends a sign to Goodreads to mark the book as finished without me having a chance to write a review first.
So yeah, I finished this book last night and am completely blown away by it. Virginia Hale was a new author for me but I can say it is a love match. So much so, that I had to buy her other two books as well. My god, The Secred Chord was superb. I love everything about it. What is it with Australia that it produces such magnificant writers? They must be doing something right!
Because I was ambushed by Kindle I won't write a long review at this time (if I think of something else I will add it later). I did make some highlights in Kindle you can sample. I can honestly say that every page of this slow burn romance was a joy to read (me inhaling this book in a day makes that obvious). This talented author had it just right and that don't happen a lot. Absolute perfection. Just read it.
f/f slow burn but so fucking worth it
Themes: Australia (Melbourne area), religion, Lords Island, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Girls’ School, music teacher, I am straight but gay for you, virgin, engaged to the vicar, how do you solve a problem like Mathilda, already a highlight for 2020.
5 stars
So yeah, I finished this book last night and am completely blown away by it. Virginia Hale was a new author for me but I can say it is a love match. So much so, that I had to buy her other two books as well. My god, The Secred Chord was superb. I love everything about it. What is it with Australia that it produces such magnificant writers? They must be doing something right!
Because I was ambushed by Kindle I won't write a long review at this time (if I think of something else I will add it later). I did make some highlights in Kindle you can sample. I can honestly say that every page of this slow burn romance was a joy to read (me inhaling this book in a day makes that obvious). This talented author had it just right and that don't happen a lot. Absolute perfection. Just read it.
f/f slow burn but so fucking worth it
Themes: Australia (Melbourne area), religion, Lords Island, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Girls’ School, music teacher, I am straight but gay for you, virgin, engaged to the vicar, how do you solve a problem like Mathilda, already a highlight for 2020.
5 stars
August 6, 2019
This is a difficult review to write. I love this author and am impressed by her writing skills but this story did not work for me.
Pros; Hale develops her characters so well. She takes the time to let us get to know Kate and many of her students, their pasts and their passions. Her settings are vivid and easy to visualize. She pulls you into her stories and makes you feel like you are right there among the teens on the passenger ferry, listening to their weekend chatter. She challenges you to ponder the lives of both Kate and Tilly and the reasons their lives turned out the way they have.
Cons; Tilly and her naivete. Time spent with Tilly made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. A cloistered life is one thing. Reality in this world of social media and round the clock news channels made her innocence feel almost comical. The students on the island were more mature than Tilly. I struggled to stay engaged with this read because I didn’t feel Tilly was worth the effort on Kate’s part.
When I don’t engage with the characters in a novel a read becomes an endurance challenge.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley for review.
3.5 stars
Pros; Hale develops her characters so well. She takes the time to let us get to know Kate and many of her students, their pasts and their passions. Her settings are vivid and easy to visualize. She pulls you into her stories and makes you feel like you are right there among the teens on the passenger ferry, listening to their weekend chatter. She challenges you to ponder the lives of both Kate and Tilly and the reasons their lives turned out the way they have.
Cons; Tilly and her naivete. Time spent with Tilly made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. A cloistered life is one thing. Reality in this world of social media and round the clock news channels made her innocence feel almost comical. The students on the island were more mature than Tilly. I struggled to stay engaged with this read because I didn’t feel Tilly was worth the effort on Kate’s part.
When I don’t engage with the characters in a novel a read becomes an endurance challenge.
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley for review.
3.5 stars
July 5, 2019
As I sit here thinking of how to describe The Secret Chord by Virginia Hale, the one word that keeps popping into my head is intense.
This story grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until the last page.
This is a pure romance and is definitely character driven. The setting is a Catholic boarding school for girls in present day Australia, located on a small island. Kate and Tilly were once students, best friends, and roommates here years before this story begins. At that time Tilly wanted to become a nun when she graduated and devote her life to God. Kate just wanted to devote her life to Tilly. For twelve years after the end of school they lived separate lives until they both end up back at the boarding school, this time as temporary teachers. Kate still secretly feels the same for Tilly, who no longer wants to be a nun. However, she is engaged to be married to the local vicar in town.
The book is written in third person limited POV through Kate’s eyes. We can only see what Tilly is thinking by what Kate notices. While I connected with both characters pretty quickly, I wanted to see inside of Tilly the way we could Kate. I understand why the author did not write the story that way though, it adds to the intensity and the angst of the tale. The secondary characters, especially the students, are well-written and add some of the few lighter moments to an otherwise angsty romance.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It is a powerful love story full of the push/pull of religion over some people’s lives, and shows the strength of will it takes to find the way to love.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
This story grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until the last page.
