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His Secret Family
It’s a beautiful day for a wedding. White roses scent the air and the summer sunlight streams in. A spoon chimes against a champagne flute and the room falls silent. And there he is – my husband – getting to his feet to propose a toast. He’s still handsome. His new wife is next to him, gazing upwards, oblivious.
I’m not supposed to be here. All these years in the same town and I had no idea until I saw his name on the seating plan. He lived with me, once. Loved me. Small-town memories are long, but the people in this room don’t want to remember.
They say the healing is in letting go, but after what he did, he needs to know we haven’t gone away just because he’s shut his eyes.
So I take Daisy by the hand and step forward from the shadows. He notices us and his eyes widen. The champagne glass falls from his hand and smashes. Then he sags forward, making a terrible sound – a sort of strangled scream…
A powerfully emotional novel with a dark secret at its heart. This family drama will keep you hooked until the very last page. Perfect for fans of The Silent Wife, We Were Mothers and Jodi Picoult.
I’m not supposed to be here. All these years in the same town and I had no idea until I saw his name on the seating plan. He lived with me, once. Loved me. Small-town memories are long, but the people in this room don’t want to remember.
They say the healing is in letting go, but after what he did, he needs to know we haven’t gone away just because he’s shut his eyes.
So I take Daisy by the hand and step forward from the shadows. He notices us and his eyes widen. The champagne glass falls from his hand and smashes. Then he sags forward, making a terrible sound – a sort of strangled scream…
A powerfully emotional novel with a dark secret at its heart. This family drama will keep you hooked until the very last page. Perfect for fans of The Silent Wife, We Were Mothers and Jodi Picoult.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2019
5191 people are currently reading
1280 people want to read
About the author
Ali Mercer
6 books79 followersAli decided she wanted to be a writer early on and wrote her first novel when she was at primary school. She did an English degree and spent her early twenties working in various jobs in journalism, including as a reporter for the showbusiness newspaper The Stage. She started writing fiction in earnest after getting married, moving out of London to the Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon and starting a family. She has two children, a daughter and a son who is autistic and was diagnosed when he was four years old.
Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story, but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending.
For updates and pictures, follow Ali on Twitter (@AlisonLMercer) or Instagram (@alimercerwriter), or on her Facebook page (AliMercerwriter).
Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up and (sometimes) bring them back together again. She always travels with tissues and a book and has been known to cry over a good story, but is also a big fan of the hopeful ending.
For updates and pictures, follow Ali on Twitter (@AlisonLMercer) or Instagram (@alimercerwriter), or on her Facebook page (AliMercerwriter).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 219 reviews
September 21, 2019
Ali Mercer has written an honest and emotional story. This book is based on truth and will make you feel uncomfortable at times because it might hit a little too close to home. Life is messy, it is imperfect, and no one‘s intentions are always pure. This is the tale of two mothers, three daughters, and the lies and deceptions that bind them together.
The story is told from four different perspectives Paula, Jenny, Ava, and Ellie. Jenny is a single mother to Ava and Ellie. Paula is also a mother to Daisy who is on the autism spectrum. The book starts out with a bang and you know these two storylines are somehow connected, but you are not sure how. The layers are peeled, the lies are revealed, and the truth is laid bare. None of these characters were especially likable and the story involves a lot of ugly: infidelity, abandonment, addiction, and denial. But the story is also about family, healing, hope, and forgiveness. I really liked Ali Mercer’s storytelling it was smooth and addictive. My only tiny complaint with the book is it jumps forward 10 years and I really would have liked to know what all had been going on during that timespan, with one character in particular. An interesting family drama that kept it real.
This book in three emojis: 👩👧👧 🏡 🤰🏻
The story is told from four different perspectives Paula, Jenny, Ava, and Ellie. Jenny is a single mother to Ava and Ellie. Paula is also a mother to Daisy who is on the autism spectrum. The book starts out with a bang and you know these two storylines are somehow connected, but you are not sure how. The layers are peeled, the lies are revealed, and the truth is laid bare. None of these characters were especially likable and the story involves a lot of ugly: infidelity, abandonment, addiction, and denial. But the story is also about family, healing, hope, and forgiveness. I really liked Ali Mercer’s storytelling it was smooth and addictive. My only tiny complaint with the book is it jumps forward 10 years and I really would have liked to know what all had been going on during that timespan, with one character in particular. An interesting family drama that kept it real.
This book in three emojis: 👩👧👧 🏡 🤰🏻
September 10, 2019
This is a story about two mothers, three daughters and the father who connection to them all. Jenny is a single mother to her daughters Ellie and Ava. They are visited by their father, Mark. Jenny had recently reconnected with Mark, who had been an old flame. Mark also has an ex- wife Paula. The story starts with the ending of the book, followed by the story of events that took place leading up to it.
The story is told from four peoples point of view, Paula and Jenny (the wives) Evie and Ava (the daughters). We gradually learn what had happened in Mark's first marriage that could now impact on his second. The story covers: divorce, disability, adultery, secrets and mistakes. The characters are complex and believable. The timeline is a bit all over the place. I liked the authors style in writing this story. The story just flowed off the pages. I was drawn in from the start needing to know just what had happened to get us to the point I'd just read. Loved it.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Ali Mercer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from four peoples point of view, Paula and Jenny (the wives) Evie and Ava (the daughters). We gradually learn what had happened in Mark's first marriage that could now impact on his second. The story covers: divorce, disability, adultery, secrets and mistakes. The characters are complex and believable. The timeline is a bit all over the place. I liked the authors style in writing this story. The story just flowed off the pages. I was drawn in from the start needing to know just what had happened to get us to the point I'd just read. Loved it.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and the author Ali Mercer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2019
Every once in a while you pick up a book and find yourself thoroughly hooked right from the start. His Secret Family by Ali Mercer is one of those stories that will easily pull you right in with an opening chapter which will leave you desperate to find out what comes next. Mercer has written an emotionally charged story that is both heartbreaking and in some ways also uplifting at the same time.
Family, with all of its trials and tribulations, is at the forefront of this story. Told in alternating chapters mostly between Ava, Ellie, Jenny and Paula. Their stories are not easy ones to read and not every character is likeable, but the realness that is portrayed from each of these women will definitely leave a lasting impression. I found each character to be perfectly written and three dimensional which left me feeling like I connected with what each person was going through in the story.
His Secret Family really delves into such real time issues such as infertility, the stigma of mental illness, marriage, family, the things mothers do for their children. But on the other side there are also, secrets and lies that slowly unravel as the story progresses. This is definitely a story that goes deep with some truly heartbreaking and emotional scenes, but in the end Ali Mercer does let in some light at the end of the tunnel and I can see where there is hope and forgiveness.
If you are a fan of books by Kate Hewitt with her signature emotionally heartbreaking stories and maybe even a touch of Nicholas Sparks thrown in, then you will definitely want to add Ali Mercer’s His Secret Family to your reading list.
