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The Secrets We Keep
“Visceral…a vital, heart-wrenching account of one teen’s harrowing experience.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
In the vein of The Way I Used to Be and Kelly Loy Gilbert’s Conviction , this “exceedingly well-written, powerful, and suspenseful” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) young adult novel follows a girl’s struggle to reconcile friendship, sexual abuse, and the secrets we bury deep down inside to survive.
High school freshman Emma Clark harbors a secret—a secret so vile it could implode her whole world, a secret she’s managed to keep buried…until the day her best friend, Hannah, accuses Emma’s father of a heinous crime.
Following her father’s arrest and torn between loyalty to Hannah and to her family, Emma is devastated to learn she must testify against Hannah’s word in order to keep her family together. As Emma wrestles with this impossible decision, her fractured past begins to resurface piece by painful piece—causing the line to blur between her present-day reality and the dark fairy tales she writes to survive, all of which threaten to expose Emma’s long-buried truths.
The Secrets We Keep explores the complex, powerful bonds of friendship and family, asking the difficult At what point does Emma’s loyalty to another become a betrayal of herself? And perhaps the toughest question of Can Emma find the strength to finally unbury her secret?
In the vein of The Way I Used to Be and Kelly Loy Gilbert’s Conviction , this “exceedingly well-written, powerful, and suspenseful” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) young adult novel follows a girl’s struggle to reconcile friendship, sexual abuse, and the secrets we bury deep down inside to survive.
High school freshman Emma Clark harbors a secret—a secret so vile it could implode her whole world, a secret she’s managed to keep buried…until the day her best friend, Hannah, accuses Emma’s father of a heinous crime.
Following her father’s arrest and torn between loyalty to Hannah and to her family, Emma is devastated to learn she must testify against Hannah’s word in order to keep her family together. As Emma wrestles with this impossible decision, her fractured past begins to resurface piece by painful piece—causing the line to blur between her present-day reality and the dark fairy tales she writes to survive, all of which threaten to expose Emma’s long-buried truths.
The Secrets We Keep explores the complex, powerful bonds of friendship and family, asking the difficult At what point does Emma’s loyalty to another become a betrayal of herself? And perhaps the toughest question of Can Emma find the strength to finally unbury her secret?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2022
35 people are currently reading
1017 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Gustafson
2 books69 followersCASSIE GUSTAFSON writes gritty, psychological YA novels that include mystery, suspense, and trauma.
She holds an MFA in Writing for Young Adults from Hollins University and an MA in English Literature from Cal State Fullerton. A New England transplant, she spends her time globe-trotting with her adventurous husband, Carl, wandering old cemeteries in her quaint coastal town, or—when the wind shifts in the right direction—trying to write with an overly talkative cat named Maui in her lap. Cassie's interests include hunting for sea glass, shooting archery, decorating cupcakes, creating stained glass art, and obsessing over all things Halloween.
CONNECT WITH CASSIE HERE:
>>WEBSITE: https://www.cassiegustafson.com/
>>INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/cassiegusty/
>>TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassiegusty1?...
She holds an MFA in Writing for Young Adults from Hollins University and an MA in English Literature from Cal State Fullerton. A New England transplant, she spends her time globe-trotting with her adventurous husband, Carl, wandering old cemeteries in her quaint coastal town, or—when the wind shifts in the right direction—trying to write with an overly talkative cat named Maui in her lap. Cassie's interests include hunting for sea glass, shooting archery, decorating cupcakes, creating stained glass art, and obsessing over all things Halloween.
CONNECT WITH CASSIE HERE:
>>WEBSITE: https://www.cassiegustafson.com/
>>INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/cassiegusty/
>>TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassiegusty1?...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 9, 2023
4.25 stars
such a gut wrenching and important book. reading these books feel like touching a raw nerve inside myself, I found myself grieving with the main character. of course the content inside this book cannot be rated, everyone who has gone through abuse deserve a softer and kinder world. I will talk ab the writing and format of this book. I LOVED the way this book was formatted, the fairy tales as well as the switch between the past and present was so engaging.
on the brighter side, this book made me miss my best friend SO much. I am gonna go and convince her to listen to Taylor Swift now.
such a gut wrenching and important book. reading these books feel like touching a raw nerve inside myself, I found myself grieving with the main character. of course the content inside this book cannot be rated, everyone who has gone through abuse deserve a softer and kinder world. I will talk ab the writing and format of this book. I LOVED the way this book was formatted, the fairy tales as well as the switch between the past and present was so engaging.
on the brighter side, this book made me miss my best friend SO much. I am gonna go and convince her to listen to Taylor Swift now.