This is a pure romance and is definitely character driven. The setting is a Catholic boarding school for girls in present day Australia, located on a small island. Kate and Tilly were once students, best friends, and roommates here years before this story begins. At that time Tilly wanted to become a nun when she graduated and devote her life to God. Kate just wanted to devote her life to Tilly. For twelve years after the end of school they lived separate lives until they both end up back at the boarding school, this time as temporary teachers. Kate still secretly feels the same for Tilly, who no longer wants to be a nun. However, she is engaged to be married to the local vicar in town.
The book is written in third person limited POV through Kate’s eyes. We can only see what Tilly is thinking by what Kate notices. While I connected with both characters pretty quickly, I wanted to see inside of Tilly the way we could Kate. I understand why the author did not write the story that way though, it adds to the intensity and the angst of the tale. The secondary characters, especially the students, are well-written and add some of the few lighter moments to an otherwise angsty romance.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It is a powerful love story full of the push/pull of religion over some people’s lives, and shows the strength of will it takes to find the way to love.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
First book by Virginia Hale that I ever read and I must say that it’s surprisingly good and very well-written that I just couldn’t put it down. I devoured it in one sitting. Story started a bit slow but picked up eventually. It’s not just a book on romance; it’s about accepting your sexuality and reconciling your faith and your sexuality. Yes, it’s a little heavy on emotions and intense given the background settings. But hell (excuse the pun), it was a good and interesting read...
4.5 star
4.5 star
June 28, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I seem to be an outlier here. I haven’t read anything else by Hale, but chose this based on strong reviews. I liked it, but wasn’t blown away like the other reviewers.
Main premise is that two women who attended the same boarding school as kids are now teaching at the boarding school as adults. It’s a catholic boarding school, and located on an island.
Kate, whose POV the book is told from, is on a year long contract as the music teacher, her BFF from way back, Tilly, is now coming back to the island to fill in on a short term contract and will be there for the end of Kate’s term. Kate and Tilly were best friends, who also liked to kiss each other in the bell tower when they were in their teens. Kate adored Tilly, but Tilly had always wanted to be a nun and Kate obviously couldn’t compete with that. The two haven’t seen each other for about 12 years.
So, all of this is an interesting premise, I’m usually a sucker for nun books, but this isn’t quite that, in that Tilly never became a nun, so while there are nuns in the story, because the nuns are the majority of the teachers at this school, Tilly is simply highly devout, but never took her vows. Kate is more surprised to find out that Tilly is engaged to a protestant vicar, who is decades her senior. She and Tilly are also sharing a cottage, so lots of forced interaction via that plot device.
I’ll start with the pros. I loved Hale’s writing style, the setting, the characters (bar one, I’ll get to that in a minute) and the exploration of faith/values. Kate was a great MC, and I felt her frustration with wanting to live an authentic life while still being adhered to her beliefs about faith. She treated everyone well, and only wanted the same. The nuns were also interesting, and I liked the exploration of how they moved within the contraints of their own faith. The girls at the boarding school were also fairly well fleshed out, and I enjoyed the side forays with their characters and their interactions with Kate.
Ok, so now the cons. Pretty much all of these revolve around Tilly. I could NOT warm to her. She’s just so... repressed. Her relationship with Declan was unfathomable, she ran hot and cold with Kate for the vast majority of the book, and I got tired of reading about her innate kindness by the 50% mark. Not only was she repressed, she was boring, and in all honesty, kind of stupid. I get that she wanted to help people but inviting people you don’t know to stay in your cottage (on a remote island!) is dangerous and Kate was flat out right about that. Not to mention the ridiculousness of bringing someone to an island full of nuns and girls and not caring about the possible danger she was placing them (or Kate) in. Sure the guy turned out to be harmless but Tilly couldn’t have known that for sure. She’s also ridiculously possessive of Kate, while still being engaged to someone else. Honestly, there was nothing about this character that I liked. Tilly describes herself this way “I’m hard to love. Maybe even hard to like.” and she is not wrong.
So, that made it hard to really immerse myself in the book, because my aggravation with Tilly (who also had a terrible name, Matilda Wattle, which as an Aussie just made me cringe every time I read it), kept cropping up and making me wonder why Kate wanted her, and then I’d be annoyed at Kate. I’d usually have finished a book this size in a day, but had to keep putting it down because Tilly was annoying me.
I enjoyed enough of this to plow through, and would try others by Hale, but didn’t love this. 3 stars.
I seem to be an outlier here. I haven’t read anything else by Hale, but chose this based on strong reviews. I liked it, but wasn’t blown away like the other reviewers.
Main premise is that two women who attended the same boarding school as kids are now teaching at the boarding school as adults. It’s a catholic boarding school, and located on an island.
Kate, whose POV the book is told from, is on a year long contract as the music teacher, her BFF from way back, Tilly, is now coming back to the island to fill in on a short term contract and will be there for the end of Kate’s term. Kate and Tilly were best friends, who also liked to kiss each other in the bell tower when they were in their teens. Kate adored Tilly, but Tilly had always wanted to be a nun and Kate obviously couldn’t compete with that. The two haven’t seen each other for about 12 years.
