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The Truth and Other Hidden Things
A freshly funny and heartfelt novel about one woman’s secret life, the stories she tells, and the thrill and notoriety of being noticed.
On the same day Bells Walker learns that her IUD has failed, her husband, Harry, is denied tenure at his Manhattan university. So Bells, Harry, their two adolescent children, and her baby bump move to New York’s Hudson Valley, where Harry has landed a job at Dutchess College in the town of Pigkill.
When the farm-to-table utopia Bells envisioned is anything but, she turns to the blogosphere. Under the pen name the County Dutchess, she anonymously dishes about life in Pigkill, detailing the activities of hypercompetitive parents and kombucha-drinking hipsters. Suddenly, Bells has a place to say all the things she’s been secretly thinking about being a wife and mother. As Bells turns the focus of her blog on her new neighbors, her readership continues to grow, but her scandalous posts hit closer to home: she puts Harry’s new job in jeopardy, derails her children’s lives, and risks the one real friendship she’s built.
When Bells uncovers scandals right under her nose, the Dutchess goes viral, and soon everyone is asking, Who is the County Dutchess? Now Bells has to ask herself if it’s worth losing the people closest to her to finally feel noticed by everyone else.
On the same day Bells Walker learns that her IUD has failed, her husband, Harry, is denied tenure at his Manhattan university. So Bells, Harry, their two adolescent children, and her baby bump move to New York’s Hudson Valley, where Harry has landed a job at Dutchess College in the town of Pigkill.
When the farm-to-table utopia Bells envisioned is anything but, she turns to the blogosphere. Under the pen name the County Dutchess, she anonymously dishes about life in Pigkill, detailing the activities of hypercompetitive parents and kombucha-drinking hipsters. Suddenly, Bells has a place to say all the things she’s been secretly thinking about being a wife and mother. As Bells turns the focus of her blog on her new neighbors, her readership continues to grow, but her scandalous posts hit closer to home: she puts Harry’s new job in jeopardy, derails her children’s lives, and risks the one real friendship she’s built.
When Bells uncovers scandals right under her nose, the Dutchess goes viral, and soon everyone is asking, Who is the County Dutchess? Now Bells has to ask herself if it’s worth losing the people closest to her to finally feel noticed by everyone else.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 398 reviews
April 8, 2021
I LOVED Trophy Life last year for its charm and wit, and I enjoyed The Truth and Other Hidden Things just as much!
Bells becomes a blogger writer under a pen name, exposing secrets and scandals in her own community. Eventually, her posting puts her family and friends at stake in more ways than one, but at the same time her blog is going viral.
The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a fun book that never takes itself too seriously, poking fun at high society life. Bells is a character worth getting to know, observing her growth, and I enjoyed this funny book that’s also full of heart.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Bells becomes a blogger writer under a pen name, exposing secrets and scandals in her own community. Eventually, her posting puts her family and friends at stake in more ways than one, but at the same time her blog is going viral.
The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a fun book that never takes itself too seriously, poking fun at high society life. Bells is a character worth getting to know, observing her growth, and I enjoyed this funny book that’s also full of heart.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 19, 2021
What a fun fun book! #WhoIsTheCountyDuchess On The same day that 43-year-old Bell finds out her husband did not get tenure she finds out that her IUD failed and she is pregnant. Bell is not certain what her teenage children are more upset about, mom having a baby or moving out of Manhattan? The Family now find themselves in Duchess County. Home of yuppies, millennials, coffee bars, all things organic, and houses with detached kitchens. Bell is convinced she will never fit in here so she decides to go on defense and creates her alter ego the County Duchess. The Duchess airs all the town’s dirty laundry on her blog. In the beginning it’s a way for Bell to vent, then things go viral and things get messy.
This book will be so relatable to so many people. Bell is one of those characters you are rooting for but the girl makes some terrible decisions. As a mother I found all the parenting portions of the story so authentic. Bell’s Husband Harry was an interesting character, it felt as though Bell almost had three children. I also really found the dynamics of Bell’s relationship with her mother and mother-in-law incredibly interesting. All in all this was a fun relatable feel-good story with loads of laughs and charm!
*** Big thank you to Lake Union for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This book will be so relatable to so many people. Bell is one of those characters you are rooting for but the girl makes some terrible decisions. As a mother I found all the parenting portions of the story so authentic. Bell’s Husband Harry was an interesting character, it felt as though Bell almost had three children. I also really found the dynamics of Bell’s relationship with her mother and mother-in-law incredibly interesting. All in all this was a fun relatable feel-good story with loads of laughs and charm!
*** Big thank you to Lake Union for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
July 2, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Sometimes the thing you need most hurts a lot of other people. This is the message at the core of Lea Geller's newest book, The Truth and Other Hidden Things .
“The day Harry didn’t get tenure was also the day I discovered that an IUD is not foolproof. At the time, it was hard to say which news was worse.“
Bells Walker’s life is about to implode. She’s 43, living in a small Manhattan apartment given to her husband as part of his job at a university, and she has two adolescent children. A surprise pregnancy and her husband’s being denied tenure were not what she was counting on.
When Harry lands a job at Dutchess College in New York’s Hudson Valley, the family gets uprooted to a small town called Pigkill, much to everyone’s chagrin (except Harry). But the bucolic town Bells pictured has actually been taken over by hipsters and super-high-maintenance parents, all who’ve escaped the rat race of NYC to create a new one in Pigkill.
With no job prospects in sight and feeling ostracized by the mothers who clearly have it all together, Bells decides the best way to express her feelings is through an anonymous blog. Calling herself the “County Dutchess,” she sets her snarky sights on the people, the behaviors, and the not-so-secret goings-on in Pigkill. Her blog catches fire quickly and readers want to know, who is the Dutchess?