November 8, 2024
An arresting subject matter and competent writing made this book difficult for me to put down. The story is about how a 14-year-old girl (Emma), in the course of a few days, comes to the realization that her father is in fact sexually abusing her, a journey jump-started when her father is arrested for sexually molesting her best friend. The characters here, especially the adult ones, were all well drawn, and for the most part, I think the author pulls off the difficulties of such a story with skill. Having the chapters alternate between first and second person was particularly effective: the first person chapters let us follow the main present story thread from Emma's point of view, while the second person chapters are used to show us Emma's memories of her father, which vary between obviously disturbing and oddly affectionate at the same time. Although an astute reader will immediately recognize that Emma is being abused (though the details of the abuse don't become clear until end of the book), the second person memories help convince us why Emma would still love her father, and why she would choose to stand by his side and lie on his behalf. The chapter titles included lines like "You remember a loving father," "You remember the knife," "You remember a statistic," etc. I thought it was a creative way to explore confused feelings and memories.
The style of prose follows current YA trends in that it is often excessively flowery and overwrought and stretches the narrative out longer than it needs to be, which stopped this short of being a true 4/5 star read for me. But overall I found this to be a decent book about a difficult subject matter.
The style of prose follows current YA trends in that it is often excessively flowery and overwrought and stretches the narrative out longer than it needs to be, which stopped this short of being a true 4/5 star read for me. But overall I found this to be a decent book about a difficult subject matter.
Want to read
June 12, 2021"Told in flashbacks, dark fairytales, and present-day prose, the novel follows 14-year-old Emma Clark whose best friend has accused her father of heinous crimes. And when Emma must testify against her friend's word, her carefully constructed 'truths' about what she may or may not have witnessed between father and friend start to crumble."
November 21, 2022
An incredibly important and heartwrenching look at trauma and guilt, but I never clicked with the writing style. I’m glad to see a YA book where the MC is a freshman since it feels like YA protagonist ages have shifted way upwards lately and I hope that this book empowers those who have experienced what Emma and Hannah have to reach out instead of keeping it a secret. I also liked the switches in perspective between first-person POVs of modern-day Emma, second-person flashbacks of past Emma, and Emma’s own fairy tales.
January 1, 2024
I read this in a day, it was a page turner but reader advisory it could be very upsetting.
December 30, 2025
The Secrets We Keep by Cassie Gustafson is the story of Emma, a girl who has always been on the outs, and her new best friend, Hannah. But when Emma's dad is arrested for a heinous crime, and Hannah is somehow involved, Emma's loyalties are questioned as she struggles between her family, her best friend, and most importantly, where the truth lies within it all. Hauntingly realistic, and devastatingly sad, this book really made you experience every emotion that Emma was going through, in a situation we pray never happens. Gustafson really knows how to right gut-wrenching material that is going to sit with you for days to come.
May 2, 2023
Wow wow wow wow wow. So powerful. I couldn’t put it down.
April 3, 2024
So amazing and powerful
January 23, 2023
I can’t believe this novel doesn’t have any reviews (on StoryGraph, which led me to read this because I think all books deserve at least one.)
The Secrets We Keep is a burning star of a book. Following Emma through the days after her father’s arrest, seeing the truth burst through her denial, seeing her torn between protecting her family and saving herself- this is not exactly a happy book, but it is a hopeful one. A needed one, for every Emma and Hannah out there.
Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, Sara Zarr, and Kimberly Bradley: pick up this book!
TWS: sexual violence, verbal/emotional abuse, police investigations, denial
The Secrets We Keep is a burning star of a book. Following Emma through the days after her father’s arrest, seeing the truth burst through her denial, seeing her torn between protecting her family and saving herself- this is not exactly a happy book, but it is a hopeful one. A needed one, for every Emma and Hannah out there.
Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson, Sara Zarr, and Kimberly Bradley: pick up this book!
TWS: sexual violence, verbal/emotional abuse, police investigations, denial
September 28, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First off, my name is in a book?! I never see it a n y w h e r e. (My name is Sequoia, by the way).
Second, I really liked this book.
Emma's best friend Hannah put in for an investigation on Emma's father and the story tells Emma's point of view after hearing the news. Cassie Gustafson puts in a couple of different techniques while writing the events that follow and lead up to the final interview when things are revealed. We get an insight to Emma's dark fairytale stories and what she remembers and has suppressed as a child. As the story continues we see hints and clues of how monstrous Emma's father really is.