So, all of this is an interesting premise, I’m usually a sucker for nun books, but this isn’t quite that, in that Tilly never became a nun, so while there are nuns in the story, because the nuns are the majority of the teachers at this school, Tilly is simply highly devout, but never took her vows. Kate is more surprised to find out that Tilly is engaged to a protestant vicar, who is decades her senior. She and Tilly are also sharing a cottage, so lots of forced interaction via that plot device.
I’ll start with the pros. I loved Hale’s writing style, the setting, the characters (bar one, I’ll get to that in a minute) and the exploration of faith/values. Kate was a great MC, and I felt her frustration with wanting to live an authentic life while still being adhered to her beliefs about faith. She treated everyone well, and only wanted the same. The nuns were also interesting, and I liked the exploration of how they moved within the contraints of their own faith. The girls at the boarding school were also fairly well fleshed out, and I enjoyed the side forays with their characters and their interactions with Kate.
Ok, so now the cons. Pretty much all of these revolve around Tilly. I could NOT warm to her. She’s just so... repressed. Her relationship with Declan was unfathomable, she ran hot and cold with Kate for the vast majority of the book, and I got tired of reading about her innate kindness by the 50% mark. Not only was she repressed, she was boring, and in all honesty, kind of stupid. I get that she wanted to help people but inviting people you don’t know to stay in your cottage (on a remote island!) is dangerous and Kate was flat out right about that. Not to mention the ridiculousness of bringing someone to an island full of nuns and girls and not caring about the possible danger she was placing them (or Kate) in. Sure the guy turned out to be harmless but Tilly couldn’t have known that for sure. She’s also ridiculously possessive of Kate, while still being engaged to someone else. Honestly, there was nothing about this character that I liked. Tilly describes herself this way “I’m hard to love. Maybe even hard to like.” and she is not wrong.
So, that made it hard to really immerse myself in the book, because my aggravation with Tilly (who also had a terrible name, Matilda Wattle, which as an Aussie just made me cringe every time I read it), kept cropping up and making me wonder why Kate wanted her, and then I’d be annoyed at Kate. I’d usually have finished a book this size in a day, but had to keep putting it down because Tilly was annoying me.
I enjoyed enough of this to plow through, and would try others by Hale, but didn’t love this. 3 stars.
February 7, 2020
A good read! I hadn't read anything by this author but was pleasantly surprised. The premise is already clearly laid out by other reviewers, best friends who went to Catholic school together as teens and who kissed sometimes lost touch and 12 years later, find themselves back at said school as teachers. MC Kate held a torch for other MC Tilly, and that flame burns slow and bright throughout the book. However Tilly was on a one-track road to nun-dom so no more kissing.
I found the writing to be very good and it oozed "longing." I felt both character's longing deep in my bones....especially Kate's as the book is from her POV. She was so dedicated. I have a thing for themes of religion in books because faith is something that is very tricky to navigate, it is an identity that runs deeeeeep, and when matters of the heart challenge it, it can throw one for a tailspin. I thought the author handled this with such grace. Tilly's struggle was real, the back and forth, god or Kate, hot and cold, was very believable. She was raised by her Aunt Nun, and lived in a convent like atmosphere, and that shapes a person.
Even though I understood Tilly's plight, doesn't mean I liked her very much. I see that other readers had the same opinion. The naivety was overblown, the "relationship" with Declan eye-rolling and just....gross. Kate I liked quite a bit though, what a lovely character. And yes it was slow burn, and with the longing mentioned above, the build-up just kept ramping up and when they finally get together it was reaaaalllllllyyy well done. Wowsers.
Solid 4/5, a point taken off for Tilly.
I found the writing to be very good and it oozed "longing." I felt both character's longing deep in my bones....especially Kate's as the book is from her POV. She was so dedicated. I have a thing for themes of religion in books because faith is something that is very tricky to navigate, it is an identity that runs deeeeeep, and when matters of the heart challenge it, it can throw one for a tailspin. I thought the author handled this with such grace. Tilly's struggle was real, the back and forth, god or Kate, hot and cold, was very believable. She was raised by her Aunt Nun, and lived in a convent like atmosphere, and that shapes a person.
Even though I understood Tilly's plight, doesn't mean I liked her very much. I see that other readers had the same opinion. The naivety was overblown, the "relationship" with Declan eye-rolling and just....gross. Kate I liked quite a bit though, what a lovely character. And yes it was slow burn, and with the longing mentioned above, the build-up just kept ramping up and when they finally get together it was reaaaalllllllyyy well done. Wowsers.
Solid 4/5, a point taken off for Tilly.