Family, with all of its trials and tribulations, is at the forefront of this story. Told in alternating chapters mostly between Ava, Ellie, Jenny and Paula. Their stories are not easy ones to read and not every character is likeable, but the realness that is portrayed from each of these women will definitely leave a lasting impression. I found each character to be perfectly written and three dimensional which left me feeling like I connected with what each person was going through in the story.
His Secret Family really delves into such real time issues such as infertility, the stigma of mental illness, marriage, family, the things mothers do for their children. But on the other side there are also, secrets and lies that slowly unravel as the story progresses. This is definitely a story that goes deep with some truly heartbreaking and emotional scenes, but in the end Ali Mercer does let in some light at the end of the tunnel and I can see where there is hope and forgiveness.
If you are a fan of books by Kate Hewitt with her signature emotionally heartbreaking stories and maybe even a touch of Nicholas Sparks thrown in, then you will definitely want to add Ali Mercer’s His Secret Family to your reading list.
February 27, 2024
Sad and depressing book about the most disgusting man ever.
He’s married with a woman and has some issues having children. He cheats on her, and gets another woman pregnant but doesn’t find out until years later. His wife eventually has a daughter who has autism and as soon as she’s diagnosed he leaves them both because he wants a normal life with his healthy daughter from ow.
Ow is divorced with two daughters one of the hero, one of her ex husband. She doesn’t know that he had a daughter and he and his mother lies to her telling her his ex is an evil woman who doesn’t want him to meet her child and has divorced him to be with another man.
In the end there’s a bit of karma, but too little imo.
He and his new wife loses a baby when he’s only three days old. I thought he would change but he didn’t.
When his ex wife and his daughter comes to see him him at the wedding of his healthy daughter, he has a stroke. Sadly he recovers, if not completely.
And he tells his wife the truth.
I wished his wife would tell him the same thing he told his ex. That she couldn’t live with a cripple and she wanted a normal life with a sane and healthy husband. But since she was abused by her ex husband, she accepts the new one that at least is sober for more than two hours at a time, and lets all things pass. There’s a partial reconciliation with his ex wife and autistic daughter.
I hated the man. He was awful and didn’t deserve anything good.
He’s married with a woman and has some issues having children. He cheats on her, and gets another woman pregnant but doesn’t find out until years later. His wife eventually has a daughter who has autism and as soon as she’s diagnosed he leaves them both because he wants a normal life with his healthy daughter from ow.
Ow is divorced with two daughters one of the hero, one of her ex husband. She doesn’t know that he had a daughter and he and his mother lies to her telling her his ex is an evil woman who doesn’t want him to meet her child and has divorced him to be with another man.
In the end there’s a bit of karma, but too little imo.
He and his new wife loses a baby when he’s only three days old. I thought he would change but he didn’t.
When his ex wife and his daughter comes to see him him at the wedding of his healthy daughter, he has a stroke. Sadly he recovers, if not completely.
And he tells his wife the truth.
I wished his wife would tell him the same thing he told his ex. That she couldn’t live with a cripple and she wanted a normal life with a sane and healthy husband. But since she was abused by her ex husband, she accepts the new one that at least is sober for more than two hours at a time, and lets all things pass. There’s a partial reconciliation with his ex wife and autistic daughter.
I hated the man. He was awful and didn’t deserve anything good.
June 1, 2023
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
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hero is a piece of shit
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hero is a piece of shit
August 5, 2019
Overall: 2.5/5 Stars
Characters: 2.5/5 Stars
Blurb: 2.5/5 Stars
Peeve Factor: 3/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 2/5 Stars
*Potential Spoilers*
Looking at the name of this book. Reading the blurb and the first piece in the book (noted as the foreword in my copy) and you get the impression that you are going to get a pretty intense and potentially emotional book. I was really excited about this when I read the blurb. Getting it and reading that first section, which is sort of an expansion on the blurb, made me feel like I’d made a really good choice.
Once you get into the book, you get chapters that cycle through 4 different character perspectives. Ellie, Ava, Jenny, and Paula. None of which are the one name that was noted in that first piece that drew you in. I can see how this may create a deep sense of mystery for some readers, but for me, it was more frustrating trying to understand what that first bit had to do with anything at all as it seems completely unconnected to what is going on immediately after that.
I don’t mind the alternating character perspectives. That is something I normally enjoy, but with the 4 you get in this book it felt a bit too much. Ellie, Ava and Jenny’s timelines all run mostly concurrently with tiny bits of overlap in events here and there. Paula’s is more fluid and doesn’t run in line with the others, creating an additional level of confusion for the reader when attempting to make connections because you don’t know that her timeline isn’t running the same as the other characters. It takes a very long time before you see that and any of the pieces begin to fall in place.
There is this small thread through the story that runs more along the lines of paranormal. I really enjoy paranormal stories, but that isn’t what this story is about and it feels out of place.
Ellie and Paula’s characters were probably the most well rounded and interesting. Their perspectives were the pieces I liked the most throughout the story. I did not like Mark at all as he was a self-absorbed narcissist to the core and I have issues with characters like this (yes, they are realistic and human, but this is a personal thing for me). I didn’t see him as redeemable in any way. Getting his perspective for the final chapter bumped into one of my peeves as I’m not a fan of that kind of perspective inconsistency in a book. When you already have 4, you really, really don’t need one more at the very end. Ava wasn’t too far behind Mark in being the self-absorbed, often bratty teenager. The teenager thing being the only reason I was willing to overlook some of her personality, but she seemed to get worse as the book went along. Jenny was a character that I just couldn’t find much of interest in. While she wasn’t entirely selfish, she did seem to be the type that was easily blinded by materialistic things.
Overall, I didn’t feel like the book really lived up to the dramatic, intense blurb or the title. I love situational drama. I love emotional drama. I do not love manufactured drama and that is where most of the drama is derived from in this book, through those differing timelines and the dragging out of events followed by a 10 year time jump towards the end. The actual events weren’t that dramatic. The big secret isn’t really a secret, either to the reader or to the characters. What little bit you do get at the end feels anticlimactic because, as the reader, you see it all unfold. The character reactions to it compound that feeling as it ends up not being any kind of an issue for them either. The pieces of this story that should have been sort of emotional volcanoes for me, just weren’t. I don’t know if it was because of a lack of connection to the characters or if it was the way those pieces were written, but it sort of felt like even the characters were experiencing the events they were going through from a distance rather than directly.
I do think it should be noted that some readers may find they have problems with how some issues were presented and dealt with in this book. If you have problems with cheating, you may have issues with this book. If you have problems with how people on the Autism spectrum are sometimes viewed and treated, you may have issues with this book. If you have problems with how mental illness is sometimes viewed by some people or some of the ways it was treated historically, you may have issues with this book. These aren’t normally things that stick out for me, but I found I really disliked many of the situations surrounding these issues and how they were presented in this book.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Characters: 2.5/5 Stars
Blurb: 2.5/5 Stars
Peeve Factor: 3/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 2/5 Stars
*Potential Spoilers*
Looking at the name of this book. Reading the blurb and the first piece in the book (noted as the foreword in my copy) and you get the impression that you are going to get a pretty intense and potentially emotional book. I was really excited about this when I read the blurb. Getting it and reading that first section, which is sort of an expansion on the blurb, made me feel like I’d made a really good choice.
