Number of Pages: 352
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True love never fades—and old secrets never die . . .
Nora hasn’t looked back. Not since she fled Texas to start a new life. Away from her father’s volatile temper and the ever-watchful gaze of her claustrophobically conservative small town, Nora has freed herself. She can live—and love—however she wants. The only problem is that she also left behind the one woman she can’t forget. Now tragedy calls her back home to confront her past—and reconcile her future.
Sophie seems to have everything—a wonderful daughter, a successful husband, and a rewarding career. Yet underneath that perfection lies an explosive secret. She still yearns for Nora—her best friend and first love—despite all the years between them. Keeping her true self hidden hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary. So when Sophie finds out that Nora has returned, she hopes Nora’s stay is short. The life she has built depends on it.
But they both find that first love doesn’t fade easily. Memories come to light, passion ignites, and old feelings resurface. As the forces of family and intolerance that once tore them apart begin to reemerge, they realize some things may never change—unless they demand it.
PRAISE FOR THE SECRET OF YOU AND ME:
“A compelling story of second chances and being true to yourself.”
—Harper Bliss, bestselling author of Seasons of Love
“Lenhardt convinces in her portrayal of the conflict between desire and control.” —Publishers Weekly
Whenever I hear a book is a remake or retelling of Persuasion, my right eyebrow automatically raises in skepticism. Is it even possible that any book could compare to my favorite Austen novel, let alone one of my favorite books of all time? (And Captain Wentworth forever has my heart!) I spent the first 25% comparing every minute detail, from characters, to the settings, emotions, physical interactions, and more, in The Secret of You and Me to Persuasion. But once I stopped the comparisons, I enjoyed reading The Secret of You and Me a lot more. So, my advice to you, dear reader, is to take this book as it is, and appreciate the emotional relationship between Sophie and Nora for what it is, not for what it isn’t.
Ms. Lenhardt’s writing is descriptive, conversational, and emotional. There are many instances of emotional connection between characters where I could not put down the book. Setting a LGBTQ romance in a conservative, small Texas town is a risk that pays off for the novel. The reader can clearly sense Sophie’s inner conflict. While Nora is living the life she wants in Washington, D.C., Sophie is closeted, hiding her true self from everyone in her life.
The characters in this novel are complex and damaged, but easily recognized. Of the two main characters, I felt more of an emotional connection with Sophie. Her scenes of coming out to her AA sponsor as well as her daughter left me emotionally depleted. But her scenes at the end of the novel left me exhilarated for her. Sophie’s self-discovery, and more so self-acceptance, show tremendous character growth. As for Nora, we don’t get to see much of her life over the past 18 years. We do learn about her PTSD, her past and current relationships, and that her job is top secret. But I never felt that emotional connection with Nora that I felt with Sophie. The secondary characters fill out the novel well. From Nora’s sister’s complaints, to Sophie’s daughter’s honesty, we understand the main character even more through their interactions with the other characters.
The romance in The Secret of You and Me is certainly more explicit than Austen, but the longing between Sophie and Nora is palpable from the beginning. The two have a tendency towards fighting then reconciling on more than one occasion. The romance between these two characters is not light and fluffy. Infidelity is present in many of the relationships in the novel, including that of Nora and Sophie.
I finished reading this book days ago and I’m still mulling over my feelings. The emotions and topics are a lot weightier than what I normally look for in a romance. (The novel is similar to the emotions in some of Colleen Hoover’s novels as a comparison.) But sometimes, reading outside of your comfort zone is good for you. If you are looking to challenge yourself with some complicated characters and emotional writing, I recommend trying The Secret of You and Me.
Thanks to author Melissa Lenhardt and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity to review The Secret of You and Me. I received the novel free in exchange for my honest review.
Melissa Lenhardt is a women’s fiction, mystery, and historical fiction author. Her debut mystery, Stillwater, was a finalist for the 2014 Whidbey Writers’ MFA Alumni Emerging Writers Contest, and Sawbones, her historical-fiction debut, was hailed as a “thoroughly original, smart and satisfying hybrid, perhaps a new sub-genre: the feminist Western” by Lone Star Literary Life. The New York Times called her sixth novel, Heresy, “An all-out women-driven, queer, transgender, multiracial takeover of the Old West.” The Secret of You and Me, her seventh novel and her first contemporary women’s fiction novel, was published on August 4, 2020.
When Melissa isn’t writing, she’s thinking, “I really should be writing,” and eating Nutella or peanut butter straight out of the jar. A lifelong Texan, she lives in the Dallas area with her husband, two sons, and two Golden Retrievers.
either a FaceTime call or virtual book-club visit with the author.
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Great review — you are right that it is much heavier than most romances and the emotional aspects really impact the readers, whether it’s a high or a low. Thanks for the post.
Thanks, Kristine!