June 21, 2019
Overall I liked this romance. Kate and Tilly attended the same all girls Catholic boarding school 12 years early and they are reunited when they both are teaching at the same Catholic school at the age of 30. Kate is a Lesbian and Tilly is VERY Catholic and engaged to an Anglican Minister. There is a lot going on in this one in terms of characters. You have the girls who are at the boarding school, the Nuns who live in the convent who run the school and some other supporting characters like the finance and his children.
The first positive thing I want to say is that the Author does a good job incorporating all of the Characters into the romance without it being overwhelming. I have read some books where it's just too much going on to follow in terms of characters. The Secret Chord is told in only one point of view - that of Kate's. I normally prefer to see the side of both MC's, but this one worked for me. Again the author does a really good job giving glimpses of what Tilly is thinking with her interaction with Kate. I did feel that this one started a bit slow, but I was able to push through and it picked up quicker than I had anticipated. By the time I got to the last page, it did leave me wanting just a little more. In terms of the romance. it for sure is a slow burn. I an not a big fan of slow burns, but considering the story line it was necessary. For sure we get that Kate has always loved Tilly and we know that she is attracted to Tilly, but what is not 100% obvious is that Tilly is into Kate unless you really pay attention. I was able to gather that Tilly loved Kate but because of her religious convictions she struggled. Let me just put it out there that the slow burn was for sure worth it in the end.
So i will rate this a 3.75 but will round it to a 4.
This ARC was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
The first positive thing I want to say is that the Author does a good job incorporating all of the Characters into the romance without it being overwhelming. I have read some books where it's just too much going on to follow in terms of characters. The Secret Chord is told in only one point of view - that of Kate's. I normally prefer to see the side of both MC's, but this one worked for me. Again the author does a really good job giving glimpses of what Tilly is thinking with her interaction with Kate. I did feel that this one started a bit slow, but I was able to push through and it picked up quicker than I had anticipated. By the time I got to the last page, it did leave me wanting just a little more. In terms of the romance. it for sure is a slow burn. I an not a big fan of slow burns, but considering the story line it was necessary. For sure we get that Kate has always loved Tilly and we know that she is attracted to Tilly, but what is not 100% obvious is that Tilly is into Kate unless you really pay attention. I was able to gather that Tilly loved Kate but because of her religious convictions she struggled. Let me just put it out there that the slow burn was for sure worth it in the end.
So i will rate this a 3.75 but will round it to a 4.
This ARC was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
I loved the setting, the characters, and the story. I started reading it last night, and I couldn't put it down. I'm a little sleep-deprived today.
It definitely deserves its high rating.
It definitely deserves its high rating.
July 11, 2019
I have a confession to make, even though this is her third book and she's won a Golden Crown, I hadn't heard of Virginia Hale before reading this gem. It really is one of the best books I've read in a long time and thoroughly deserves the five star rating.
Kate & Tilly are friends from St. Joan's convent boarding school who meet again when both wind up teaching in their Alma Mater (Kate has decided that living in and being in charge of a girls' boarding school is the best way to make a clean break with her ex-girlfriend!) Despite some fevered kissing as students, a memory Kate clings to, Tilly is now so buttoned up that the pupils of St. Joan's initially think she is a novice. With a wonderful Aussie/NZ turn of phrase, the girls describe her as "So daggy she's almost hipster".
From the off the tension between the two is palpable and Hale plays is beautifully. A simple act like Tilly closing the clasp of a watch over Kate's wrist can become the layered and sensual act: "Head-spinning, she let Tilly fold the clasp into place. As she carried her gaze over Tilly’s features—the slightest protrusion of her chin, her fine nose, porcelain skin—a sudden urge to kiss Tilly overcame her. It was strange, the marriage of anxiety and arousal, the need to run, the equal, all-consuming need to press Tilly back on the bed and discover every inch of her skin in ways Tilly had probably never imagined. With Tilly’s fingers curled around her wrist, her thumb pressing the clasp to lock, Kate’s fist tensed, contracted like a Venus flytrap." I very rarely quote passages of that length in reviews but I could easily put in fifty of them from this book, so striking is the descriptive writing.
As well as the romantic aspect, parts of "The Secret Chord" are very funny, particularly the passages featuring the school students. As someone who has taught teenage girls and worked as residential staff in a boarding school I can vouch for the accuracy of their portrayal! Some of the nuns are also hilarious, although they are a damn sight nicer than any of the ones I encountered in my convent school days.
Finally, I don't want to risk spoiling anything but when you get to the bit about "The Secret Chord", it's heart-wrenching. That's the other thing that Virginia Hale has done so well, made me cry my bloody eyes out!
I think the best recommendation I can give this book is that before I had even finished it I went and bought Hale's two other books, which I subsequently devoured and adored. Definitely an author on my watch list and I can safely say that Virginia Hale has achieved 'buy without needing to read the synopsis' status.