I liked reading from Emma's POV and her going through the emotions of pushing Hannah away while also feeling anger, betrayal, confusion, and doubt of the situation. Emma is fourteen years old and and Hannah is fifteen. They both read like their age and I feel Gustafson wrote their personalities realistically.
The Secrets We Keep is an emotional and an uncomfortable read, and reminded me of when I read The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Ellen Hopkins' books, and Courtney Summer's bold stories. The pacing of the writing is spot on and will keep you engaged until the end.
4.75 stars
First off, my name is in a book?! I never see it a n y w h e r e. (My name is Sequoia, by the way).
Second, I really liked this book.
Emma's best friend Hannah put in for an investigation on Emma's father and the story tells Emma's point of view after hearing the news. Cassie Gustafson puts in a couple of different techniques while writing the events that follow and lead up to the final interview when things are revealed. We get an insight to Emma's dark fairytale stories and what she remembers and has suppressed as a child. As the story continues we see hints and clues of how monstrous Emma's father really is.
I liked reading from Emma's POV and her going through the emotions of pushing Hannah away while also feeling anger, betrayal, confusion, and doubt of the situation. Emma is fourteen years old and and Hannah is fifteen. They both read like their age and I feel Gustafson wrote their personalities realistically.
The Secrets We Keep is an emotional and an uncomfortable read, and reminded me of when I read The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Ellen Hopkins' books, and Courtney Summer's bold stories. The pacing of the writing is spot on and will keep you engaged until the end.
4.75 stars
September 28, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First off, my name is in a book?! I never see it a n y w h e r e. (My name is Sequoia, by the way).
Second, I really liked this book.
Emma's best friend Hannah put in for an investigation on Emma's father and the story tells Emma's point of view after hearing the news. Cassie Gustafson puts in a couple of different techniques while writing the events that follow and lead up to the final interview when things are revealed. We get an insight to Emma's dark fairytale stories and what she remembers and has suppressed as a child. As the story continues we see hints and clues of how monstrous Emma's father really is.
I liked reading from Emma's POV and her going through the emotions of pushing Hannah away while also feeling anger, betrayal, confusion, and doubt of the situation. Emma is fourteen years old and and Hannah is fifteen. They both read like their age and I feel Gustafson wrote their personalities realistically.
The Secrets We Keep is an emotional and an uncomfortable read, and reminded me of when I read The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Ellen Hopkins' books, and Courtney Summer's bold stories. The pacing of the writing is spot on and will keep you engaged until the end.
4.75 stars
First off, my name is in a book?! I never see it a n y w h e r e. (My name is Sequoia, by the way).
Second, I really liked this book.
Emma's best friend Hannah put in for an investigation on Emma's father and the story tells Emma's point of view after hearing the news. Cassie Gustafson puts in a couple of different techniques while writing the events that follow and lead up to the final interview when things are revealed. We get an insight to Emma's dark fairytale stories and what she remembers and has suppressed as a child. As the story continues we see hints and clues of how monstrous Emma's father really is.
I liked reading from Emma's POV and her going through the emotions of pushing Hannah away while also feeling anger, betrayal, confusion, and doubt of the situation. Emma is fourteen years old and and Hannah is fifteen. They both read like their age and I feel Gustafson wrote their personalities realistically.
The Secrets We Keep is an emotional and an uncomfortable read, and reminded me of when I read The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, Ellen Hopkins' books, and Courtney Summer's bold stories. The pacing of the writing is spot on and will keep you engaged until the end.
4.75 stars
January 11, 2024
I didn't love it but didn't hate it. This was a really difficult topic and written nicely. As the mother of a daughter, I'm disgusted by the attitude and treatment of Emma by her mother. She blantly has ignored the red flags of abuse towards Emma, is unloving to her on a daily basis and blames Emma for ripping the family apart, instead of holding the accountability of his actions to her husband.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
Wow. This book was intense and so very heartbreaking. 💔💔. Trigger warnings: sexual assault, victim blaming, self-harm
Gustafson writes in such a powerful way, about a DIFFICULT topic, that I felt sick to my stomach the entire time I was reading this one. The uneasiness and discomfort that Emma felt, was entirely what I felt in my stomach throughout all 336 pages.
Emma's secret is a tragic, devastating one, that no one should ever have to encounter. But people do. This book can be life-changing to anyone who has experienced sexual assault or anyone who wants to know, even a smidge, what it could be like.
Thank you for such a powerful book, Cassie.
Gustafson writes in such a powerful way, about a DIFFICULT topic, that I felt sick to my stomach the entire time I was reading this one. The uneasiness and discomfort that Emma felt, was entirely what I felt in my stomach throughout all 336 pages.
