Family Secrets

by Nancy Thayer

Linked by blood ties, passion, and a devastating family secret, three generations of extraordinary women--grandmother, mother, and daughter--each face a critical turning point in their lives. Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Womens Fiction, Romance

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Nancy Thayer has published 35 novels, including Family Reunion and Secrets in Summer. She has lived on Nantucket Island year-round for 38 years with her husband Charley Walters. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book while on a cruise ship and in my final days of recouping from surgery. Nothing like sitting in a chaise lounge and read and good book and breathing in the ocean air. I enjoyed reading this book it's about three generations of women, mother, daughter and granddaughter. It starts in the present but goes back in time for all three. Past relationships of the mother and grandmother and how they affected their present lives and their relationships. Nancy Thayer writes good characters, I will need to research, because I think there is a sequel with this story--it's good that the story leaves you wanting more.

[La Bruja Lectora (Tata) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermoso libro me encanto, la vida de las tres mujeres Marshall fue espectacular, está muy bien escrito este libro y va directo al grano sin detenerse en nimiedades, los personajes están cargados de elegancia y personalidad, me encanto, recomendado.
Jean, Diane y Julia tienen en común no solo parentesco familiar sino también caracteres similares, quien iba a decir que abuela, madre e hija amarían con tanta pasión a sus respectivos amantes en épocas diferentes.
Aunque Jean escogiera una vida y matrimonio tranquilo junto a Al nunca dejo de pensar en su primer amor Erich Mellor quien loa abandono luego de pedirle que robara un código encriptado que tenia su padre en la caja fuerte familiar .
Diane jamás pensó en caer en una monótona rutina en su matrimonio con Jim pero la vida le dará una oportunidad con Peter un investigador del gobierno quien busca un medallón de oro que fue regalado a Jean la madre de Diane por Ercih Mellor.
Julia por su parte se enfrenta a la incertidumbre del amor juvenil, pues esta irremediablemente enamorada de su amor de la infancia Sam, pero para captar su atención decide cortarse las venas con una tijera logrando asi que el joven tomara la decisión de casarse con ella, pues también esta enamorado y quiere formar vida en conjunto, asi que las tres historias se cruzan en la sala del hogar de Diane pues las tres mujeres deciden perdonar sus arrebatos y entregarse al amor familiar, tres generaciones que aman intensamente y juntas viajaran a Moscú para recuperar sus secretos familiares.

[Nancy Knox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I really enjoyed this story. I have read other books by Nancy Thayer and really like her style of writing. This was a interesting story following the life from the grandmother to granddaughter. But I do have to say I was a bit stunned by the ending.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. The only main character remotely likeable to me was Jean. I felt that Diane was self-centered, selfish, rigid, snobbish, dissatisfied and not someone I'd like to know, even in a novel. Julia was beyond ridiculously immature and I felt sorry for Sam. I distinctly hope they do not end up together. Julia needs to grow up. If she wants to be a chef or work in a restaurant then she needs to learn to stand up for herself and to articulate her goals. Manipulating someone with dramatic suicidal gestures is horrible and unacceptable. I can not believe that throughout the entire book no one ever brought up that she needs to finish high school. Period. Obviously she doesn't have to go to college, but she needs to finish high school. Also, she needs to figure herself out and not latch on to Sam like an anchor that will ultimately rob him of the life he deserves, with a mature contributing partner who is able to be supportive as well as be supported. Diane needs to figure out her life before she goes and starts grabbing on to someone else as well. Reminded me of the terrible state we're in as a society now where you think about yourself and no one else.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will start by saying I normally LOVE Nancy Thayer books but this one just did not do it for me. The only story line that was actually interesting was the grandmother's. I detested Julia's story line. **SPOILER ALERT** Her half-hearted suicide attempt just to get the attention that she wanted from her boyfriend was awful and I hated that they stayed together after she did something so drastic. Nothing says I'm ready to be a wife and mother more than pulling a crazy stunt like that just because she wants to spend all day everyday with the boyfriend. Also, the ending was weak.

[Denise Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because I could relate to all three characters, three generations. If course I can not go off to Europe but I can dream! I wanted a light engrossing read and once again Nancy Thayer provided it, even though it is written in 1993 it works today, mother daughter relationships in their best and worst, I loved it.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about three generations of women. The author intertwines the story of poor decisions, ugliness and hopefulness amazingly. The story is told back and forth as each generation affects the other. A good book to read when you have had surgery and need something to entertain when you are not feeling well.

[jacqueline DiDomenico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mothers and Daughters

Love this novel, couldn't put it down.

I was transported to another time and place.

The interaction between the main characters was very joyful, but sad.

As a mother you never stops worrying. Also there are many secrets each generation is withholding.

[LInda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter -- 3 generations struggling with lives, loves, careers, losses. Interesting story -- read it.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I liked this book right up till the last couple of pages, and at that point, for the first time, Ms. Thayer pretty much lost me. I'm sorry, I just couldn't understand the decision made by one of the major characters right at the end. It offended me horribly. However, despite that, I'll rate the book 3 stars because the rest of it was pretty good! I especially liked Jean's story. Those of Diane and Julia struck me as a little selfish.

[Terry Derossitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book right up until the end. I really hoped to continue on with these women, but as it is many times when you get to the end of a book. I just felt it was kind of unfinished. I did thoroughly enjoy the bit of mystery to the story. I would definitely recommend

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 generations of women and the secrets they keep

[Sue Wilber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beach read about multiple generations of one family.

[Trana Mathews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters were quite well done, and I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than the very end, it was a good dovetailed story of interesting women in one family...also the odd glossing over of a serious mental illness was odd too.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story of three generations of women. The idea is good, but could have been done in 50 less pages.

[Bonni Schumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Generations of characters with plot lines through different tim periods. Characters to like and some to not like. Unexpected plot twists, captivating reading.

[Leah Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it - well written - I will read more books from this author

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A snapshot into the lives of three women...

A snapshot in time in the lives of three women ~ a daughter, her mother, and the grandmother. Each open to love that comes their way.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read from three perspectives. I thought that Jean's revelation about how kids were great from birth to teen years, then they broke your heart, was very spot on. Haha, she wished someone had told her. The ending was a bit abrupt. I wish we had some follow up, but I guess we're supposed to think what we want.

[Patricia Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Code

I enjoyed but didn’t feel like it was her best. Story line weak and often somewhat slow. Really needed to explore more in depth the main characters and not so much back and forth!

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yuck! Too needy and creepy with all of the cutting and wrist cutting threats and reality. Not for me

[Anne-Marie]

When you pick a book you’ve read 10 years ago before good reads 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of her firsts and her writing style has changed so much.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The family dynamics felt so real. I wasn’t ready for it to end.

[Simply LauraLee]

This one was just not for me. The language felt over done and the characters fell flat for me.

[Sheryl Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three generations of women. Interesting.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book by her. Boring in the middle and quite the cliff hanger at the end. Wish she would at least finish Dianne‘s story.

[Carmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book. Everyone should read the older novels by this author. I highly recommend Everlasting and this novel. I love all her latest novels too.

[Karalynn Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.
All three women were so selfish and foolish. Ugh. I found it difficult to like any of them very much.