Kate & Tilly are friends from St. Joan's convent boarding school who meet again when both wind up teaching in their Alma Mater (Kate has decided that living in and being in charge of a girls' boarding school is the best way to make a clean break with her ex-girlfriend!) Despite some fevered kissing as students, a memory Kate clings to, Tilly is now so buttoned up that the pupils of St. Joan's initially think she is a novice. With a wonderful Aussie/NZ turn of phrase, the girls describe her as "So daggy she's almost hipster".
From the off the tension between the two is palpable and Hale plays is beautifully. A simple act like Tilly closing the clasp of a watch over Kate's wrist can become the layered and sensual act: "Head-spinning, she let Tilly fold the clasp into place. As she carried her gaze over Tilly’s features—the slightest protrusion of her chin, her fine nose, porcelain skin—a sudden urge to kiss Tilly overcame her. It was strange, the marriage of anxiety and arousal, the need to run, the equal, all-consuming need to press Tilly back on the bed and discover every inch of her skin in ways Tilly had probably never imagined. With Tilly’s fingers curled around her wrist, her thumb pressing the clasp to lock, Kate’s fist tensed, contracted like a Venus flytrap." I very rarely quote passages of that length in reviews but I could easily put in fifty of them from this book, so striking is the descriptive writing.
As well as the romantic aspect, parts of "The Secret Chord" are very funny, particularly the passages featuring the school students. As someone who has taught teenage girls and worked as residential staff in a boarding school I can vouch for the accuracy of their portrayal! Some of the nuns are also hilarious, although they are a damn sight nicer than any of the ones I encountered in my convent school days.
Finally, I don't want to risk spoiling anything but when you get to the bit about "The Secret Chord", it's heart-wrenching. That's the other thing that Virginia Hale has done so well, made me cry my bloody eyes out!
I think the best recommendation I can give this book is that before I had even finished it I went and bought Hale's two other books, which I subsequently devoured and adored. Definitely an author on my watch list and I can safely say that Virginia Hale has achieved 'buy without needing to read the synopsis' status.
January 18, 2022
I was reading a thread from Erica Lee on Twitter about 'what is the most underrated lesfic book you've ever read?' I picked The Secret Chord for my first book without reading the blurb, and boy! I'm so glad I did! Virginia Hale is an incredible storyteller. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions from the first chapter to the end of the book, but when I finally closed the book, I had the biggest smile on my face because I knew Kate and Tilly would be okay, which makes me ridiculously happy🥺
June 22, 2019
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Virginia Hale first impressed me with her debut novel "Echo Point". Her writing style is almost impeccable and her stories are always complex and interesting. "Where There's A Will" was my favorite story of her until now. "The Secret Chord" is another level of quality though and it's the brilliant testimony of Hale's creativity and evolution as an author.
Kate York met Tilly Wattle when Tilly lost her parents at an early age and she was sent to live with her aunt, a Catholic nun who lived and worked at an all girls school, St. Joan of Arc. Tilly grew up in a very religious way and her dream was becoming a nun.
The girls became best friends since they met but when they became teens their feelings for each other changed. Kate wanted to have a life with Tilly and be able to love her openly but Tilly already had her dream of becoming a nun and Kate was not able to change that. When Kate went to college she stopped contacting Tilly with the hope that she will get over her and continue her life.
Several years later they are both back at St. Joan’s working as teachers for a semester. Kate still has feelings for Tilly but Tilly is now engaged to an Vicar, who has two small children.
I don't want to say more but I think this novel is one of the best I've read this year. I didn't want it to end, I would really like to see Kate and Tilly in another book as they are such complex and rich characters.
Virginia Hale first impressed me with her debut novel "Echo Point". Her writing style is almost impeccable and her stories are always complex and interesting. "Where There's A Will" was my favorite story of her until now. "The Secret Chord" is another level of quality though and it's the brilliant testimony of Hale's creativity and evolution as an author.
Kate York met Tilly Wattle when Tilly lost her parents at an early age and she was sent to live with her aunt, a Catholic nun who lived and worked at an all girls school, St. Joan of Arc. Tilly grew up in a very religious way and her dream was becoming a nun.
The girls became best friends since they met but when they became teens their feelings for each other changed. Kate wanted to have a life with Tilly and be able to love her openly but Tilly already had her dream of becoming a nun and Kate was not able to change that. When Kate went to college she stopped contacting Tilly with the hope that she will get over her and continue her life.
Several years later they are both back at St. Joan’s working as teachers for a semester. Kate still has feelings for Tilly but Tilly is now engaged to an Vicar, who has two small children.
I don't want to say more but I think this novel is one of the best I've read this year. I didn't want it to end, I would really like to see Kate and Tilly in another book as they are such complex and rich characters.
February 3, 2021
Kate and Tilly attended the same Catholic school as kids where they shared a dorm room and also a few kisses. But that was twelve years back. At that time Tilly was determined to become a nun. Twelve years thence, both of them are back in the same school as teachers now, sharing their living quarters once again. Their respective terms overlap for only three terms after which Kate plans to move out. Tilly is also now engaged to a Vicar with two little kids. During the twelve years, Kate has also embraced her sexuality and finds that she is as attracted to Tilly as she was when they were sixteen.