Once you get into the book, you get chapters that cycle through 4 different character perspectives. Ellie, Ava, Jenny, and Paula. None of which are the one name that was noted in that first piece that drew you in. I can see how this may create a deep sense of mystery for some readers, but for me, it was more frustrating trying to understand what that first bit had to do with anything at all as it seems completely unconnected to what is going on immediately after that.
I don’t mind the alternating character perspectives. That is something I normally enjoy, but with the 4 you get in this book it felt a bit too much. Ellie, Ava and Jenny’s timelines all run mostly concurrently with tiny bits of overlap in events here and there. Paula’s is more fluid and doesn’t run in line with the others, creating an additional level of confusion for the reader when attempting to make connections because you don’t know that her timeline isn’t running the same as the other characters. It takes a very long time before you see that and any of the pieces begin to fall in place.
There is this small thread through the story that runs more along the lines of paranormal. I really enjoy paranormal stories, but that isn’t what this story is about and it feels out of place.
Ellie and Paula’s characters were probably the most well rounded and interesting. Their perspectives were the pieces I liked the most throughout the story. I did not like Mark at all as he was a self-absorbed narcissist to the core and I have issues with characters like this (yes, they are realistic and human, but this is a personal thing for me). I didn’t see him as redeemable in any way. Getting his perspective for the final chapter bumped into one of my peeves as I’m not a fan of that kind of perspective inconsistency in a book. When you already have 4, you really, really don’t need one more at the very end. Ava wasn’t too far behind Mark in being the self-absorbed, often bratty teenager. The teenager thing being the only reason I was willing to overlook some of her personality, but she seemed to get worse as the book went along. Jenny was a character that I just couldn’t find much of interest in. While she wasn’t entirely selfish, she did seem to be the type that was easily blinded by materialistic things.
Overall, I didn’t feel like the book really lived up to the dramatic, intense blurb or the title. I love situational drama. I love emotional drama. I do not love manufactured drama and that is where most of the drama is derived from in this book, through those differing timelines and the dragging out of events followed by a 10 year time jump towards the end. The actual events weren’t that dramatic. The big secret isn’t really a secret, either to the reader or to the characters. What little bit you do get at the end feels anticlimactic because, as the reader, you see it all unfold. The character reactions to it compound that feeling as it ends up not being any kind of an issue for them either. The pieces of this story that should have been sort of emotional volcanoes for me, just weren’t. I don’t know if it was because of a lack of connection to the characters or if it was the way those pieces were written, but it sort of felt like even the characters were experiencing the events they were going through from a distance rather than directly.
I do think it should be noted that some readers may find they have problems with how some issues were presented and dealt with in this book. If you have problems with cheating, you may have issues with this book. If you have problems with how people on the Autism spectrum are sometimes viewed and treated, you may have issues with this book. If you have problems with how mental illness is sometimes viewed by some people or some of the ways it was treated historically, you may have issues with this book. These aren’t normally things that stick out for me, but I found I really disliked many of the situations surrounding these issues and how they were presented in this book.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2022
After a few DNFs, I needed something to grip me and I came across His Secret Family by Ali Mercer. If there is one thing that I love to read it is books about double lives and families as living one life is hard enough and I don't know how people make time for two. I could see it happening if they supposedly travel but even still. This one was a little deceiving with the title as he does have another family but he had separated from her and divorced her rather than living a double life at the same time. However, his new family had no idea about his previous family, but his old wife knew about his new family. The book starts with Paula who has just learned that her ex-husband's daughter is about to get married and is just down the road. Finally, the whole family is in one room, she is finally ready to confront Mark and his new family and unearth the lies. The next thing, Mark has a heart attack. The book then jumps back in time to Jenny who has just met Mark for the second time and this time it's fate as he is single too. Jenny is a single mother to Ava and Ellie. I liked Ellie's character as she has a few psychic abilities and I wish that they had developed that more as would have been intriguing. The book is slow-paced but as I said all comes to a halt at Ava's wedding when they are met face to face with Paula and her daughter Daisy who is on the Autism Spectrum. The family and daughter that Mark decided to pretend didn't exist as he was ashamed of them - which is quite Hardcase as when you learn about Mark's family history, it clearly shows that the Autism spectrum came from his side rather than Paula's. If you are looking for a thriller, then this book isn't for you but if you are wanting an edgy women's fiction/family drama then check out His Secret Family by Ali Mercer today.
Read
September 5, 2019A convoluted mess of family situations which showed the thoughts and feelings of people. A story written in 4 POV of women, some of whom had overlapping lives, all concentrating on the man Mark.
Jenny and Mark had an affair and daughter Ava was the result. Mark went back to his legitimate wife and had a child Daisy who was on autistic spectrum, so he rejected mother and daughter as they were not perfect. Jenny married someone else had another daughter Ellie. Mark came back to Jenny, blaming his ex-wife, hiding his shortcomings, and they tried to live happily ever after till Ava got married, and things came to a confrontation.
My second book by author Ali Mercer, the story had me grappling to get a hook on to the thoughts of these characters. Each of them were unlikable and selfish, except for child Daisy. She was innocent and sweet.
The author has tried to get into the psyche of the human mind to show us the nature of some. Selfishness and a need for perfection were ingrained. Some didn’t want to face facts and believed in explanation without clarifying. All the characters seemed to seek happiness at any cost, primarily their own.
It was down the line when Ali transformed them, and there was light in the dark tunnel as facts presented themselves. Forgiveness is for one’s own soul rather than for the guilt-doers. The story brought to the forefront what we rarely want to face. It removed the masks off people. The opening scene was at its most dramatic, and then the layers swirled and waved feebly in the winds of time.
Life is a blend of situations and circumstances and people who face them, some bravely, but most, not so much. This book was a honest portrayal of some of them, stark and raw drawn as characters in a fictional situation, people whom we have all come across in real life. A good read.
Jenny and Mark had an affair and daughter Ava was the result. Mark went back to his legitimate wife and had a child Daisy who was on autistic spectrum, so he rejected mother and daughter as they were not perfect. Jenny married someone else had another daughter Ellie. Mark came back to Jenny, blaming his ex-wife, hiding his shortcomings, and they tried to live happily ever after till Ava got married, and things came to a confrontation.
My second book by author Ali Mercer, the story had me grappling to get a hook on to the thoughts of these characters. Each of them were unlikable and selfish, except for child Daisy. She was innocent and sweet.
The author has tried to get into the psyche of the human mind to show us the nature of some. Selfishness and a need for perfection were ingrained. Some didn’t want to face facts and believed in explanation without clarifying. All the characters seemed to seek happiness at any cost, primarily their own.