Emma's secret is a tragic, devastating one, that no one should ever have to encounter. But people do. This book can be life-changing to anyone who has experienced sexual assault or anyone who wants to know, even a smidge, what it could be like.
Thank you for such a powerful book, Cassie.
March 10, 2023
I really liked this book a lot. I know it's a sensitive topic and difficult subject matter, and I am thankful that I can't relate and am not triggered by any of it. I think it was well written, and I appreciated how well the confusion of all the main character's emotions were described.
January 16, 2023
"You remember staring past the oozing lump on your plate, contemplating what your life would look like if your father had died just now. And you remember most the feeling of relief that filled your belly at the thought, cool as the center of the ice cream ball in front of you: FREE."
..... that part of the book stuck with me the entire time. It's such a profound statement, and reading that one part, you may think you have this book figured out. If only it was that simple. If only things were just that easy.
This book may not be for everyone so please pay attention to the trigger warnings listed on the first few pages. This was incredibly sad. Their are character's you are going to hate, who are so vile it makes you want to slam the book shut. Then their are character's like Emma, who you will love so much. You will want the best for them. You may cry when they cry. Emma has the most amazing best friend, Hannah. Hannah befriended Emma when she needed a friend more then anything. Hannah starts to distance herself away from Emma, and then accuses Emma's dad of something terrible. Emma is put in the middle of her best friend and her family. She wants to protect her best friend and her younger brother, but if only she can show that Hannah is lieng, maybe her mother will start to love her again.Nktice her again, how she used to when she was younger. Emma has to do this for her family.
But then Emma start to remember. Pieces start coming back to her. What she writes down as tall tales start to look like something more a true story. Emma has a really hard choice to make.
If you have made it this far, then maybe you can keep reading for all the survivors in the world who If only one person protected them. If only one person saw them. Hold your best friends tightly. Be their strength when they are weak. Be their voice when they forget how to speak.
..... that part of the book stuck with me the entire time. It's such a profound statement, and reading that one part, you may think you have this book figured out. If only it was that simple. If only things were just that easy.
This book may not be for everyone so please pay attention to the trigger warnings listed on the first few pages. This was incredibly sad. Their are character's you are going to hate, who are so vile it makes you want to slam the book shut. Then their are character's like Emma, who you will love so much. You will want the best for them. You may cry when they cry. Emma has the most amazing best friend, Hannah. Hannah befriended Emma when she needed a friend more then anything. Hannah starts to distance herself away from Emma, and then accuses Emma's dad of something terrible. Emma is put in the middle of her best friend and her family. She wants to protect her best friend and her younger brother, but if only she can show that Hannah is lieng, maybe her mother will start to love her again.Nktice her again, how she used to when she was younger. Emma has to do this for her family.
But then Emma start to remember. Pieces start coming back to her. What she writes down as tall tales start to look like something more a true story. Emma has a really hard choice to make.
If you have made it this far, then maybe you can keep reading for all the survivors in the world who If only one person protected them. If only one person saw them. Hold your best friends tightly. Be their strength when they are weak. Be their voice when they forget how to speak.
January 4, 2023
There’s a few things that utterly terrify me when I read books like these:
1. It actually happens
2. Those who are closest to us are ones who can fall prey on young children
3. Some parents are unable to support their own child who has gone through the traumatic experience and even blames the child
I truly felt bad for Emma. At first, I was frustrated with Emma because her thought process was just highly in denial and pointing fingers at anyone. Then I kept remembering, she’s only 13. She is SO young and to go through THIS, and especially feel like your best friend betrayed you… that’s incredibly traumatic and gut wrenching for Emma.
I felt bad for Hannah because me personally, I’d never make up stories about being molested. Emma didn’t really know what else to think.
You really go through the stages of seeing Emma open up. It’s easier for Hannah, although Hannah didn’t realize that she could’ve possibly lost a friend but Hannah saw the risk was greater than the outcome.
I like how this story was crafted. Sometimes it was slow and I honestly didn’t enjoy the added fairy tale stories so I skimmed them.
I hope the mom gets soggy fries forever. There’s so many outside people who will never truly understand the impact experiences like these do to you, especially as a child. Part of me wishes we saw a confrontation with Emma and her mom, her mom with the father and then the father with Emma fully realized.
1. It actually happens
2. Those who are closest to us are ones who can fall prey on young children
3. Some parents are unable to support their own child who has gone through the traumatic experience and even blames the child
I truly felt bad for Emma. At first, I was frustrated with Emma because her thought process was just highly in denial and pointing fingers at anyone. Then I kept remembering, she’s only 13. She is SO young and to go through THIS, and especially feel like your best friend betrayed you… that’s incredibly traumatic and gut wrenching for Emma.