Of course, Bells’ fulfillment from writing the blog (fulfillment she has been searching for for years) has to stay a secret, or she could jeopardize Harry’s job and her kids’ tenuous efforts to fit in. But the more her posts go viral, the greater the risk is. Is it worth it? Can this secret stay secret?
I thought The Truth and Other Hidden Things was fantastic—laugh-out-loud funny in places, poignant in others. It’s amazing the things we do to try and prove our self-worth, to ourselves and the others we think are finding us wanting. I couldn’t get enough of this and Lea Geller’s storytelling!
Suzy Approved Book Tours, Lea Geller, and Lake Union Publishing provided me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Sometimes the thing you need most hurts a lot of other people. This is the message at the core of Lea Geller's newest book, The Truth and Other Hidden Things .
“The day Harry didn’t get tenure was also the day I discovered that an IUD is not foolproof. At the time, it was hard to say which news was worse.“
Bells Walker’s life is about to implode. She’s 43, living in a small Manhattan apartment given to her husband as part of his job at a university, and she has two adolescent children. A surprise pregnancy and her husband’s being denied tenure were not what she was counting on.
When Harry lands a job at Dutchess College in New York’s Hudson Valley, the family gets uprooted to a small town called Pigkill, much to everyone’s chagrin (except Harry). But the bucolic town Bells pictured has actually been taken over by hipsters and super-high-maintenance parents, all who’ve escaped the rat race of NYC to create a new one in Pigkill.
With no job prospects in sight and feeling ostracized by the mothers who clearly have it all together, Bells decides the best way to express her feelings is through an anonymous blog. Calling herself the “County Dutchess,” she sets her snarky sights on the people, the behaviors, and the not-so-secret goings-on in Pigkill. Her blog catches fire quickly and readers want to know, who is the Dutchess?
Of course, Bells’ fulfillment from writing the blog (fulfillment she has been searching for for years) has to stay a secret, or she could jeopardize Harry’s job and her kids’ tenuous efforts to fit in. But the more her posts go viral, the greater the risk is. Is it worth it? Can this secret stay secret?
I thought The Truth and Other Hidden Things was fantastic—laugh-out-loud funny in places, poignant in others. It’s amazing the things we do to try and prove our self-worth, to ourselves and the others we think are finding us wanting. I couldn’t get enough of this and Lea Geller’s storytelling!
Suzy Approved Book Tours, Lea Geller, and Lake Union Publishing provided me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 19, 2021
4.5 stars
I absolutely adored this book! So when Bell's IUD fail her...well she is suddenly having an unexpected addition to the family...at age 43..Surprise! So when her husband is foreced to move from Manhattan...to Pigkill for his job...well things get a little bit crazy!
What better way to fit in..than to dish the dirt on your new neighbors?? In a very public blog...under the fancy pants name of...The County Duchess..
I mean..you had me at blogger Bells...that being said..I was instantly drawn in...I couldn't put down this fun little guilty pleasure of a book! I almost felt bad knowing Bells secret because she could be so ruthless..but alas..I must admit...I enjoyed the dishing of the dirt.
As Bells struggled to keep her identity a secret, she also liked to play with fire a bit, will she go too far and get burnt? I kept yelling noooo Bells...girl you are going to get caught...She didn't listen...but did she pull it off?
Fun,witty and relatable..I feel ya Bells! I loved it! This book was just what I needed.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Tours and Lea Geller for my gifted copy!
I absolutely adored this book! So when Bell's IUD fail her...well she is suddenly having an unexpected addition to the family...at age 43..Surprise! So when her husband is foreced to move from Manhattan...to Pigkill for his job...well things get a little bit crazy!
What better way to fit in..than to dish the dirt on your new neighbors?? In a very public blog...under the fancy pants name of...The County Duchess..
I mean..you had me at blogger Bells...that being said..I was instantly drawn in...I couldn't put down this fun little guilty pleasure of a book! I almost felt bad knowing Bells secret because she could be so ruthless..but alas..I must admit...I enjoyed the dishing of the dirt.
As Bells struggled to keep her identity a secret, she also liked to play with fire a bit, will she go too far and get burnt? I kept yelling noooo Bells...girl you are going to get caught...She didn't listen...but did she pull it off?
Fun,witty and relatable..I feel ya Bells! I loved it! This book was just what I needed.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Tours and Lea Geller for my gifted copy!
May 2, 2021
The Truth and Other Hidden Things
By Lea Geller
Lea Geller’s The Truth and Other Hidden Things is such a wonderful story that is both funny and poignant, and also completely relatable.
The story begins as forty something Bells Walker, a lawyer turned writer finds out she is pregnant and that her younger and very attractive husband did not receive tenure in his Manhattan University job. He ends up finding another position in the Hudson Valley in a town called Pigkill, a hipster town with kombucha loving residents who were mostly transplants from the city.
Bells who is craving to get back to writing starts to blog anonymously, writing about the competitive parenting and helicopter moms. As she writes about the town mom gossips and some strange sexual encounters, her blog takes off and suddenly Bells is in over her head.
I loved reading this story about characters that grow and evolve, and all the moms and the crazy antics. The writing was fresh, clever, and very insightful. I really enjoyed this entertaining read and I highly recommend it.
By Lea Geller
Lea Geller’s The Truth and Other Hidden Things is such a wonderful story that is both funny and poignant, and also completely relatable.
The story begins as forty something Bells Walker, a lawyer turned writer finds out she is pregnant and that her younger and very attractive husband did not receive tenure in his Manhattan University job. He ends up finding another position in the Hudson Valley in a town called Pigkill, a hipster town with kombucha loving residents who were mostly transplants from the city.
Bells who is craving to get back to writing starts to blog anonymously, writing about the competitive parenting and helicopter moms. As she writes about the town mom gossips and some strange sexual encounters, her blog takes off and suddenly Bells is in over her head.