The book is written entirely from Kate’s PoV. So we are with her every faltering step in navigating her relationship with Tilly, every tortured thought of tamping down her want and her love, every inconsolable feeling regarding Tilly. It is easy to understand, empathise with and ache for Kate. The book is written for that.
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
The book is written entirely from Kate’s PoV. So we are with her every faltering step in navigating her relationship with Tilly, every tortured thought of tamping down her want and her love, every inconsolable feeling regarding Tilly. It is easy to understand, empathise with and ache for Kate. The book is written for that.
Read the full review @https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
July 9, 2019
Kate York is trying to move on from her last relationship when she accepts a temporary teaching position at her former Catholic boarding school. A few months in, her old roommate returns to the school as a substitute teacher. Tilly Wattle was raised by her aunt and the rest of her convent nuns after her parents died. She planned on devoting her life to God as a nun, but after all this time, Kate realizes Tilley never took her vows and is now engaged to a vicar. Having to share the same cottage at the school, old feelings awaken and Kate and Tilly must navigate a past and a present filled with challenges in order to save their relationship.
This is a friends to lovers story, but what I really enjoyed was the coming out story. This was my first book by Ms Hale and it will most certainly not be my last. What a wonderfully written, beautiful story about two friends that find each other again. The story is narrated in third person from Kate’s point of view. While I admit this created intrigue surrounding Tilly’s character, I wish Tilly’s side was better explored since she is the one with the largest conflict. We all have our coming out story/journey, but I can only imagine how difficult it would be for someone like Tilly. Her entire life revolved around the Catholic religion, which we all know can be inflexible. The author did a great job of showing us the inner struggle Tilly goes through shy of providing scenes from her point of view.
I also enjoyed the setting tremendously. The boarding school is in an island in Australia and it made things almost magical. The back and forth in the ferry, the isolation and how it made the city seem as the only place to be yourself. Ms Hale’s ability to describe the different settings such as the beach, ferry, cottage and garden made me feel connected with the story. The secondary characters were also well done and there were several touching moments involving the girls that boarded at the school.
My only frustration was I felt the story’s pace was slow at the beginning of the book. Once Tilly started acknowledging feelings, things picked up for me. This brings me back to wishing there was some narration from Tilly’s point of view as I feel it would have been very interesting and the real conflict of the story.
Overall an original, well written story for romance fans. 4 stars
ARC generously provided to me by BB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a friends to lovers story, but what I really enjoyed was the coming out story. This was my first book by Ms Hale and it will most certainly not be my last. What a wonderfully written, beautiful story about two friends that find each other again. The story is narrated in third person from Kate’s point of view. While I admit this created intrigue surrounding Tilly’s character, I wish Tilly’s side was better explored since she is the one with the largest conflict. We all have our coming out story/journey, but I can only imagine how difficult it would be for someone like Tilly. Her entire life revolved around the Catholic religion, which we all know can be inflexible. The author did a great job of showing us the inner struggle Tilly goes through shy of providing scenes from her point of view.
I also enjoyed the setting tremendously. The boarding school is in an island in Australia and it made things almost magical. The back and forth in the ferry, the isolation and how it made the city seem as the only place to be yourself. Ms Hale’s ability to describe the different settings such as the beach, ferry, cottage and garden made me feel connected with the story. The secondary characters were also well done and there were several touching moments involving the girls that boarded at the school.
My only frustration was I felt the story’s pace was slow at the beginning of the book. Once Tilly started acknowledging feelings, things picked up for me. This brings me back to wishing there was some narration from Tilly’s point of view as I feel it would have been very interesting and the real conflict of the story.
Overall an original, well written story for romance fans. 4 stars
ARC generously provided to me by BB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2021
I've written in the past about how much I tend to enjoy books with religion as a major motif, because I can connect so hard to it from my past. So I was really excited when I found this book that takes place primarily at a Catholic church and school.
And there was very little I didn't like about this book. I really loved the setting and the themes. And I absolutely loved the character of Kate. She was wonderful and lovely and deserves the world. But that leads to my one problem with the book, and that is I didn't see the appeal of Tilly at all.
Tilly to me seemed so bland and uninteresting and it to me felt like Kate was settling for adolescent feelings for Tilly when she deserves so much better. The romance was cute, and seeing them come together was nice, but I just had a feeling in the back of my head the whole time that Kate can do better.
I did really love the religious aspect and the struggle Tilly has with her beliefs though, as well as Kate's consideration with how she presents herself as a teacher. That was very relatable for me and reminded me of when there are family events for the school my mother works for.