I felt bad for Hannah because me personally, I’d never make up stories about being molested. Emma didn’t really know what else to think.
You really go through the stages of seeing Emma open up. It’s easier for Hannah, although Hannah didn’t realize that she could’ve possibly lost a friend but Hannah saw the risk was greater than the outcome.
I like how this story was crafted. Sometimes it was slow and I honestly didn’t enjoy the added fairy tale stories so I skimmed them.
I hope the mom gets soggy fries forever. There’s so many outside people who will never truly understand the impact experiences like these do to you, especially as a child. Part of me wishes we saw a confrontation with Emma and her mom, her mom with the father and then the father with Emma fully realized.
February 23, 2023
Emma, fourteen years old, lives in Prosper, Oregon with her mother, father and six year old brother Kyle. They moved from San Francisco because her father was in trouble for inappropriate behavior with a minor, Alice, a friend of Emma’s. Now it seems that he’s in trouble again with another friend of Emma’s, Hannah. Hannah’s mom found her journal where she’d written about Emma’s father touching her, so the police were called and he was arrested. Emma’s parents have coerced her into standing by her father’s side even if it means lying about the things he’s done to her for years. She’s struggling with loyalty, being treated like a burden and wanting to stand up for her friend and herself.
This is a story about surviving and the strength that takes!
Likes/dislikes: I appreciate the content warning at the beginning of the book to let readers be aware before reading. I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery surrounding the main character. I like how the author represented survivors and the resources list at the end of the book.
Mature Content: PG-13 for xexual abuse stated but not detailed; verbal abuse, gaslighting of children, physical and emotional neglect; mention of a nonbinary side character with positive interaction and respect.
Violence: PG for temper tantrums and angry outbursts from adults.
Language: R for 37 swears, no f-bombs.
Ethnicity: mixed
This is a story about surviving and the strength that takes!
Likes/dislikes: I appreciate the content warning at the beginning of the book to let readers be aware before reading. I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery surrounding the main character. I like how the author represented survivors and the resources list at the end of the book.
Mature Content: PG-13 for xexual abuse stated but not detailed; verbal abuse, gaslighting of children, physical and emotional neglect; mention of a nonbinary side character with positive interaction and respect.
Violence: PG for temper tantrums and angry outbursts from adults.
Language: R for 37 swears, no f-bombs.
Ethnicity: mixed
April 9, 2023
I recently read The Secrets We Keep by Cassie Gustafson and gave it five stars.
While it seems wrong to say that enjoyed this book, given the topics it discusses, I did like the writing, especially a unique storytelling choice that I'll talk about later.
The Secrets We Keep follows Emma, a highschool freshman as she struggles with the reality that her father abused her.
It was an interesting book because when reading it, I knew exactly how the story would go. I knew what would happen, and how the book would end, but this didn't make the book less interesting to read.
One thing I thought was fascinating about how the author told this story was that in between chapters was a small flashback chapter told in second point of view, referring both to the reader and Emma as "you" and forcing the reader to feel for Emma and relate to her story.
I have to mention how intense and heartbreaking this book is. It does not spare the reader from the pain and shock that Emma feels from her realizations. Do not read this book if it will be triggering to you, and please look up a more complete and detailed list of what trigger warnings there are before read.
Overall I found The Secrets We Keep to be a complex and heartbreaking story told well. I gave it five stars and may well revisit it again in the future
While it seems wrong to say that enjoyed this book, given the topics it discusses, I did like the writing, especially a unique storytelling choice that I'll talk about later.
The Secrets We Keep follows Emma, a highschool freshman as she struggles with the reality that her father abused her.
It was an interesting book because when reading it, I knew exactly how the story would go. I knew what would happen, and how the book would end, but this didn't make the book less interesting to read.
One thing I thought was fascinating about how the author told this story was that in between chapters was a small flashback chapter told in second point of view, referring both to the reader and Emma as "you" and forcing the reader to feel for Emma and relate to her story.
I have to mention how intense and heartbreaking this book is. It does not spare the reader from the pain and shock that Emma feels from her realizations. Do not read this book if it will be triggering to you, and please look up a more complete and detailed list of what trigger warnings there are before read.