I loved reading this story about characters that grow and evolve, and all the moms and the crazy antics. The writing was fresh, clever, and very insightful. I really enjoyed this entertaining read and I highly recommend it.
April 14, 2021
I am a fan of Lea Geller’s since I read her first book, Trophy Life. I was so excited for the release of her second novel, The Truth and Other Hidden Things and if I’m honest, I think it is even better than her first book! Clever, funny, heart-warming, and full of depth—this is the sort of book that simultaneously makes me want to grab my popcorn and also leaves me with that great feeling of seeing a group of great characters grow and evolve across the pages.
I want to talk a bit about Bells, our leading lady. Bells is the sort of character who has that perfect paradox of someone I want to shake at times and who also I cheer for so hard. Bells is 43 and dealing with all of the gray hairs and body changes that come with that. So the last thing she expects is to find out she is pregnant. Isn’t she too old to be pregnant?
Apparently not… but she is (as her doctors point out) at an “advanced maternal age”. As though they needed to tell Bells that, who is already a mother to two teenagers and a few years older than her very attractive and academic husband Harry, taking to dying her hair at home so she can get a few extra chores done while she is chasing a losing battle to cover her gray hairs.
Bells felt so relatable from page one. I instantly cheered her on as she not only dealt with the shocking news of her pregnancy, but also worked to support her husband Harry after he receives the devastating news that he won’t make tenure at his current University post. Bells is the sort of woman who seems to at once know she can do more than she is, but also is so humble about her own strengths and talents.
When Harry gets a job at Duchess College in the town of (and I’m not joking here), Pigkill in upstate New York, Bells is cautiously optimistic about getting to actually live in a place large enough for a family of four (about to be five). But Hudson Valley is not quite the utopia it seems. Instead, it is full of hipsters fleeing the city but bringing their same obsessions with porkpie hats, kombucha, vegan desserts, and strange vegetables to a town that is quickly becoming to expensive for the actual locals to survive in.
Not to mention Bells is dealing with a cadre of younger, yoga-pants moms who judge her for being pregnant at her age and gossip about her behind her back. In an effort to get back to her writing and find an outlet for the ridiculous world she has found herself living in, Bells begins writing an unpaid column for an NYC news outlet and blog. But as her salacious posts begin to get some broader attention, Bells may be in over her head as the truth about her role in the blog may be discovered with consequences for not just her, but Harry and her kids as well.
I absolutely loved reading the blog posts. They are so witty and outrageous, I could picture all of the characters she wrote about. But as with any great book, what starts as harmless fun turns a bit too close to home and Bells herself begins to make some questionable decisions as things go along. But despite her flaws, Bells was still so rootable for me! I truly felt for this woman, who had basically derailed her own life for her husband’s career and her family, only to now find herself judged for that choice from every side.
Full of laugh-out-loud moments, interesting characters, and a story that truly had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all unfolds—The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a fantastic book that I recommend to anyone who likes to see the salacious side of the elite, while also appreciating that no person is truly a caricature and all characters have a story to tell.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for my copy! Opinions are my own.
I want to talk a bit about Bells, our leading lady. Bells is the sort of character who has that perfect paradox of someone I want to shake at times and who also I cheer for so hard. Bells is 43 and dealing with all of the gray hairs and body changes that come with that. So the last thing she expects is to find out she is pregnant. Isn’t she too old to be pregnant?
Apparently not… but she is (as her doctors point out) at an “advanced maternal age”. As though they needed to tell Bells that, who is already a mother to two teenagers and a few years older than her very attractive and academic husband Harry, taking to dying her hair at home so she can get a few extra chores done while she is chasing a losing battle to cover her gray hairs.
Bells felt so relatable from page one. I instantly cheered her on as she not only dealt with the shocking news of her pregnancy, but also worked to support her husband Harry after he receives the devastating news that he won’t make tenure at his current University post. Bells is the sort of woman who seems to at once know she can do more than she is, but also is so humble about her own strengths and talents.
When Harry gets a job at Duchess College in the town of (and I’m not joking here), Pigkill in upstate New York, Bells is cautiously optimistic about getting to actually live in a place large enough for a family of four (about to be five). But Hudson Valley is not quite the utopia it seems. Instead, it is full of hipsters fleeing the city but bringing their same obsessions with porkpie hats, kombucha, vegan desserts, and strange vegetables to a town that is quickly becoming to expensive for the actual locals to survive in.
Not to mention Bells is dealing with a cadre of younger, yoga-pants moms who judge her for being pregnant at her age and gossip about her behind her back. In an effort to get back to her writing and find an outlet for the ridiculous world she has found herself living in, Bells begins writing an unpaid column for an NYC news outlet and blog. But as her salacious posts begin to get some broader attention, Bells may be in over her head as the truth about her role in the blog may be discovered with consequences for not just her, but Harry and her kids as well.
I absolutely loved reading the blog posts. They are so witty and outrageous, I could picture all of the characters she wrote about. But as with any great book, what starts as harmless fun turns a bit too close to home and Bells herself begins to make some questionable decisions as things go along. But despite her flaws, Bells was still so rootable for me! I truly felt for this woman, who had basically derailed her own life for her husband’s career and her family, only to now find herself judged for that choice from every side.
Full of laugh-out-loud moments, interesting characters, and a story that truly had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it all unfolds—The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a fantastic book that I recommend to anyone who likes to see the salacious side of the elite, while also appreciating that no person is truly a caricature and all characters have a story to tell.
Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours for my copy! Opinions are my own.
November 26, 2020
4 stars for this fun and witty read!