Anyway, this book has a lot of things I love in novels from music, to religion, to great side characters. But unfortunately one of the MCs isn't to my fancy and that drops the score down some. 4.25/5
And there was very little I didn't like about this book. I really loved the setting and the themes. And I absolutely loved the character of Kate. She was wonderful and lovely and deserves the world. But that leads to my one problem with the book, and that is I didn't see the appeal of Tilly at all.
Tilly to me seemed so bland and uninteresting and it to me felt like Kate was settling for adolescent feelings for Tilly when she deserves so much better. The romance was cute, and seeing them come together was nice, but I just had a feeling in the back of my head the whole time that Kate can do better.
I did really love the religious aspect and the struggle Tilly has with her beliefs though, as well as Kate's consideration with how she presents herself as a teacher. That was very relatable for me and reminded me of when there are family events for the school my mother works for.
Anyway, this book has a lot of things I love in novels from music, to religion, to great side characters. But unfortunately one of the MCs isn't to my fancy and that drops the score down some. 4.25/5
October 1, 2023
I was looking for a book that kept my interest alive throughout the whole story, and it's ironic that The Secret Chord had been in my TBR list for such a long time and I kept postponing reading it. Why? Because I am stupid.
Although religious themed books aren't my first go kinda novels, this one exceeded all expectations and made me feel the troubles of discovering your true identity while facing the fear of god.
The pull between Kate and Tilly is so palpable that I had to stop reading at midnight as I couldn't take it anymore.
A best friends to lovers/second chance romance that is so tender at moments and so fragile.
Tilly's awakening doesn't go without suffering for her soul, and Kate's longing, fear to lose her best friend and understanding is so appealing.
Virginia Hale's writing is exquisite and I'll be sure to check out more books by this author. I don't get why this one has so less reviews, it's trully amazing and I hope more people will read it.
My heart is full now. I love when a book gives me this present. This joy! I totally lost myself in ever page.
Book hangover coming for sure!!
Although religious themed books aren't my first go kinda novels, this one exceeded all expectations and made me feel the troubles of discovering your true identity while facing the fear of god.
The pull between Kate and Tilly is so palpable that I had to stop reading at midnight as I couldn't take it anymore.
A best friends to lovers/second chance romance that is so tender at moments and so fragile.
Tilly's awakening doesn't go without suffering for her soul, and Kate's longing, fear to lose her best friend and understanding is so appealing.
Virginia Hale's writing is exquisite and I'll be sure to check out more books by this author. I don't get why this one has so less reviews, it's trully amazing and I hope more people will read it.
My heart is full now. I love when a book gives me this present. This joy! I totally lost myself in ever page.
Book hangover coming for sure!!
April 20, 2020
4.5* Another book in my attempt to read 2020 Lambda Literary Lesbian Romance finalists and I like this one. Honestly, the premise did not appeal to me at first. Two girls who went to a Catholic boarding school meet again as women teaching in the same school. Kate is a music teacher who is a lesbian. Tilly had wanted to become a nun and have not had any experience in romantic relationships. The writing is beautiful. The setting is wonderful, with the school being on an island that's only accessible with a ferry. I like the relationships the MCs have with their students too. I really felt for Kate and her feelings for Tilly. I also could understand Tilly's viewpoint. She's been steeped in a religious upbringing and is struggling with trying to define her feelings for Kate. Don't know how else to describe it. I couldn't put this book down. That, to me, is a sign of a wonderful read.
April 22, 2020
Fantastic story, 4.5 stars. This was a rollercoaster of emotions. Beautifully done though, it’s emotional without becoming overly dramatic. Normally I would not have picked this book due to the subject matter, but I liked Hale’s previous book Echo Point so much that I decided to read it. The story takes place at a catholic school where Kate and Tilly meet as teachers, 12 years after they met at the same school as students. Oppression of feelings due to a strong religious upbringing plays a large role in this book, so it’s clear that this is no light story.
Kate is such a wonderful character and the story is written from her POV. Since it is written from her POV I really felt a deep connection with her feelings. She’s confident, honest, understanding and respectful and since her high school years she’s had a crush on Tilly. However, Tilly is straight (or so she believes) and engaged to a vicar that does not seem to appreciate her enough. As a teacher and housemother of the students, Kate has a very good connection with her students, and I enjoyed their interaction and also the role of the sisters added to it.
Tilly on the other hand is a different story. As you only see her from Kate’s POV you don’t really know what’s going on in her head and she’s difficult to warm up to. I can see why some people did not enjoy the book because of her character. It didn’t bother me that much though. Yes, I had trouble liking her (even though everybody kept saying she’s such a kind person), she makes odd decisions and seems very uptight. But somewhere, I can understand Tilly’s mindset because of her upbringing (at some point in her life she even wanted to become a nun), although she’s been living on her own in the city as well, so I guess she’s also just naïve. But because of the love Kate has for her and vice versa (although this does take a long time to become clear) I found myself rooting for them as a couple anyway and once together they had a sense of belonging. I’m actually glad that the book is not written from Tilly’s POV as this would take some of Kate’s journey away and would make the book infinitely more anxious, which I think it does not need.