It was down the line when Ali transformed them, and there was light in the dark tunnel as facts presented themselves. Forgiveness is for one’s own soul rather than for the guilt-doers. The story brought to the forefront what we rarely want to face. It removed the masks off people. The opening scene was at its most dramatic, and then the layers swirled and waved feebly in the winds of time.
Life is a blend of situations and circumstances and people who face them, some bravely, but most, not so much. This book was a honest portrayal of some of them, stark and raw drawn as characters in a fictional situation, people whom we have all come across in real life. A good read.
September 12, 2019
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
He simply walked away. After a few years of marriage to Paula, Mark had an affair with Jenny. However, he went back to Paula and they had a daughter named Daisy. However, as it was slowly revealed that Daisy was on the autism spectrum, it all became too much for Mark.
When Mark and Jenny originally had their affair, Jenny became pregnant with a daughter she named Ava. Jenny married another man, and even had another daughter named Ellie. When Ava was sixteen, Jenny and Mark began dating and soon married. Jenny had no idea that Mark had left his family, especially due to his not being able to cope with a disabled daughter.
This touching story by Ali Mercer is delivered in first-person from four points of view - Jenny, Paula, Ava and Ellie. Paula's entries are especially sad, as she was left to raise Daisy all alone. Jenny is thrilled, yet hesitant to have another chance with Mark, especially with two daughters that she has always put first in her life. Then Ava and Ellie have very different views on what is happening with their mother and the "new" man in her life.
Mark's point of view is not shared. However, readers get enough ammunition to dislike him greatly. After all, how can anyone be drawn to a person that walks out on a wife and child, never mind the original affair?
This was a difficult story to read at times. My heart bled for Paula and Daisy. Meanwhile, I hated to wonder whether or not Jenny would be hurt by letting Mark back into her life. However, it was these very issues that made this book such a compelling read. Ms. Mercer writes an affecting story, allowing readers to be drawn into the delicate lives of these characters, all the while hoping beyond hope that they would all find a happy future. With so many issues touched on: autism, cheating, divorce and more, this was a superb read. The author did a fine job leaving me satisfied with the conclusion.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
He simply walked away. After a few years of marriage to Paula, Mark had an affair with Jenny. However, he went back to Paula and they had a daughter named Daisy. However, as it was slowly revealed that Daisy was on the autism spectrum, it all became too much for Mark.
When Mark and Jenny originally had their affair, Jenny became pregnant with a daughter she named Ava. Jenny married another man, and even had another daughter named Ellie. When Ava was sixteen, Jenny and Mark began dating and soon married. Jenny had no idea that Mark had left his family, especially due to his not being able to cope with a disabled daughter.
This touching story by Ali Mercer is delivered in first-person from four points of view - Jenny, Paula, Ava and Ellie. Paula's entries are especially sad, as she was left to raise Daisy all alone. Jenny is thrilled, yet hesitant to have another chance with Mark, especially with two daughters that she has always put first in her life. Then Ava and Ellie have very different views on what is happening with their mother and the "new" man in her life.
Mark's point of view is not shared. However, readers get enough ammunition to dislike him greatly. After all, how can anyone be drawn to a person that walks out on a wife and child, never mind the original affair?
This was a difficult story to read at times. My heart bled for Paula and Daisy. Meanwhile, I hated to wonder whether or not Jenny would be hurt by letting Mark back into her life. However, it was these very issues that made this book such a compelling read. Ms. Mercer writes an affecting story, allowing readers to be drawn into the delicate lives of these characters, all the while hoping beyond hope that they would all find a happy future. With so many issues touched on: autism, cheating, divorce and more, this was a superb read. The author did a fine job leaving me satisfied with the conclusion.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
September 15, 2019
The description of this story gives a glimpse into this emotional family drama, but only a glimpse. There's so much more to the story! It is told throughout from the points of views of four different characters, making it easy to discover what each of them is thinking. There are plenty of shocks, surprises and revelations as the story progresses and so many twists and turns, too, to keep you guessing. It is a story of loves, past and present, of so many different secrets kept for different reasons. It is a story involving celebrations, drama, tragedy, growing up and family life. It starts with a wedding before going back to relate what led to it all. It is a journey filled with misunderstandings, one where relationships are the key and honesty is in question. It is a page turner and a story I didn't want to put down until I'd discovered all those secrets . . . .
Most of the story revolves around Mark and the people he interacts with. He seems a really narcissistic character in so many ways and at times he endeavours to prove himself to be perfect by misrepresenting the actions and attitude of others, only facing up to his own flaws and mistakes at the end of the story. Attitudes to people with autism and mental health are also involved, including some discussions relating to treatments in less enlightened times.There's also one character with psychic abilities but that seemed somewhat incidental and not really acknowledged by others which I felt was strange. It is a story with so many threads running through it and it is only towards the end that they are woven together to complete the picture. It is an intriguing and dramatic story of families, relationships, secrets, grief, honesty and facing up to reality.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
Most of the story revolves around Mark and the people he interacts with. He seems a really narcissistic character in so many ways and at times he endeavours to prove himself to be perfect by misrepresenting the actions and attitude of others, only facing up to his own flaws and mistakes at the end of the story. Attitudes to people with autism and mental health are also involved, including some discussions relating to treatments in less enlightened times.There's also one character with psychic abilities but that seemed somewhat incidental and not really acknowledged by others which I felt was strange. It is a story with so many threads running through it and it is only towards the end that they are woven together to complete the picture. It is an intriguing and dramatic story of families, relationships, secrets, grief, honesty and facing up to reality.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
September 25, 2019
Feel free to read this wonderful book if you love a powerful and soul-stirring family drama!
Past secrets are uncovered and other lies and deceptions are laid bare along the way, making for an interesting and engaging read. His Secret Family has some fabulous, well-drawn characters but, for me, Ava and Ellie stood out as both were very different in nature and outlook. I loved the way Ali Mercer brought life to the characters and the special way she had in making the words flow. I also enjoyed that the story was told from four different view points, as this complemented an already great plot and added another dimension to its level of depth. A fabulous and emotional roller-coaster read that I would not hesitate in recommending.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Past secrets are uncovered and other lies and deceptions are laid bare along the way, making for an interesting and engaging read. His Secret Family has some fabulous, well-drawn characters but, for me, Ava and Ellie stood out as both were very different in nature and outlook. I loved the way Ali Mercer brought life to the characters and the special way she had in making the words flow. I also enjoyed that the story was told from four different view points, as this complemented an already great plot and added another dimension to its level of depth. A fabulous and emotional roller-coaster read that I would not hesitate in recommending.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 27, 2022
Very slow. I kept going waiting for something to happen. It didn't. The first book I've read by this author and I'm not tempted to try another. Just not my type of read. I know others have loved so it's just my personal opinion.
September 25, 2019
I'm not sure how I feel about HIS SECRET FAMILY. It certainly wasn't what I expected and it certainly left a feeling of distaste at times. It is emotional and often uncomfortable for those for whom it may hit too close to home. It is messy, it is imperfect and it is heartbreaking. A dramatic tale of families, relationships, secrets, lies, deception and honesty with many threads woven together to complete the picture.