Bells Walker finds out on the same day that her IUD has failed and that her husband hasn't been given tenure where he teaches. This leads to them moving out of New York City with their two teenage children to Dutchess County, where her husband has secured a new job as a professor. Being pregnant in her 40s and with no real career of her own Bells is feeling isolated and forgotten about. As she begins meeting other moms in their new town Bells decides to start writing an anonymous blog about her new life and the people she encounters. Before she knows it Bells is in over her head and exposing juicy secrets on the blog. She gains more and more readers the gossip becomes more salacious until things spiral out of control and Bells is exposed.
I enjoyed The Truth and Other Hidden Things. Bells was a relatable character and while the book mainly centered on her and her family it was never dull. I loved all the secrets that Bells dug up about the other women in her town. But the overall message of community and family were what I loved most. When things got tough everyone was there for Bells and she realized the error of her ways in the end. I liked the characters in this book and the drama that came from the blog posts. Everyone around them is trying to guess who is behind the blog and it kept the plot interesting. This is a heartwarming story and I recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Bells Walker finds out on the same day that her IUD has failed and that her husband hasn't been given tenure where he teaches. This leads to them moving out of New York City with their two teenage children to Dutchess County, where her husband has secured a new job as a professor. Being pregnant in her 40s and with no real career of her own Bells is feeling isolated and forgotten about. As she begins meeting other moms in their new town Bells decides to start writing an anonymous blog about her new life and the people she encounters. Before she knows it Bells is in over her head and exposing juicy secrets on the blog. She gains more and more readers the gossip becomes more salacious until things spiral out of control and Bells is exposed.
I enjoyed The Truth and Other Hidden Things. Bells was a relatable character and while the book mainly centered on her and her family it was never dull. I loved all the secrets that Bells dug up about the other women in her town. But the overall message of community and family were what I loved most. When things got tough everyone was there for Bells and she realized the error of her ways in the end. I liked the characters in this book and the drama that came from the blog posts. Everyone around them is trying to guess who is behind the blog and it kept the plot interesting. This is a heartwarming story and I recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
June 5, 2021
What, a book about a blogger! I will take it. This is not just any blogger, she dishes the dirt on anyone and everyone. Have you ever watched American Housewife Bells reminded me of her so much. This was a fun read and I have to say I never put the book down. 4 stars and I recommend this one. Moms you are going to really love this little getaway.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
September 7, 2021
This was such an entertaining book!! Bells Walker finds out that her IUD failed and is now expecting a baby at 43 yrs old. Then she finds out that her husband is losing his job and that they, and her two teenage children, must move out of their Manhattan apartment to Pigkill, a smaller suburb.
While there, Bells decides to start an anonymous blog where she dishes all the dirt that goes on between all her neighbors and the other mother's. I loved how Bells needed a way to express her feelings, and found a way to tell all the secrets and gossip. She spills it all. She has to keep her identify on the low down though or it could destroy everything. Well when one of her posts goes public, everyone wants to find out who it is behind this blog. 😱
Wooo, this was such a fun read! I was all into it. Definitely recommend to all of you that want to get pulled into some drama and gossip, that doesn't revolve around you! 🙌🏼😂😂
Thank you to the publisher and author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
While there, Bells decides to start an anonymous blog where she dishes all the dirt that goes on between all her neighbors and the other mother's. I loved how Bells needed a way to express her feelings, and found a way to tell all the secrets and gossip. She spills it all. She has to keep her identify on the low down though or it could destroy everything. Well when one of her posts goes public, everyone wants to find out who it is behind this blog. 😱
Wooo, this was such a fun read! I was all into it. Definitely recommend to all of you that want to get pulled into some drama and gossip, that doesn't revolve around you! 🙌🏼😂😂
Thank you to the publisher and author for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own!
November 15, 2020
This was a quick read that started off light and airy but veered into more serious territory - perhaps a bit too serious.
An NYC mom is forced into upstate living when a series of events - including her husband not getting tenured at Columbia and suddenly finding herself over 40 and pregnant with her third child - happen in quick succession.
Bells loses herself in her husband's career and her children's issues with adjusting to their new neighborhood. She does not feel she has anything for herself - until she channels her love of writing into an anonymous blog detailing the lives of the rich upstate families. What started as an homage to Gossip Girl quickly turned dangerous as Bells uncovered - and published - details of numerous affairs within the community.
The sh*t hits the fan when Bells is found out, but not before publishing one more huge and extremely consequential secret. It was here that I removed one star - the ending was rushed and the fallout of the final secret was never fully flushed out. Bells betrays one of her only real friends in the neighborhood, and this is glossed over.
In the end, we wonder if anyone has really learned their lesson, other than Bells, but her wry observations are worth the ride.
Thank you to Netgalley for this preview!
An NYC mom is forced into upstate living when a series of events - including her husband not getting tenured at Columbia and suddenly finding herself over 40 and pregnant with her third child - happen in quick succession.
Bells loses herself in her husband's career and her children's issues with adjusting to their new neighborhood. She does not feel she has anything for herself - until she channels her love of writing into an anonymous blog detailing the lives of the rich upstate families. What started as an homage to Gossip Girl quickly turned dangerous as Bells uncovered - and published - details of numerous affairs within the community.
The sh*t hits the fan when Bells is found out, but not before publishing one more huge and extremely consequential secret. It was here that I removed one star - the ending was rushed and the fallout of the final secret was never fully flushed out. Bells betrays one of her only real friends in the neighborhood, and this is glossed over.
In the end, we wonder if anyone has really learned their lesson, other than Bells, but her wry observations are worth the ride.
Thank you to Netgalley for this preview!
April 10, 2021
Read my full review on my blog: https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/tru...
This book had me laughing right from the beginning at Bells’ wit. I loved that it was set in Dutchess county--that’s where my boyfriend’s family is from, and I am hoping he ends up at Vassar for his residency! I’m no hipster by any means, but farmer’s markets and fancy coffee shops are two of my favorite things.