So taken together, yes they worked as a couple for me, and the book worked for me. It is beautifully written with well developed characters. I can recommend this book to anyone.
Kate is such a wonderful character and the story is written from her POV. Since it is written from her POV I really felt a deep connection with her feelings. She’s confident, honest, understanding and respectful and since her high school years she’s had a crush on Tilly. However, Tilly is straight (or so she believes) and engaged to a vicar that does not seem to appreciate her enough. As a teacher and housemother of the students, Kate has a very good connection with her students, and I enjoyed their interaction and also the role of the sisters added to it.
Tilly on the other hand is a different story. As you only see her from Kate’s POV you don’t really know what’s going on in her head and she’s difficult to warm up to. I can see why some people did not enjoy the book because of her character. It didn’t bother me that much though. Yes, I had trouble liking her (even though everybody kept saying she’s such a kind person), she makes odd decisions and seems very uptight. But somewhere, I can understand Tilly’s mindset because of her upbringing (at some point in her life she even wanted to become a nun), although she’s been living on her own in the city as well, so I guess she’s also just naïve. But because of the love Kate has for her and vice versa (although this does take a long time to become clear) I found myself rooting for them as a couple anyway and once together they had a sense of belonging. I’m actually glad that the book is not written from Tilly’s POV as this would take some of Kate’s journey away and would make the book infinitely more anxious, which I think it does not need.
So taken together, yes they worked as a couple for me, and the book worked for me. It is beautifully written with well developed characters. I can recommend this book to anyone.
August 30, 2019
Kate is probably the typical lesbian that fell for an unrequited straight best friend, until this book came along and made Tilly our could have been unrequited love redemption.
It's interesting how they grew to be so different yet were intertwined, after years of being apart. I wasn't too understanding on how Kate held on for so long to someone who chose faith over her for so many years (I understand she didn't know about her not becoming a nun) but I still couldn't understand until I learnt to understand Tilly as a character. She really is pure, and I think deep down you can't help but forgive someone so pure (not innocent) and selfless.
It's difficult to combine a heavy faith/religious theme to a lesbian romance. But I think this book has done well. I'm pretty happy this had a happy ending. I'd have been devastated. I enjoyed it, I carried dread for Kate all along but also felt the relief for her.
I was surprised it was Melbourne based (moved here last year!) so i found it interesting. Understanding the gloomy weather Melbourne can give somewhat gave me an even deeper connection to the scenes in this book. I could imagine them on the trams, or walk down St Kilda.
It's interesting how they grew to be so different yet were intertwined, after years of being apart. I wasn't too understanding on how Kate held on for so long to someone who chose faith over her for so many years (I understand she didn't know about her not becoming a nun) but I still couldn't understand until I learnt to understand Tilly as a character. She really is pure, and I think deep down you can't help but forgive someone so pure (not innocent) and selfless.
It's difficult to combine a heavy faith/religious theme to a lesbian romance. But I think this book has done well. I'm pretty happy this had a happy ending. I'd have been devastated. I enjoyed it, I carried dread for Kate all along but also felt the relief for her.
I was surprised it was Melbourne based (moved here last year!) so i found it interesting. Understanding the gloomy weather Melbourne can give somewhat gave me an even deeper connection to the scenes in this book. I could imagine them on the trams, or walk down St Kilda.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2020
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. Kate is a fantastic character. I loved her interaction with the girls. Regarding Tilly, I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character less. Maybe it’s the suburban atheist in me but I just didn’t connect with her at all. I liked Kate and Tilly together, though.
December 16, 2019
Another good read. I have to say though, I didn't love it the way I did, echo point - there was something about that book. It had this intensity, it gripped you and didn't let you go.
I didn't feel that way about this. The book would hold me at times and then completely slacken its grip on me other times. And I suppose that's the reason I dropped the rating from a 4 to a 3.
I still like Hale's style of writing a lot. But in this book, I didn't feel the connection to it as I did in her other two books. There would be flashes, but if you just have me this book without telling me who the author was, I wouldn't have picked Hale. Her other two books had a very specific quality to them in terms of writing style, which I found missing this time around.
But, it was still very good and i will definitely be looking forward to her next one, without a doubt.
3.25 stars
I didn't feel that way about this. The book would hold me at times and then completely slacken its grip on me other times. And I suppose that's the reason I dropped the rating from a 4 to a 3.
I still like Hale's style of writing a lot. But in this book, I didn't feel the connection to it as I did in her other two books. There would be flashes, but if you just have me this book without telling me who the author was, I wouldn't have picked Hale. Her other two books had a very specific quality to them in terms of writing style, which I found missing this time around.
But, it was still very good and i will definitely be looking forward to her next one, without a doubt.
3.25 stars
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