Overall I found The Secrets We Keep to be a complex and heartbreaking story told well. I gave it five stars and may well revisit it again in the future
January 9, 2023
As I read this book, I felt the weight of the words lodge in my chest, scratch at my throat, and escape out my eyes. A young girl's life implodes when her father is arrested for heinous crimes against a minor. As Emma is launched headfirst into the days that follow this event, the reader gets glimpses of the past through her memories. I spent much of the book feeling frustrated and overly-protective of Emma, and my heart slowly broke as all the book's secrets were unearthed. I have never wanted to hug a character more and tell them all the things they needed to hear. This book contains a lot of pain and grief, but it also envoked a tender longing for those childhood friendships I've never let go of and will never forget. Of those BFF heart necklaces and swooning over emo rockstars. Those days when my sheltered, naive mind couldn't possibly fathom the ways in which people could be monsters. This book was so eloquently written, and the sequencing of the plot line kept me binge-reading, even as I cried big ugly tears. I recommend this book, but only if the reader feels emotionally ready to engage with content that involves sexual assault, emotional abuse, and gaslighting.
Read
October 28, 2024Such a sad, emotional book. Emma's life is in turmoil when her best friend is called down to the Principal's office and she finds out that her father has been arrested. Although no one will tell her exactly why, she has a suspicion. Emma is troubled, and we slowly unravel her story through flashbacks and fairy tales that she has written. Emma is torn - she wants to stay loyal to her family, but she misses her one and only friend. By the end, I was a wreck and couldn't put it down. My heart was breaking for Emma and what she went through. Lots of triggers of abuse in this book.
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Spoilers....
For the longest time, I suspected that Emma's father was abusing her, and thought that Hannah made up a story that he abused her just so she could protect Emma. But as the story progresses, we see that the father abused both of them. The mother did nothing to protect Emma, even though she walked in on the father being in completely inappropriate (at the start of the grooming process - ick) situations with his daughter. You hear about mothers turning a blind eye to this and taking the husband's side, but how awful.
**************************
Spoilers....
For the longest time, I suspected that Emma's father was abusing her, and thought that Hannah made up a story that he abused her just so she could protect Emma. But as the story progresses, we see that the father abused both of them. The mother did nothing to protect Emma, even though she walked in on the father being in completely inappropriate (at the start of the grooming process - ick) situations with his daughter. You hear about mothers turning a blind eye to this and taking the husband's side, but how awful.
February 3, 2023
I knew reading this was going to give me some yucky feelings, and it did. Unfortunately. But the subject matter isn’t a surprise going into the story and Gustafson tells the tale without giving unnecessary details, unraveling the story by using just enough imagery to get the point across but never going too far. Cassie Gustafson supplies resources at the end for those who might need them. This goes without saying but her parents (yes, mom too) are the absolute WORST. Just terrible people.
Emma and her bestie, Hannah, are inseparable. Emma is eternally grateful for their friendship since she was new to the school her freshman year. They have sleepovers, watch tons of movies, and can’t wait to see their favorite band in concert. Their friendship becomes strained after Emma’s dad is arrested. At first, not much is known about why he was arrested but Emma easily pieces things together. She’s angry at her friend for making up the lies about her dad and cannot believe someone she calls a friend would do that to her and her family. Emma struggles with an angry mom, a scared brother, a father who is now calling Hannah terrible names, and now she’s expected to testify against Hannah.
Emma’s story is in flashbacks, a diary full of fairy tales, and the present. Her flashbacks tell us this might not be the first friend her dad has made feel uncomfortable and her own diary has torn-out pages that are the stuff of nightmares, not fairytales. As the time comes to testify, Emma must make a decision that could change things forever.
The Secrets We Keep is a book that I’d give to kids who tell me, “I like books with major issues”. It’s an important read for those going through something like this, to know they aren’t alone, and that there is hope and support available.
Emma and her bestie, Hannah, are inseparable. Emma is eternally grateful for their friendship since she was new to the school her freshman year. They have sleepovers, watch tons of movies, and can’t wait to see their favorite band in concert. Their friendship becomes strained after Emma’s dad is arrested. At first, not much is known about why he was arrested but Emma easily pieces things together. She’s angry at her friend for making up the lies about her dad and cannot believe someone she calls a friend would do that to her and her family. Emma struggles with an angry mom, a scared brother, a father who is now calling Hannah terrible names, and now she’s expected to testify against Hannah.
Emma’s story is in flashbacks, a diary full of fairy tales, and the present. Her flashbacks tell us this might not be the first friend her dad has made feel uncomfortable and her own diary has torn-out pages that are the stuff of nightmares, not fairytales. As the time comes to testify, Emma must make a decision that could change things forever.