I liked Bells a lot, although I can definitely understand why some readers won’t. I thought she was witty and funny, even though she did make some decidedly bad decisions. Bells’ columns were hilarious, as was her hunt for blog topics. I can totally understand getting sucked in by social media! Where she messed up, though, was using her friends as blog fodder and not considering what the fallout would do to her children. If she was a little less selfish, her blog could have been funny satire without being harmful to others--but then our book would have no plot!
I do think there could have been more to the ending, and more about Bells’ kids. After all this buildup, the ending seemed rushed and I felt like Bells got off too easily.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read about farmers markets, fancy coffee, and moms behaving badly.
This book had me laughing right from the beginning at Bells’ wit. I loved that it was set in Dutchess county--that’s where my boyfriend’s family is from, and I am hoping he ends up at Vassar for his residency! I’m no hipster by any means, but farmer’s markets and fancy coffee shops are two of my favorite things.
I liked Bells a lot, although I can definitely understand why some readers won’t. I thought she was witty and funny, even though she did make some decidedly bad decisions. Bells’ columns were hilarious, as was her hunt for blog topics. I can totally understand getting sucked in by social media! Where she messed up, though, was using her friends as blog fodder and not considering what the fallout would do to her children. If she was a little less selfish, her blog could have been funny satire without being harmful to others--but then our book would have no plot!
I do think there could have been more to the ending, and more about Bells’ kids. After all this buildup, the ending seemed rushed and I felt like Bells got off too easily.
Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read about farmers markets, fancy coffee, and moms behaving badly.
September 12, 2022
This is a funny book about a blogger who writes under a pen name about a town that she and her family just relocate to. A previous reviewer mentioned that the book reminds them of the US tv show "American Housewife", and I completely agree.
The novel was a perfect summer reading for me. I especially love the author's self-deprecating humor and writing style. I will check out her other book.
The novel was a perfect summer reading for me. I especially love the author's self-deprecating humor and writing style. I will check out her other book.
April 4, 2021
This is a witty, fun and cute book. A good light read, but one that ultimately did not go quite as deep as I wanted.
Bells learns her husband has not gotten tenure at roughly the same time she learns she is pregnant at forty-two, despite her IUD and two older children. She ends up moving to Dutchess County in upstate New York, where her dream of writing takes on a somewhat catty form of a gossip column in the free paper dishing dirt on local moms. Meanwhile, her much more serious husband is trying for tenure at his new school. All this leaves Bells feeling dissatisfied and unseen, which comes out in her increasingly mean anonymous column about her peers in the community.
I thought the writing was zippy and cute, and Bells’ family was very relatable. The one weak link was her husband, who somehow I never really found quite too likable. I did not like his general failure to appreciate her goals and dreams in life in favor of his own. His propensity to take Bells for granted never really felt like it got fully resolved, and I didn’t see enough of what she loved about him.
Overall, I would have liked for the author to show us more vulnerability in Bells as the book went along, and get into maybe a little more depth about how unhappy/unfulfilled she actually was before the end. The book wraps up into a somewhat tidy package but I didn’t feel like we really got the emotional depth and self-realization throughout that I was hoping for from Bells. What are the reasons Bells was compelled to write this ultimately somewhat nasty column? The author explains them at the end but does not really show the sadness to us in Bells’ daily life before that point.
Nonetheless, this was a clever and fun light read that will likely please many people, especially those frustrated with the overachieving, privileged moms in their community. Bells is a likable heroine with a distinctive voice, and so is the author herself.
3.5 stars, and I’d read this author again in hopes she would go a little farther and deeper with her interesting ideas next time.
Thanks to Lake Union, NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
Bells learns her husband has not gotten tenure at roughly the same time she learns she is pregnant at forty-two, despite her IUD and two older children. She ends up moving to Dutchess County in upstate New York, where her dream of writing takes on a somewhat catty form of a gossip column in the free paper dishing dirt on local moms. Meanwhile, her much more serious husband is trying for tenure at his new school. All this leaves Bells feeling dissatisfied and unseen, which comes out in her increasingly mean anonymous column about her peers in the community.
I thought the writing was zippy and cute, and Bells’ family was very relatable. The one weak link was her husband, who somehow I never really found quite too likable. I did not like his general failure to appreciate her goals and dreams in life in favor of his own. His propensity to take Bells for granted never really felt like it got fully resolved, and I didn’t see enough of what she loved about him.
Overall, I would have liked for the author to show us more vulnerability in Bells as the book went along, and get into maybe a little more depth about how unhappy/unfulfilled she actually was before the end. The book wraps up into a somewhat tidy package but I didn’t feel like we really got the emotional depth and self-realization throughout that I was hoping for from Bells. What are the reasons Bells was compelled to write this ultimately somewhat nasty column? The author explains them at the end but does not really show the sadness to us in Bells’ daily life before that point.
Nonetheless, this was a clever and fun light read that will likely please many people, especially those frustrated with the overachieving, privileged moms in their community. Bells is a likable heroine with a distinctive voice, and so is the author herself.
3.5 stars, and I’d read this author again in hopes she would go a little farther and deeper with her interesting ideas next time.
Thanks to Lake Union, NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
January 27, 2021
A couple of years ago, Lea Geller burst onto the scene with her debut, Trophy Life. I loved it, so I was thrilled to see she has a new novel publishing soon and I got my hands on an advanced copy right away. Then I proceeded to devour it as soon as I picked it up.
I enjoyed The Truth and Other Hidden Things even more than Trophy Life. I could easily relate to Bells, aside from the pregnancy part (not to jinx anything though). When my family and I first moved out east, we lived in a town where I felt completely out of my element. I'm also a blogger, but I'm not snarky about people in my community. (I stick to blogging about books and pop culture, for the most part.) I get why Bells fed off the notoriety though, even if she was staying anonymous. I can also relate about raising teenagers/preteens, feeling inadequate, being (currently) unemployed, etc.