It is the story of two mothers, three daughters and the father who connects them all.
Jenny is a single mother to daughters Ava and Ellie with the occasional visit from their father Sean, who left soon after Ellie was born. That was 11 years ago. And since then Jenny has raised both girls single-handedly in their small two bedroom council flat. Then one day a knock at the door reveals a bunch of red roses which Ellie accepts on behalf of her mother. She begins to wonder if their mum has met someone and what it would mean for them. Ava, the tough and often moody 16 year old cynic, sneers at the thought slamming the door to the bedroom she shares with her sister. When Jenny arrives home and sees the flowers, Ellie is sure that their mum has found someone. She seems different. Happier.
It isn't long before Jenny introduces the girls to Mark, who does his best to impress and befriend them. Ellie is quite taken with him but Ava is a tougher nut to crack. And while Ellie is happy to enjoy conversation with him, Mark seems far more interested in Ava. Noticing this, Ava tells him in no uncertain terms not to ignore her sister who has been trying to talk to him. Ava doesn't know what his game is, but she doesn't trust him.
Then one day Ellie overhears her mum on the phone to who she can only assume is Mark saying "we have to tell them but not just yet. She will come round." Who are they talking about? The next thing they know, Mark has whisked the lot of them away on a holiday to the South of France, buying each of them a new wardrobe for the occasion. Is he too good to be true? But Ava still isn't impressed by his looks, his smile, his good nature or even his money or his flashy Jaguar. It's not until they are left alone in the bar that Ava sees her reflection next to Mark - blonde hair, blue eyes, same complexion. If anyone saw them together they would naturally assume... Ava turns to Mark and says "You're my father, aren't you?"
This new information puts a whole different spin on things as their secret comes to light. Jenny and Mark had a one night stand when Jenny was still a trainee hairdresser. The two clicked and enjoyed a meal and one night together. But then Mark went back to his wife from whom he'd been separated and asked Jenny never to call him again. A couple of months later, Jenny discovered she was pregnant and, feeling Mark had a right to know, called him. But a woman answered she she hung up. Alone, emotional and pregnant, Jenny married her friend Sean whom she shared a flat with. He knew about Mark but was more than happy to take on Ava as his own, for he adored Jenny. But cracks began to appear in their marriage when Ellie was born and he left, leaving Jenny alone once again. But now Mark was back. But is it for good? Can Jenny trust him?
Then there is Paula, Mark's ex-wife. Desperate for a baby, Paula began planning and timing when they would make love which grated on Mark and put a strain on their marriage. She tried to coax Mark into trying IVF but he would have none of it. They separated but decided to try again, with Paula still harbouring a burning desire for a child of her own. Then one day, the miracle she thought would never happen! The blue line on the pregnancy test confirmed it - she was pregnant! Mark doted on her, made sure she ate the right things and took care of herself, and they were excited to see their baby on the monitor during the ultrasound.
Then baby Daisy was born. All ten fingers and toes, their beautiful sweet miracle of a daughter. Life was good. Everything was perfect. Until it wasn't.
Small things at first, they began to notice Daisy wasn't making the normal growth milestones - first words, first steps. She didn't even seem to be paying attention to anyone or anything. Paula took her to see a specialist who confirmed, after a series of tests over a period of time, that Daisy had autism spectrum disorder. Mark refused to believe it. This was meant to be perfect. He could not have an imperfect child. The final straw was Daisy's pre-school Christmas concert where Mark was humiliated by Daisy's non-performance, believing they were a laughing stock. Feeling no support from her husband when she needed it most, Paula threw him out.
And now, at a loose end, Mark remembers the young hairdresser who cut his hair late on that rainy night afterwhich they enjoyed a meal and the night together. Jenny. So he got in touch. And the rest, they say, is history...or is it?
Is Mark really who he says he is? Is he telling Jenny the truth? Where does Paula and Daisy fit into his new life? And what is it Ellie senses about him that makes her uneasy?
The story unfolds through the eyes of Jenny, Ava, Ellie and Paula as we are given a glimpse into each of their lives and their thoughts as all the secrets begin to unravel. Each character brings their own strengths to the tale and each are likable or dislikable in their own ways. Mark is someone I didn't trust from the beginning with a narcissistic personality in a world that seems only to revolve around him. He has secrets and lies and misrepresents many aspects of his life for no other reason I can think of but to place himself in a better light. But will be face up to his actions at the end?
HIS SECRET FAMILY deals with the attitudes towards autism, mental illness, infidelity and infertility as well as the secrets, lies and deception woven within. It is honest and raw with a maelstrom of emotions felt by the reader as well as the characters within.
A multi-layered story, HIS SECRET FAMILY is engaging and emotional, enthralling the reader from beginning to end. I'm still trying to work out which one is "his secret family"... I still don't know how I feel about it but that doesn't stop me from recommending it. Pick it up, have a read and see what you think.
I would like to thank #AliMercer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HisSecretFamily in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
It is the story of two mothers, three daughters and the father who connects them all.
Jenny is a single mother to daughters Ava and Ellie with the occasional visit from their father Sean, who left soon after Ellie was born. That was 11 years ago. And since then Jenny has raised both girls single-handedly in their small two bedroom council flat. Then one day a knock at the door reveals a bunch of red roses which Ellie accepts on behalf of her mother. She begins to wonder if their mum has met someone and what it would mean for them. Ava, the tough and often moody 16 year old cynic, sneers at the thought slamming the door to the bedroom she shares with her sister. When Jenny arrives home and sees the flowers, Ellie is sure that their mum has found someone. She seems different. Happier.
It isn't long before Jenny introduces the girls to Mark, who does his best to impress and befriend them. Ellie is quite taken with him but Ava is a tougher nut to crack. And while Ellie is happy to enjoy conversation with him, Mark seems far more interested in Ava. Noticing this, Ava tells him in no uncertain terms not to ignore her sister who has been trying to talk to him. Ava doesn't know what his game is, but she doesn't trust him.
Then one day Ellie overhears her mum on the phone to who she can only assume is Mark saying "we have to tell them but not just yet. She will come round." Who are they talking about? The next thing they know, Mark has whisked the lot of them away on a holiday to the South of France, buying each of them a new wardrobe for the occasion. Is he too good to be true? But Ava still isn't impressed by his looks, his smile, his good nature or even his money or his flashy Jaguar. It's not until they are left alone in the bar that Ava sees her reflection next to Mark - blonde hair, blue eyes, same complexion. If anyone saw them together they would naturally assume... Ava turns to Mark and says "You're my father, aren't you?"