The Secrets We Keep is a book that I’d give to kids who tell me, “I like books with major issues”. It’s an important read for those going through something like this, to know they aren’t alone, and that there is hope and support available.
March 12, 2025
I don't often find YA books that are really well written these days, so I was pleasantly surprised to be totally engrossed in the story of Emma Clark, a high school freshman who is desperately grasping at the fraying edges of her life, all while attempting to hold in a big, ugly secret.
Emma, an excellent student and attentive big sister to 6 year old Kyle, abruptly is told that her father has been arrested -because of an accusation from her best friend, Hannah. Although the attentive reader can immediately guess where this is going, Ms. Gustafson fills in the details slowly and without sensationalism. Emma's relationship to her father and mother, as well as Hannah and Kyle, rings true. Mom is an angry, hostile woman with a disappointing marriage, dad is glib, charming(until he isn't anymore), and untrustworthy. The friendship between the two intellectually gifted teens is sweet and lacking in pretension, even as they navigate the schism that has erupted between them. Realistic, dark, yet hopeful. I would highly recommend!
Emma, an excellent student and attentive big sister to 6 year old Kyle, abruptly is told that her father has been arrested -because of an accusation from her best friend, Hannah. Although the attentive reader can immediately guess where this is going, Ms. Gustafson fills in the details slowly and without sensationalism. Emma's relationship to her father and mother, as well as Hannah and Kyle, rings true. Mom is an angry, hostile woman with a disappointing marriage, dad is glib, charming(until he isn't anymore), and untrustworthy. The friendship between the two intellectually gifted teens is sweet and lacking in pretension, even as they navigate the schism that has erupted between them. Realistic, dark, yet hopeful. I would highly recommend!
April 1, 2023
I loved everything about this book.
The flashbacks, the fairy tales, the hinting of truth sprinkled throughout the novel... only to fully understand everything at the end, and confirm your suspicions.
Cassie's writing is INCREDIBLE and I am looking forward to reading anything else by her.
I so appreciated the subtle but meaningful topics like self-harm, they/them pronouns, (possible?) OCD, (possible?) autism and the #MeToo movement.
There were many times where I had to cover the next paragraph with my hand so that my eyes wouldn't slip ahead. I wanted to get to the ending of this story so badly, but at the same time... I did not want it to end.
For any survivor out there, this book does come with a massive trigger warning. But what an important story about keeping secrets, and unburying your truth. I can confidently say this was a 5 star book.
The flashbacks, the fairy tales, the hinting of truth sprinkled throughout the novel... only to fully understand everything at the end, and confirm your suspicions.
Cassie's writing is INCREDIBLE and I am looking forward to reading anything else by her.
I so appreciated the subtle but meaningful topics like self-harm, they/them pronouns, (possible?) OCD, (possible?) autism and the #MeToo movement.
There were many times where I had to cover the next paragraph with my hand so that my eyes wouldn't slip ahead. I wanted to get to the ending of this story so badly, but at the same time... I did not want it to end.
For any survivor out there, this book does come with a massive trigger warning. But what an important story about keeping secrets, and unburying your truth. I can confidently say this was a 5 star book.
April 17, 2023
This was a very solid book overall! One thing I really liked about the author's writing was how she emphasized the fact that Emma had not yet processed everything that had happened to her, at least in the beginning of the story, which feels much more realistic and adds a layer of suspense as the reader keeps on going and tries to figure out what really happened. I think Emma feels like a very realistic character for a fourteen year old as well. She isn't too childish, while also having a layer of emotional immaturity. I didn't rate this book five stars because it doesn't provide a particularly new perspective on any of the issues it tackles, and there are a few places where the plot could be tightened or the prose feels overly metaphorical for no reason, but it's still a definite recommendation.
September 16, 2023
Working on my states challenge this book checks off Oregon.
Emma is in high school, not really part of any crowd so she is happy another new girl befriends her. They are the typical high school girls, with boy crushes, celebrity crushes and having fun together. Sadly a horrible secret will rip them apart and just maybe after a while bond them back into a friendship.
Gustafson writes in present tense, with flashbacks and some type of journal entry aka a fairytale ( which jarred me from the plot). She lets the reader feel all the pain, denial , and shame Emma feels when the truth is finally told
the MOTHER in this story is not a good person, and an even worse mother,
Emma is in high school, not really part of any crowd so she is happy another new girl befriends her. They are the typical high school girls, with boy crushes, celebrity crushes and having fun together. Sadly a horrible secret will rip them apart and just maybe after a while bond them back into a friendship.