I liked all the elements of this story and how they fit together. The humor was spot on, even if it wasn't my type of humor. It was more subtle, but it worked for this story. I'm already chomping at the bit for whatever Lea comes up with next. She's definitely become a go-to author for me.
Movie casting ideas:
I enjoyed The Truth and Other Hidden Things even more than Trophy Life. I could easily relate to Bells, aside from the pregnancy part (not to jinx anything though). When my family and I first moved out east, we lived in a town where I felt completely out of my element. I'm also a blogger, but I'm not snarky about people in my community. (I stick to blogging about books and pop culture, for the most part.) I get why Bells fed off the notoriety though, even if she was staying anonymous. I can also relate about raising teenagers/preteens, feeling inadequate, being (currently) unemployed, etc.
I liked all the elements of this story and how they fit together. The humor was spot on, even if it wasn't my type of humor. It was more subtle, but it worked for this story. I'm already chomping at the bit for whatever Lea comes up with next. She's definitely become a go-to author for me.
Movie casting ideas:
Bells: Lauren Ambrose
Harry: Ben Feldman
Alice: Mariel Sheets
Vivian: Christine Baranski
Cynthia: Monet Mazur
Joey: Maya Hawke
Suki: Jennifer Spence
Hanna: Karen Allen
August 8, 2021
This was a delightful read. It is the story of a Manhattanite transported to a small town upstate and trying to deal with the social challenges of change. She had a teen age son and is now pregnant and feels she is too old to be having with another child.
December 27, 2020
an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This isn't normal my type of book, but I was craving something lighter.
I'm a bit at odds about this book. It started out very promising and interesting, but honestly, as the book went on I liked Bells less and less. I love me a flawed character and but omg she was annoying, immature, and selfish most of the book. By about 65% through the book I really didn't have much interest in what happened to her or the other characters in the story, and was just waiting for it to be over with.
This isn't normal my type of book, but I was craving something lighter.
I'm a bit at odds about this book. It started out very promising and interesting, but honestly, as the book went on I liked Bells less and less. I love me a flawed character and but omg she was annoying, immature, and selfish most of the book. By about 65% through the book I really didn't have much interest in what happened to her or the other characters in the story, and was just waiting for it to be over with.
April 28, 2022
Not sure how I got this one on my TBR shelf? Maybe I liked the cover. Or maybe I liked the idea of reading about a writer.
But reading about the modern day mother's problems with other parents is just too darn stressful to me to be enjoyable.
Perhaps worth a laugh for those who can relate.
But reading about the modern day mother's problems with other parents is just too darn stressful to me to be enjoyable.
Perhaps worth a laugh for those who can relate.
October 24, 2020
Another fun book by this author. Bells Walker is in her forties and has just found out that she is unexpectedly expecting and her husband Harry who did not get tenure, has found a new job at Dutchess College in a town called Pigkill. Bells is not a happy camper and looking to keep her writing skills sharp, begins a blog where she anonymously gossips about everyone around her. This blog is a train wreck waiting to happen and it was a great ride. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 18, 2021
It is a rare, lovely book that keeps me so engrossed that I can read it mostly in one day. Less than eight hours, to be exact.
Bells Walker is an utterly relatable protagonist, especially if you are a middle-aged wife and mother, and feel invisible and unappreciated and without a strong self-esteem. I totally got why Bells made her choices, the author did an amazing job of telling her tale.
Great book. Highly recommend.
Bells Walker is an utterly relatable protagonist, especially if you are a middle-aged wife and mother, and feel invisible and unappreciated and without a strong self-esteem. I totally got why Bells made her choices, the author did an amazing job of telling her tale.
Great book. Highly recommend.
March 28, 2021
4 stars for this fun read-I literally Lol’d a few times!
Bells finds out that her iud has failed and she’s going to have another baby at the same time as her husband finds out that he didn’t make tenure at his school. As a result, they, along with their teenage kids have to move out to the country for her husbands new job, which no one is excited about except her husband. As a stay at mom in her 40s, she feels left behind everyone and that she has nothing in common with the other mothers so she goes back to writing again, only this time she is trashing all them and their kombucha drinking lifestyles under a pen name so no one can trace it back to her, but she feels alive again. Eventually it all blows up in her face and she has to put the pieces back in order to save face and help her family come back together.
I really enjoyed this story. Bells was totally relatable as a wife and mom who gives all she can to her kids and her husband, and deals with teenage drama as well as pregnancy and postpartum life that isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Her husband got sucked into the lifestyle and it cracked me up!. And overall, when it all went wrong, the people she dogged on were the ones who stepped up for her.
Enjoyable, witty and engaging story. Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review
Bells finds out that her iud has failed and she’s going to have another baby at the same time as her husband finds out that he didn’t make tenure at his school. As a result, they, along with their teenage kids have to move out to the country for her husbands new job, which no one is excited about except her husband. As a stay at mom in her 40s, she feels left behind everyone and that she has nothing in common with the other mothers so she goes back to writing again, only this time she is trashing all them and their kombucha drinking lifestyles under a pen name so no one can trace it back to her, but she feels alive again. Eventually it all blows up in her face and she has to put the pieces back in order to save face and help her family come back together.
I really enjoyed this story. Bells was totally relatable as a wife and mom who gives all she can to her kids and her husband, and deals with teenage drama as well as pregnancy and postpartum life that isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Her husband got sucked into the lifestyle and it cracked me up!. And overall, when it all went wrong, the people she dogged on were the ones who stepped up for her.
Enjoyable, witty and engaging story. Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review
April 27, 2021
Thank you to Chick Lit Central (Melissa Amster) and Lake Union Publishing for this book.
