The guiltiest secrets

by Shelan Rodger

When Chala loses her beloved stepfather, it opens the floodgates to a lifetime of secrets. Since childhood, Chala has battled with the guilt she feels for a tragedy that changed the entire course of her life. Now, she is forced to re-evaluate everything she believed about those she loved. On a soul-searching trip to Kenya, Chala learns that some things are harder to bear than the burden she carries. In order to be free, she must return to the past, to the yellow room, and risk finding that the worst things she believes about herself are true. A compelling and emotional drama exploring the power of secrets. *Previously published as Yellow Room* Praise for Shelan Rodger ‘Carefully plotted... unexpected plot twists and revelations are expertly time and delivered.’ The Lady ‘Compelling, evocative, sharply observed and exquisitely written.’ Amanda Jennings, author of The Cliff House

297 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 25, 2021

About the author

Shelan's life is a patchwork of different cultures. Born in Nigeria, she grew up among the Tiwi, an aboriginal community in Australia, and moved to England at the age of eleven. After graduating in Modern Languages from Oxford, she travelled to Argentina, where she spent nine years teaching and setting up a language school. Another chapter in England was followed by six years in Kenya, where she got involved in learning and development, with an emphasis on anti-discrimination. She now lives in Spain, working in international education - and writing.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5
I felt like this was 2 separate books mashed together. The African part did not really add anything to the story for me, It was like the author just wanted to randomly throw in some of their own experiences.
I also disliked the author’s habit of doing thi… with the speec… It wasn’t just a couple of times, it was regularly!
I managed to finish the book but it’s not one I’ll be recommending I’m afraid.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

No, not for me, found myself speed reading the African section didn't interest me at all. Plot ok but predictable.

[Raeven Starr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this book and the idea of what it tries to put into perspective. However I just feel like there could have been more, maybe?
The book states on the cover, can she (Chala) face her darkest fears? And in many ways, I do believe she does. She lived a life guilty and soldiered through it, but she didn’t really face much else? She hid her child’s biological father and likewise Paul hid from her that he cannot be a father. Therefore I’m not seeing where anyone faced their fears? They seemed to just hide it more than anything else. So I suppose the answer is no.

Philip may have been the only one who faced his fears but that was already too late anyway.

It’s a strange book. I do appreciate the thoughts behind it and why it was written and how much detail especially in the Kenya chapters. I just feel that maybe the book could given just a little more of what it suggests on the cover.

Furthermore, I guess she went from hiding one guilty secret (though it turned out to not be true) to then going on to hiding another real one so I guess that’s something to go by. In fact they all have guilt upon them in one shape or form.

I did enjoy the read, maybe I’m just not seeing the authors desired perspective. I was eager to carry on and know more though, plus side.

The spoiler alert at the back was definitely needed though. That does explain the authors reasoning for this material and there’s closure on most confusing parts.

In conclusion. A great read, just needed some more from it personally.

[Jessica Basile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just ok. I had a hard time rooting for the main character because I didn’t really like her

[bianca 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚🕷️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a real hard time going through this book, halfway through I found myself speed reading it. There’s a lot that bothered me throughout the book, like sentences going lik… th… all the time, and it was all the time lol. I found myself not rooting for the characters because they didn’t have much depth to them, the plot was ok but the premise was to face their fears, and I didn’t see any of the characters facing any of their fears, oops! (I guess only one of them kind of faced, but like 80%ish through the book).

Overall it had a few good moments, but not really for me, this is a 2⭐️, would be less if there wasn’t some touching moments during the trip to Kenya, which were pleasant to read, other than that, a pretty meh book.

[Honesty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started well and then it just went really strange…. The chapters in Africa were uninteresting and boring and totally unnecessary. The typing was weird, words not finished so the story didn’t make sense. E.g. He said he was b………. - what’s that all about????

In my opinion a waste of time reading this book, especially when there are so many other good book to read. I usually pass books on to friends, this one has gone straight in the bin….. A total waste of good paper.

[Nicole Nosrati · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t waste your time

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the plot had potential, but there was too much filler revolving around African culture. It was half fiction, half documentary?

[Rosie Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely descriptions of Kenya. A very good end twist, I enjoyed it

[Cathy Briant · Rating 1 out of 5]

Putting this on my DNF shelf as this isn’t worth my limited reading time. Unsympathetic characters, flat narrative style and seeming to miss a central theme.

[Sherry King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me three attempts to get past the first few chapters and not sure what value part two offered.