Gustafson writes in present tense, with flashbacks and some type of journal entry aka a fairytale ( which jarred me from the plot). She lets the reader feel all the pain, denial , and shame Emma feels when the truth is finally told
the MOTHER in this story is not a good person, and an even worse mother,
November 3, 2022
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this last minute digital ARC of "The Secrets We Keep" by Cassie Gustafson.
Gustafson did a phenomenal job writing about such a heavy topic. The reactions were organic and believable - and even painful to read at times. The only fault I had with this was the secret truth was too obvious, and part of me wanted to discover this with her instead of realizing the truth at the very beginning. I'm considering this a must read book - these issues are something that some students can identify with, and some have even experienced. Having a literary voice that recognizes what you've been through is important.
"It's not your fault." - one of the most important things ever said.
4/5
Gustafson did a phenomenal job writing about such a heavy topic. The reactions were organic and believable - and even painful to read at times. The only fault I had with this was the secret truth was too obvious, and part of me wanted to discover this with her instead of realizing the truth at the very beginning. I'm considering this a must read book - these issues are something that some students can identify with, and some have even experienced. Having a literary voice that recognizes what you've been through is important.
"It's not your fault." - one of the most important things ever said.
4/5
November 10, 2022
The Secrets We Keep is a heartbreaking book about how keeping secrets can be harmful, and when they come out it can affect your entire world. We follow a fourteen year old girl named Emma, who is shy and introverted, writing fairy tales in her spare time. But when Emma's best friend Hannah accuses her father of doing something horrible, Emma goes into a tailspin. Now, Emma cannot keep her own secrets buried for long.
Cassie Gustafson is a skilled writer, knowing how to craft a story while making the teenagers sound like their actual ages. I felt like I was about to cry the entire book, I really felt for Emma and her friend Hannah.
Content Warnings: child abuse, sexual abuse, tense parental relationships, involvement of child protective services.
Cassie Gustafson is a skilled writer, knowing how to craft a story while making the teenagers sound like their actual ages. I felt like I was about to cry the entire book, I really felt for Emma and her friend Hannah.
Content Warnings: child abuse, sexual abuse, tense parental relationships, involvement of child protective services.
December 16, 2022
Freshman Emma Clark's world is shaken when her father is accused of sexual abuse by her one and only best friend, Hannah. She is torn between wanting to keep her family together and her loyalty to her best friend.
Emma's story is told through a present-day narrative, dark fairy tales that she has written, and flashbacks that begin with "You remember when...". Gradually, Emma's powerful and heart-wrenching truth emerges.
The author does an excellent job of imbuing Emma with the subtle signs of sexual abuse like obsessive cleaning and isolation. She also shows how predators groom their victims over a period of time.
As others have said, this is not an easy read but it's a compelling read.
Emma's story is told through a present-day narrative, dark fairy tales that she has written, and flashbacks that begin with "You remember when...". Gradually, Emma's powerful and heart-wrenching truth emerges.
The author does an excellent job of imbuing Emma with the subtle signs of sexual abuse like obsessive cleaning and isolation. She also shows how predators groom their victims over a period of time.
As others have said, this is not an easy read but it's a compelling read.
December 9, 2025
Oh my goodness I read this book at least a year ago (and I usually forget about specifics of most books but not as much for this one) but I still think about it sometimes - it talks about such an important topic that is incredibly stigmatized. I like the way realizations of the MC are somewhat aligned with what we figure out, and it shows different reactions to abuse - denial of both the mother and the MC but the eventual acceptance and realization of the MC.
Like I said, I read it a while ago but I don't remember seeing a trigger warning because I was caught slightly off guard as the blurb doesn't specify the crime, and I do think that would be appreciated, although there might have been one that I don't remember!
Like I said, I read it a while ago but I don't remember seeing a trigger warning because I was caught slightly off guard as the blurb doesn't specify the crime, and I do think that would be appreciated, although there might have been one that I don't remember!
January 8, 2025
This was so gut wrenching, but so well done. I wasn’t a fan of the in-between chapters of the diary entries simply because they were fairytales, but I know why they were fairytales and that they added a lot to the story.
I really shed tears for their friendship. And I think reading this was so sad because there are so many parents out there like this who fail their children over and over. That mother is just as sick and twisted to me.
That horrible abusive father, and that amazing friend who was also a victim, but both girls cared so deeply about each other’s friendship it was beautiful to read
I really shed tears for their friendship. And I think reading this was so sad because there are so many parents out there like this who fail their children over and over. That mother is just as sick and twisted to me.
That horrible abusive father, and that amazing friend who was also a victim, but both girls cared so deeply about each other’s friendship it was beautiful to read
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