This new information puts a whole different spin on things as their secret comes to light. Jenny and Mark had a one night stand when Jenny was still a trainee hairdresser. The two clicked and enjoyed a meal and one night together. But then Mark went back to his wife from whom he'd been separated and asked Jenny never to call him again. A couple of months later, Jenny discovered she was pregnant and, feeling Mark had a right to know, called him. But a woman answered she she hung up. Alone, emotional and pregnant, Jenny married her friend Sean whom she shared a flat with. He knew about Mark but was more than happy to take on Ava as his own, for he adored Jenny. But cracks began to appear in their marriage when Ellie was born and he left, leaving Jenny alone once again. But now Mark was back. But is it for good? Can Jenny trust him?
Then there is Paula, Mark's ex-wife. Desperate for a baby, Paula began planning and timing when they would make love which grated on Mark and put a strain on their marriage. She tried to coax Mark into trying IVF but he would have none of it. They separated but decided to try again, with Paula still harbouring a burning desire for a child of her own. Then one day, the miracle she thought would never happen! The blue line on the pregnancy test confirmed it - she was pregnant! Mark doted on her, made sure she ate the right things and took care of herself, and they were excited to see their baby on the monitor during the ultrasound.
Then baby Daisy was born. All ten fingers and toes, their beautiful sweet miracle of a daughter. Life was good. Everything was perfect. Until it wasn't.
Small things at first, they began to notice Daisy wasn't making the normal growth milestones - first words, first steps. She didn't even seem to be paying attention to anyone or anything. Paula took her to see a specialist who confirmed, after a series of tests over a period of time, that Daisy had autism spectrum disorder. Mark refused to believe it. This was meant to be perfect. He could not have an imperfect child. The final straw was Daisy's pre-school Christmas concert where Mark was humiliated by Daisy's non-performance, believing they were a laughing stock. Feeling no support from her husband when she needed it most, Paula threw him out.
And now, at a loose end, Mark remembers the young hairdresser who cut his hair late on that rainy night afterwhich they enjoyed a meal and the night together. Jenny. So he got in touch. And the rest, they say, is history...or is it?
Is Mark really who he says he is? Is he telling Jenny the truth? Where does Paula and Daisy fit into his new life? And what is it Ellie senses about him that makes her uneasy?
The story unfolds through the eyes of Jenny, Ava, Ellie and Paula as we are given a glimpse into each of their lives and their thoughts as all the secrets begin to unravel. Each character brings their own strengths to the tale and each are likable or dislikable in their own ways. Mark is someone I didn't trust from the beginning with a narcissistic personality in a world that seems only to revolve around him. He has secrets and lies and misrepresents many aspects of his life for no other reason I can think of but to place himself in a better light. But will be face up to his actions at the end?
HIS SECRET FAMILY deals with the attitudes towards autism, mental illness, infidelity and infertility as well as the secrets, lies and deception woven within. It is honest and raw with a maelstrom of emotions felt by the reader as well as the characters within.
A multi-layered story, HIS SECRET FAMILY is engaging and emotional, enthralling the reader from beginning to end. I'm still trying to work out which one is "his secret family"... I still don't know how I feel about it but that doesn't stop me from recommending it. Pick it up, have a read and see what you think.
I would like to thank #AliMercer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HisSecretFamily in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 2, 2025
wasn't keen to start but as the story picked up pace I enjoyed it more.
March 6, 2020
Really enjoyed this story, excellent
Read
September 15, 2019"...life was what happened in the space between what you wanted and what you got."
Jenny has two daughters, Ava and Ellie, and she's divorced from Sean when she reconnects with Mark Walsh -- the married man she had an affair with 16 years ago. Despite the misgivings her daughters have, Jenny is excited and happy to find him free and interested in re-establishing a relationship. But they both have secrets they've been keeping and now it's all coming out. Will the love between Jenny and Mark be strong enough to withstand his lies about his other family? NO SPOILERS.
Told in alternating points of view, the narrative unfolds with revelations and the subsequent reactions of the various characters. Each individual woman has a story to tell and the reader begins to see Mark in a different light as the truth emerges. The writing was good and the pace ideal for all the harbingers of things coming to be dropped to the reader. I couldn't quite buy into Ellie's apparent sixth sense or whatever she was experiencing, but all of the characters were a bit difficult to relate to. Although I'm not a huge fan of women's fiction or romance, this did engage and entertain me well enough. This is advertised as an "emotional page turner" and it pulled out a lot of those stops with the events in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
Jenny has two daughters, Ava and Ellie, and she's divorced from Sean when she reconnects with Mark Walsh -- the married man she had an affair with 16 years ago. Despite the misgivings her daughters have, Jenny is excited and happy to find him free and interested in re-establishing a relationship. But they both have secrets they've been keeping and now it's all coming out. Will the love between Jenny and Mark be strong enough to withstand his lies about his other family? NO SPOILERS.
Told in alternating points of view, the narrative unfolds with revelations and the subsequent reactions of the various characters. Each individual woman has a story to tell and the reader begins to see Mark in a different light as the truth emerges. The writing was good and the pace ideal for all the harbingers of things coming to be dropped to the reader. I couldn't quite buy into Ellie's apparent sixth sense or whatever she was experiencing, but all of the characters were a bit difficult to relate to. Although I'm not a huge fan of women's fiction or romance, this did engage and entertain me well enough. This is advertised as an "emotional page turner" and it pulled out a lot of those stops with the events in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
September 18, 2019
This has been described as a family drama and I don’t think that quite does this book justice. Yes it has drama by the bucketload but it has so much more including some wonderful supernatural elements.
Told from four alternating perspectives, Jenny and her daughter’s Ava and Ellie and Paula mother to Daisy . They are all so delightfully different but utterly compelling. However it was Ellie’s chapters I was drawn to the most as she had a light that shone from the pages and captivated me.
The women in this book are strong but vulnerable compared to the men who are weak and unlikeable. Sean who is alcohol dependent and an unreliable father and Mark who is ruled by his viscous mother Ingrid.
This book covers many touchy subjects with a delicate hand , facing the realities of having a child with autism, loss of a child, the difficulty in raising children single handed. All was captured perfectly with a quote in Chapter 22. “That was life, I had begun to realise: life was what happened in the space between what you wanted and what you got.”
This is a slow burn of a book with many secrets and lies revealing themselves and a high five to all the women out there who are strong enough to do it on their own.
Told from four alternating perspectives, Jenny and her daughter’s Ava and Ellie and Paula mother to Daisy . They are all so delightfully different but utterly compelling. However it was Ellie’s chapters I was drawn to the most as she had a light that shone from the pages and captivated me.
The women in this book are strong but vulnerable compared to the men who are weak and unlikeable. Sean who is alcohol dependent and an unreliable father and Mark who is ruled by his viscous mother Ingrid.
This book covers many touchy subjects with a delicate hand , facing the realities of having a child with autism, loss of a child, the difficulty in raising children single handed. All was captured perfectly with a quote in Chapter 22. “That was life, I had begun to realise: life was what happened in the space between what you wanted and what you got.”
This is a slow burn of a book with many secrets and lies revealing themselves and a high five to all the women out there who are strong enough to do it on their own.
September 19, 2019
I loved this book. It’s the first book that I’ve read by Ali Mercer and I will most definitely be reading her others.
