Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on April 28th 2015
Pages: 304
Format:ARC
Source:Borrowed, For ARC Tour

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

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I have been basically bugging everyone to read this book for a long time. I read it more than six months ago, but it still is with me today, which says a lot, because I often forget books weeks later, nevermind months. I plan on buying this book when it comes out for sure, because I really enjoyed it, and quite honestly want to reread it!

I was SO fascinated by this whole concept! I had friends in high school and college who are twins, and they used to switch places ALL the time (like, if one didn’t want to take a math test or something- because honestly, who ever wants to take a math test?) but I found it amusing, because I could always tell them apart!  I think in this case, there wasn’t a reason to doubt that it was Maddy, and in the aftermath and the grief… it just became so. PLUS, real Maddy wasn’t around to compare Ella to. It just worked in the situation, believably.ezgif-3394139768

Let’s start with the believability piece, because I know that was one of my worries when I started the book. But there was no need, because it felt very authentic. Ella really believes that everyone would be happier if Maddy were the one who’d made it out alive, and since they think she had, she goes with it. How sad, in so many ways. Obviously, it’s incredibly heartbreaking that Maddy is gone, and that Ella has lost her twin, but what an awful feeling to really and wholeheartedly think that everyone you know would prefer your sister to be alive.

I sobbed for a good, long time. Most of the book, in fact. Ella was struggling on so many levels. She’d lost her twin, and I loved how the “sisterly bond” thing was brought into play, because it is very real. But then while she was grieving for her sister, she was also grieving for her own life, the one she’d willingly abandoned in that split-second decision. It was very hard to read, but that was because it was so well done you couldn’t help but feel for Ella.

Taking on Maddy’s life was not the picnic Ella assumed it was either. Maddy’s friends were so…. drama. And not in a good way, in a Mean Girls-esque kind of way. Yes, Maddy was popular, but at what price? Jenna, the best friend, was the worst of the bunch. Of course, Ella wasn’t in love with Maddy’s boyfriend Alex either, but she went on pretending. Maddy was keeping her share of secrets too, of which Ella had to decipher. ezgif-448619254

The relationships in this book are very strong. Ella’s best friend Josh has to grapple with the loss of Ella, which is so hard for her to watch. And she begins to realize that things with her parents weren’t as cut and dry as she’d thought. It really helps Ella to see a very different perspective on not only her life, but Maddy’s as well, and the relationships they both had.

Bottom Line: The Secrets We Keep not only had me feeling things for Ella and Maddy and their loved ones, but also made me think a lot about my own life, how perhaps the way we perceive ourselves isn’t really accurate- and how maybe, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s a beautifully written book that deals with loss, grief, finding oneself, and holding onto hope. It explores relationships with family, friends, and yes, romantic interests in a way that is quite unique, as it is from a perspective that few of us would ever encounter.

5str

Any chance you could take on someone else’s life? Or would you need to be you? 

Posted April 24, 2015 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in Review , / 19 Comments

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19 responses to “Review: The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver

  1. Haha, they actually did that? That is awesome (and one of the reasons I wanted to have a twin, would’ve been fun, and math, I totally sucked at math.) I was worried how she would pull it off, more with her parents, considering, you know, they should be able to tell them apart. And exactly, it was down to the situation. Man, that was horrible though, her honestly thinking her parents would’ve preferred her to be dead. I could not deal with all the drama though, nope. And how they were about Ella, what, just because she doesn’t care about popularity and isn’t OTT in how she dresses and looks? I seriously found that unbelievable, maybe because my high school just wasn’t like that? I mean, there was the popular crowd, but they were nice. And by the last two years of school, everyone was just basically mutual friends with one another. So I was just what the— about Jenna and Alex, and even Maddy. For me, this was one I liked despite all of it.

    • They did! They actually wanted to see one time if their boyfriends would know the difference if they switched (they did not). The ironic thing is, they are SO different! One is VERY outgoing, thinner, and as it turns out, is gay; the other is painfully shy and a police officer! It just… doesn’t make sense how people did not notice!

      My high school also wasn’t like that, but from what I have been reading, other people’s really were 🙁 I mean, I had not liked a book, and when I read other reviews to try to understand why, a lot of them seemed to share these shitty high school experiences! My high school sounds VERY much like yours- everyone knew each other, and basically liked each other- there was almost no bullying, and we wore uniforms, so clothes weren’t an issue. Even on dress down days, no one cared at all. And our popular crowd existed too, but they weren’t exclusive. One year, I even sat with them at lunch (with aforementioned outgoing twin, hahah) because it just wasn’t an issue, ever.

  2. Yay! I’m so glad you loved this! This one caught my eye so I’ve been excited for it for awhile now. I love that your friends actually traded places, that’s so cool. Haha, one more reason why I wish I had a twin. It’s amazing you point out how she was grieving her own life as well as her sister’s since she willingly gave up living her life. That’s both amazing and so sad. I adore your final thoughts! They remind me so much of this quote from Every Ugly Word by Aimee L. Salter (you can DM me if you’re curious). Great review, Shannon!

    • I ALWAYS wished I was a twin. At one point, I was convinced that I WAS a twin, and my mom separated us because she didn’t want to raise multiple babies. (Apparently, my dad didn’t either? I don;t know, I was young haha.)

      Ohh I AM curious! Especially about Every Ugly Word in general, I haven’t heard much about it, but I am definitely interested.

  3. This concept is really interesting. I’m glad the relationships were so strong. I’ll try this one out, but I honestly don’t understand why she’d pretend to be Maddy again if she can’t stand Maddy’s friends and her boyfriend… Lovely review!

    • Well, she kind of fell into it at first- when she woke up, everyone thought she was Maddy. She did try to tell them, but she was really out of it, and eventually, she saw how upset everyone was, hoping that “Maddy” would be okay, etc., that she decided that there were just so many more people who’d miss Maddy than her, so she’d give them Maddy. (Also, I need to reread this book, because I think there were more things hahha)

  4. YES. This totally got my interest from the first time I read the blurb (I mean, c’mon, twins and switching identities? How cool is that?!), so I’m so glad to hear you liked it so much Sharon. You’ve made me even more excited to get my hands on a copy of this! Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

  5. Aaah, wonderful review of this book Shannon. I thought the premise was pretty wonderful, I did like Ella’s character for the most part. The author did a fantastic job of showing the consequences of an impulsive decision – I did like both of the love interests especially Josh – glad you enjoyed it as well!

  6. This one sounds Amazing. Why are you always making me add more books to my TBR, Shannon? =)

    Though I admit it’s mostly because I’m a sucker for twin related things, I don’t know why but it completely fascinates me. This sounds like a slightly heartbreaking book and I’m already feeling so bad for Ella! As for your question, yes. I would take on someone else’s life, at least for a little while because I think it would be fascinating.

  7. AHH YOUR REVIEW GOT ME INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR THIS!!!!

    I have never really read any reviews of this book, so yours is the first one 😀 I have a feeling the ending would be incredibly heartbreaking, which somehow excites me more and makes me want to read it nonetheless. I like the fact that Ella takes Maddy’s place, since they’re twins. 🙂 (To think of it, it’s actually pretty cool to have a twin!) I really want to read this now! Thanks so much for sharing this review, Shannon!! 🙂

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