I don't give too many books 5 stars that's for sure but this is one.
Take a mom of a teenager, an almost teenager, and pregnant at almost 43 (oops, her IUD failed) and a professor husband who only wants tenure where he teaches, blend in a anonymous blog that blows everything up in Pigkill, NY (quite a name), a mother-in-law you really don't adore and a mother who ignores you practically and you don't want to tell her about your pregnancy, and you get this hilarious book.
I laughed until I cried when she did. She really learned her lesson when she got lambasted and got found out. I loved reading her blog in the book and all about the women in this town and who she blogged about.
Loved the ending and her apology via a blog.
I don't give too many books 5 stars that's for sure but this is one.
Take a mom of a teenager, an almost teenager, and pregnant at almost 43 (oops, her IUD failed) and a professor husband who only wants tenure where he teaches, blend in a anonymous blog that blows everything up in Pigkill, NY (quite a name), a mother-in-law you really don't adore and a mother who ignores you practically and you don't want to tell her about your pregnancy, and you get this hilarious book.
I laughed until I cried when she did. She really learned her lesson when she got lambasted and got found out. I loved reading her blog in the book and all about the women in this town and who she blogged about.
Loved the ending and her apology via a blog.
March 27, 2021
This was a fun book about moms behaving badly and all the small town drama. I was laughing out loud at Bells' blogs as she evolved into the County Dutchess. Throughout the book we explore the many facets of motherhood as Bells navigates being 40 and pregnant, the pressures of college acceptances, and the standard overcommitments of the PTA. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about motherhood through a more comedic lens or just needs a laugh.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
April 22, 2021
So, here’s the thing.
I kinda feel bad for some of you.
Why? Because I don’t see enough of Lea Gellers books being shared, and that must mean you don’t know of her books or have yet to read them - and THAT, my friends, is a TRAVESTY.
If you want snark. She brings it. Relatability? Check. Humor & heart? All. Day. Long.
When a series of crazy unexpected curveballs happen to Bells and her family, they must relocate from NYC to an upstate NY kombucha loving hipster town. How will she survive? By writing an anonymous gossip blog of course! The blog quickly goes viral and the moms of Dutchess County are not happy. Bells finally feels seen as those likes and comments multiply (I think we can totally relate no?!) but will this explosion of anonymous fame end up blowing up in her face?
Refreshing and witty, insightful and authentic, The Truth and Other Hidden Things has something for everyone … and everyone needs some Lea Geller in their life. ❤️
I kinda feel bad for some of you.
Why? Because I don’t see enough of Lea Gellers books being shared, and that must mean you don’t know of her books or have yet to read them - and THAT, my friends, is a TRAVESTY.
If you want snark. She brings it. Relatability? Check. Humor & heart? All. Day. Long.
When a series of crazy unexpected curveballs happen to Bells and her family, they must relocate from NYC to an upstate NY kombucha loving hipster town. How will she survive? By writing an anonymous gossip blog of course! The blog quickly goes viral and the moms of Dutchess County are not happy. Bells finally feels seen as those likes and comments multiply (I think we can totally relate no?!) but will this explosion of anonymous fame end up blowing up in her face?
Refreshing and witty, insightful and authentic, The Truth and Other Hidden Things has something for everyone … and everyone needs some Lea Geller in their life. ❤️
May 15, 2021
The Truth and Other Hidden Things: A Novel by Lea Geller is a funny and emotional story that every mom should read. I say this mostly because I read the book the month after I gave birth and it resonated with me on such a deep level, but you don't have to be a mom to enjoy this book! If you've ever felt invisible in your own life, I think you'd find this to be right up your alley.
I have to admit, I devoured this book back in October when I first received an ARC. The struggles of the main character feel realistic and valid in todays internet-driven society. Geller's writing captured me from the first chapter and I had to keep furiously turning pages to see what happened next.
This book gets major kudos for mental health rep. Though portrayed in a hopeful light, this could be potentially triggering for those with depression, PPD, anxiety, and those who have experienced internet bullying.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have to admit, I devoured this book back in October when I first received an ARC. The struggles of the main character feel realistic and valid in todays internet-driven society. Geller's writing captured me from the first chapter and I had to keep furiously turning pages to see what happened next.
This book gets major kudos for mental health rep. Though portrayed in a hopeful light, this could be potentially triggering for those with depression, PPD, anxiety, and those who have experienced internet bullying.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 21, 2021
I love reading books about hot mess moms and if the mom in question is an even bigger mess than I am, it’s a win. Bells is 43, she just found out her IUD failed and she’s pregnant and her husband lost his job. Time to move out of the city and into the burbs and she’s soon bored so she starts a snarky blog about the moms in town. One of her posts goes viral and then everyone is desperate to know who the County Duchess really is.
I loved the satire here, it was seriously funny but it was also surprisingly poignant as well. Bells learns a lot about herself, her marriage and her family as a whole throughout the course of the book and her growth was pretty great. Recommended as a light and fun read, parents especially will relate to this one
I loved the satire here, it was seriously funny but it was also surprisingly poignant as well. Bells learns a lot about herself, her marriage and her family as a whole throughout the course of the book and her growth was pretty great. Recommended as a light and fun read, parents especially will relate to this one
May 18, 2021
I loved the beginning of this book and it seemed so promising... until Bells turned out to be such a self absorbed, fame hungry, judgmental, jerk.
In life there will always be moms who do more, do it better, and look amazing doing so. Let them. Bells constant disdain and snark for everyone and everything got old fast.
Also, by kid 3, you should probably know you’re in labor, and can plan a maternity wardrobe without so much trouble. (And laying on all fours barking for a nurse to get an epidural? Ughhhhh)
The fact that she KNEW and her BFF kept telling her, that she was jeopardizing her husband’s job, and she just kept on with the gossipy blogs... totally selfish and foolish. And if the Hudson Mom of Six blog bothered her so much, guess what? Click that little “x” and stop reading.