The story gripped me from the very beginning. It is full of lies, deceit, twists, turns and drama from the beginning. It is an emotional story about the lengths that people will go to get what they want and to protect the people that they love. I liked the relationship between the mother and her two daughters and I liked how they all had different personalities and how they each viewed the world differently.
The only criticism I have is that main name seemed to change his mind a bit quickly towards the end about his daughter and his opinions on her and it seemed a little rushed however that doesn’t take anything away from the book. It was a great read and it’s one that I would definitely recommend.
The story gripped me from the very beginning. It is full of lies, deceit, twists, turns and drama from the beginning. It is an emotional story about the lengths that people will go to get what they want and to protect the people that they love. I liked the relationship between the mother and her two daughters and I liked how they all had different personalities and how they each viewed the world differently.
The only criticism I have is that main name seemed to change his mind a bit quickly towards the end about his daughter and his opinions on her and it seemed a little rushed however that doesn’t take anything away from the book. It was a great read and it’s one that I would definitely recommend.
September 27, 2019
3.5 stars
August 31, 2022
His Secret Family is truly an overwhelming story that will have you experiencing all kinds of emotions. This story was written by Ali Mercer. I enjoyed getting to know Jenny and Marks story but found myself truly exasperated with Mark much of the time. There are so many lies, secrets, and regrets throughout this story. I loved the conclusion and getting to see how everyone turned out.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
November 15, 2020
Forced myself to finish.....
Had a hard time finishing this book that dragged on, skipped a lot of parts that I thought had nothing to do with the storyline. I'm going to stick to historical books, way more interesting than contemporary...
Had a hard time finishing this book that dragged on, skipped a lot of parts that I thought had nothing to do with the storyline. I'm going to stick to historical books, way more interesting than contemporary...
November 15, 2021
Sad story in parts but quite a good read Got a bit confusing with the 2 women who was the 1st wife and then the 2nd wife Glad I got to read this book though
July 18, 2021
I downloaded this to my Kindle based on the 5 star reviews so I had high expectations which was my first mistake.
I will admit that the first couple of chapters had me intrigued but it went downhill from there.
The story is about Jenny, a single Mum to Ava and Ellie. They live in a two bedroom flat on the outskirts of London. Jenny works as a hairdresser to support her girls as Sean, her ex and their Dad is an alcoholic, which also makes him unreliable.
The story goes back to when Jenny met Mark. They met when Mark turned up at the salon at closing time asking for a haircut. They have a one night stand and Mark goes back to his wife Paula.
Back in the present time, over a decade later, they meet again and now that Mark is divorced, they start a relationship....... That was the part of the book that made sense. After that the story bounces all over the place, and is told from multiple perspectives and has some really weird parts.
I don’t usually write reviews that contain spoilers but I can’t tell you what I didn’t like about this book without doing so......stop reading now if you don’t want spoilers.
We find out that Mark is actually Ava’s daughter and she was conceived when Mark and Jenny had a one night stand. 16 years later Mark blurts it out to Ava whilst they are all on holiday in France. On the same holiday Ava and Ellie find out their Mum is pregnant and that she and Mark plan to marry and move them all away from London to the countryside - If that’s not the way to mess up your kids I don’t know what is!
Everything then slows down.
New characters are introduced to never materialise again are forgotten - Does anyone know what happened to Jenny’s friend Karen and sister Amanda and what the point of bringing them in to the book is?
80% of the way through the book it suddenly lurches forward in time and there should be trigger warnings as the baby boy Jenny is carrying dies a few days after being born and we find out Mark left his first wife Paula when their daughter Daisy was diagnosed with Autism!
The book then leaps forward 10 years, seemingly for no reason at all and Paula crashes Ava’s wedding just as Mark is about to give his father of the bride speech.
When you throw in to the mix Ellie having some kind of ESP or psychic episodes, Mark’s barmy Mum and considerable time hops it ended up falling way short of the Mark for me.
I will admit that the first couple of chapters had me intrigued but it went downhill from there.
The story is about Jenny, a single Mum to Ava and Ellie. They live in a two bedroom flat on the outskirts of London. Jenny works as a hairdresser to support her girls as Sean, her ex and their Dad is an alcoholic, which also makes him unreliable.
The story goes back to when Jenny met Mark. They met when Mark turned up at the salon at closing time asking for a haircut. They have a one night stand and Mark goes back to his wife Paula.
Back in the present time, over a decade later, they meet again and now that Mark is divorced, they start a relationship....... That was the part of the book that made sense. After that the story bounces all over the place, and is told from multiple perspectives and has some really weird parts.
I don’t usually write reviews that contain spoilers but I can’t tell you what I didn’t like about this book without doing so......stop reading now if you don’t want spoilers.
We find out that Mark is actually Ava’s daughter and she was conceived when Mark and Jenny had a one night stand. 16 years later Mark blurts it out to Ava whilst they are all on holiday in France. On the same holiday Ava and Ellie find out their Mum is pregnant and that she and Mark plan to marry and move them all away from London to the countryside - If that’s not the way to mess up your kids I don’t know what is!
Everything then slows down.
New characters are introduced to never materialise again are forgotten - Does anyone know what happened to Jenny’s friend Karen and sister Amanda and what the point of bringing them in to the book is?
80% of the way through the book it suddenly lurches forward in time and there should be trigger warnings as the baby boy Jenny is carrying dies a few days after being born and we find out Mark left his first wife Paula when their daughter Daisy was diagnosed with Autism!
The book then leaps forward 10 years, seemingly for no reason at all and Paula crashes Ava’s wedding just as Mark is about to give his father of the bride speech.
When you throw in to the mix Ellie having some kind of ESP or psychic episodes, Mark’s barmy Mum and considerable time hops it ended up falling way short of the Mark for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2019
3 1/2 "secret-filled" stars
There is an old saying that families often have skeletons in their closets. "Skeletons" was a term used to refer to "secrets". Well, if one used that term for this family, there would basically be a graveyard in their closet because they have so many skeletons.
This novel starts with present day and then flashes back. It bounces between multiple POV's and time periods. All the information you are given is meant to help you understand what led to the incident at the beginning of the story. The one common denominator between all the women involved is a man named Mark. You just have to understand what his relationship is with everyone else and how they are all connected.
Also, one of the girls, Ellie, appears to have some type of ability to sense future events. It seems to be more of a sense of foreboding as opposed to an actual foresight where she knows exactly what will happen. They don't dwell on it very much and none of her parents seem to really acknowledge it. I felt like it was a plot line that could have had more development. I do think there was a nod to it at the end of the book and I felt that was well done.
This novel covers a multitude of family issues. Ms. Mercer truly included numerous emotional, social and medical topics within this story. I won't mention any of them specifically in this review because I want to allow them to unfold naturally within the pages of the story.
This was the first book I have read by Ali Mercer but I will definitely read more in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
There is an old saying that families often have skeletons in their closets. "Skeletons" was a term used to refer to "secrets". Well, if one used that term for this family, there would basically be a graveyard in their closet because they have so many skeletons.