I also found the end to be unbelievable. All the women who were truly rude to her, suddenly they care? What, so that means in Pigkill we can talk crap about you, your body, your kids, etc. but no worries, we will bring you food if you have a self inflicted meltdown at the grocery store. Right.
I won’t bother with the moms uniting suddenly and becoming wholly different humans than described for the entire book.
One has to wonder, had Bells gotten her so desperately sought for book deal, who she have given a rat’s ass about hurting others?
In life there will always be moms who do more, do it better, and look amazing doing so. Let them. Bells constant disdain and snark for everyone and everything got old fast.
Also, by kid 3, you should probably know you’re in labor, and can plan a maternity wardrobe without so much trouble. (And laying on all fours barking for a nurse to get an epidural? Ughhhhh)
The fact that she KNEW and her BFF kept telling her, that she was jeopardizing her husband’s job, and she just kept on with the gossipy blogs... totally selfish and foolish. And if the Hudson Mom of Six blog bothered her so much, guess what? Click that little “x” and stop reading.
I also found the end to be unbelievable. All the women who were truly rude to her, suddenly they care? What, so that means in Pigkill we can talk crap about you, your body, your kids, etc. but no worries, we will bring you food if you have a self inflicted meltdown at the grocery store. Right.
I won’t bother with the moms uniting suddenly and becoming wholly different humans than described for the entire book.
One has to wonder, had Bells gotten her so desperately sought for book deal, who she have given a rat’s ass about hurting others?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2021
There are so few books that have made me laugh, but I’ve definitely found myself laughing while reading THE TRUTH AND OTHER HIDDEN THINGS.
After reading Trophy Life, I was excited for this new release that just came out in April, and it was just the book I was looking for, as I started to feel overwhelmed lately.
The writing is witty, and fun, and I found the characters were just as relatable and real as I’ve come to expect from Geller. From Moms that have all the gossip to laugh out loud shenanigans, this was such an overall cute read!
*Many thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours, author Lea Geller, and publisher for the gifted copy
After reading Trophy Life, I was excited for this new release that just came out in April, and it was just the book I was looking for, as I started to feel overwhelmed lately.
The writing is witty, and fun, and I found the characters were just as relatable and real as I’ve come to expect from Geller. From Moms that have all the gossip to laugh out loud shenanigans, this was such an overall cute read!
*Many thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours, author Lea Geller, and publisher for the gifted copy
March 30, 2021
Saying Bells Walker is having a rough day would be an understatement, the same day she finds out that her IUD failed her and she’s pregnant, her husband informs her that he wasn’t given tenure at his teaching job. Now they pack up with their two teenage children and move out of New York to Duchess County, so her husband can start his new teaching job. Bells is feeling lonely and isolated she didn’t see herself pregnant in her forty’s and not having a job just adds to her long days. Meeting other moms around the town she decides to write an anonymous blog, in which she’s describing her days and all the people she meets in her new town, and on this blog she soon finds herself writing about their secrets and the gossip she’s hears. She’s shocked when she sees more and more people reading and discussing her blog and no one knows it’s her. Soon she sees what she thought was harmless, spiral out of her control and the gossip grows a bit nasty and when Bella finds herself exposed what will happen next? I really enjoyed this book it was a quick read and I found myself getting lost with Bells as she digs up the gossip that surround the woman around town. It was also interesting as the woman around town were tying to figure out who was behind Bells blog. Four stars!
April 9, 2021
Let me tell you what I liked. This book. This was another solid hit and I’m here for it. This is the story about Bells and the day everything goes wonky. She finds out her iud failed (oops) and her hubby lost his job. So they decided to move out of NYC to Duchess County where her husband can be a professor. Bells is having all the feelings, 40’s and pregnant will do that, and she decides to start anonymous blog about her new life and all she encounters. Of course things spin out of control and then she starts to lose everything.
I enjoyed this story so much. Bells could be me. The heartwarming family and community that Bells didn’t even know she had was the absolute best. As someone in her 40’s (ahem) I could relate to things that Bells was feeling. Overall I really enjoyed this one.
Thank you so much to Let's Talk Books Promo Team, Amazon Publishing, and Lea Geller for allowing me the chance to read this gem.
I enjoyed this story so much. Bells could be me. The heartwarming family and community that Bells didn’t even know she had was the absolute best. As someone in her 40’s (ahem) I could relate to things that Bells was feeling. Overall I really enjoyed this one.
Thank you so much to Let's Talk Books Promo Team, Amazon Publishing, and Lea Geller for allowing me the chance to read this gem.
July 28, 2021
The book is about a woman who, all in one day, discovers that her husband hasn’t gotten tenure at their city university and that in her mid-forties with two tween and teenage kids, her IUD has failed, and she's pregnant. This event begins her journey into an unexpected pregnancy and out of the city up to Duchess County, where her husband gets a new job.
I loved the sense of humor and funny observations the author has in this book—the way she mentions that her son woke up six feet tall one day. Or about sneaking the special coffee creamer. We read a lot about unexpected pregnancies of young women at different phases in their lives. This book looks at the question, "What would happen if a mom who had older kids and is out of that baby stage is suddenly forced back into it again, especially when her oldest is leaving home?"
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/lea...
I loved the sense of humor and funny observations the author has in this book—the way she mentions that her son woke up six feet tall one day. Or about sneaking the special coffee creamer. We read a lot about unexpected pregnancies of young women at different phases in their lives. This book looks at the question, "What would happen if a mom who had older kids and is out of that baby stage is suddenly forced back into it again, especially when her oldest is leaving home?"
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/lea...
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