This novel starts with present day and then flashes back. It bounces between multiple POV's and time periods. All the information you are given is meant to help you understand what led to the incident at the beginning of the story. The one common denominator between all the women involved is a man named Mark. You just have to understand what his relationship is with everyone else and how they are all connected.
Also, one of the girls, Ellie, appears to have some type of ability to sense future events. It seems to be more of a sense of foreboding as opposed to an actual foresight where she knows exactly what will happen. They don't dwell on it very much and none of her parents seem to really acknowledge it. I felt like it was a plot line that could have had more development. I do think there was a nod to it at the end of the book and I felt that was well done.
This novel covers a multitude of family issues. Ms. Mercer truly included numerous emotional, social and medical topics within this story. I won't mention any of them specifically in this review because I want to allow them to unfold naturally within the pages of the story.
This was the first book I have read by Ali Mercer but I will definitely read more in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
November 18, 2019
An enthralling family drama told from four female perspectives that reveals a story that is emotional, honest, poignant and shocking.
Beginning with a wedding and two uninvited guests, and a seemingly tragic event, you may be forgiven for thinking you know what this story is about before it begins, but you’re probably wrong.
The story begins with Paula and the wedding. Then the time frame slips into the past and Jenny (Mother,) Ava(Eldest Daughter), and Ellie(Youngest Daughter) begin to tell their stories. The plot reveals events that change their lives and shape their futures. The appearance of Mark gives hope to Jenny, but disruption for the daughters. Gradually you learn Mark’s secrets and his controlling personality traits. The major plot twist confirms my opinion of Mark.
The story’s pace, keeps the reader engaged. The twists are subtle but resonate. The complex plot, never loses its way, even as detail and layers are added.
The characters are complex and authentic. It is easy to empathise with all the female characters, excepting Ingrid(Mark’s Mother). Ellie’s character is particularly well written, and I enjoyed the added dimension she brings to the story.
The ending is satisfying, being both hopeful and realistic.
I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Beginning with a wedding and two uninvited guests, and a seemingly tragic event, you may be forgiven for thinking you know what this story is about before it begins, but you’re probably wrong.
The story begins with Paula and the wedding. Then the time frame slips into the past and Jenny (Mother,) Ava(Eldest Daughter), and Ellie(Youngest Daughter) begin to tell their stories. The plot reveals events that change their lives and shape their futures. The appearance of Mark gives hope to Jenny, but disruption for the daughters. Gradually you learn Mark’s secrets and his controlling personality traits. The major plot twist confirms my opinion of Mark.
The story’s pace, keeps the reader engaged. The twists are subtle but resonate. The complex plot, never loses its way, even as detail and layers are added.
The characters are complex and authentic. It is easy to empathise with all the female characters, excepting Ingrid(Mark’s Mother). Ellie’s character is particularly well written, and I enjoyed the added dimension she brings to the story.
The ending is satisfying, being both hopeful and realistic.
I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 2, 2019
Jenny and Mark are about to embark on a second marriage. Mark, in particular, hasn't been straight with his women and harbours secrets. Mark displays a lot of duplicitous behaviour and I found him nauseatingly weak-kneed. How will he resolve matters? What most impressed me about this novel was its incredible perception. I love the effortless way it fleshed out the characters whom you get to know well as you proceed through the story. Unwrapping the idiosyncrasies of the characters was skilful and entertaining. I'm not sure it was intentional but they amused me, especially Ingrid. She was a type we all recognise. I am not keen on this format as a rule but sheepishly I have to confess that it was effective and successful. There were some salient points made about love, marriage, relationships and motherhood. What drifted through my mind while reading was how people judge others in such simplistic terms and possibly expect too much of others and have their expectations too high. The dialogue and interaction between the characters were impressive. I was fascinated by the theme of Autism and the demise of Felix. - so perfectly enacted. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline.
August 15, 2019
This was a bit of a disappointment for me to be honest. I’d seen that the other reviews were quite mixed, but thought I’d give it a go, and at first I really enjoyed it.
Yes, 4 narrators sounded like a lot, but once you get into it it’s easy to tell them apart, and it follows a pattern so you always know who’s section is coming next. There was a clear mystery element to the plot at the beginning - who is Paula? How do Jenny and Mark know each other? And what the hell os going on with Ellie? Once this is resolved, it all becomes a bit more domestic, but still readable.
My main issue is the last few sections. Something sad happens, that is totally out of the blue, and everything then skips 10 years ahead, and then skips again to an ending that is just trite, and for me, quite unfulfilling, giving apparent ‘redemption’ to a character who has been awful and yet has a last minute change of heart and learns the error of their ways. Ugh.
To me, it felt like the author had build up this story, had no idea where it was going, and then threw together this really underwhelming ending to get it finished in time. Personally, I’d give it a miss.
Yes, 4 narrators sounded like a lot, but once you get into it it’s easy to tell them apart, and it follows a pattern so you always know who’s section is coming next. There was a clear mystery element to the plot at the beginning - who is Paula? How do Jenny and Mark know each other? And what the hell os going on with Ellie? Once this is resolved, it all becomes a bit more domestic, but still readable.
My main issue is the last few sections. Something sad happens, that is totally out of the blue, and everything then skips 10 years ahead, and then skips again to an ending that is just trite, and for me, quite unfulfilling, giving apparent ‘redemption’ to a character who has been awful and yet has a last minute change of heart and learns the error of their ways. Ugh.
To me, it felt like the author had build up this story, had no idea where it was going, and then threw together this really underwhelming ending to get it finished in time. Personally, I’d give it a miss.
April 19, 2020
Well this has been quite a story from start to finish, full of family drama with a fair bit of emotional elements in places as well.
The story was told from the perspective of 4 different characters, two adults, one 11 year old and one sixteen year old. I thought this was very well done as it gives the reader ample opportunity to really get a feel for the characters and what they are each going through.
The only thing I wasn't too keen on is that I felt as if the last few chapters were rushed, as the readers were fast forwarded 10 years on just like that. I just felt as if this part of the story could have been better.
But despite that, it was a still a good story that I enjoyed.
The story was told from the perspective of 4 different characters, two adults, one 11 year old and one sixteen year old. I thought this was very well done as it gives the reader ample opportunity to really get a feel for the characters and what they are each going through.
The only thing I wasn't too keen on is that I felt as if the last few chapters were rushed, as the readers were fast forwarded 10 years on just like that. I just felt as if this part of the story could have been better.
But despite that, it was a still a good story that I enjoyed.
September 5, 2019
What a captivating, true-to-life story this is. I was hooked from the very first pages of this story of divorced mum Jenny who is struggling to raise two daughters, 11 year-old Ellie and 16-year-old Ava, working as a stylist. The story is told with each chapter from the point of view of each character which makes it very interesting and full of twists. Jenny connects with Mark, a former love interest from before she was married to former husband, Sean. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this powerfully emotional book in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book.
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