Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Jasper is a regular guy who knows what his life will beâheâll continue working âdead-endâ jobs that keep him living paycheck to paycheck, meet another struggling, regular Joe like himself, and settle down and adopt a dog when his looks no longer pull at the bars and he no longer has his trusty best friend and wingwoman, Lacy, at his side to boost his ego and keep him company.
Yet, Jasper’s world comes crashing down when Lacy commits suicide and he begins to question himself and their friendship. When he meets Lacyâs uncle, Rob, at her funeral, Jasper is caught off guard by the unexpected and instant connection he has to the much older man, especially given the timing and the fact that he has never been attracted to older men. Yet as they share drinks, memories, and comfort, Jasper takes Rob up on his offer to keep in touch and the two form a friendship via email. However, the strain of beginning a relationship in the midst of grief, insecurity, and long distance is compounded when the reason for Lacyâs estrangement from her family and Robâs role in it is brought to light.
I picked The Secrets We Keep for Older/Younger Hero Week for our Reading Challenge Month because I wanted to read a book with an older lead character, and while I am a bit disappointed that Robâs POV is not more prominent, I do like several aspects of his character. For example, although Rob is a very successful author, at fifty years old he has never been in love, and thus, is as unprepared as Jasper for that kind of emotion. He also displays some of the same traits of self-centeredness in his dealings with Lacy that Jasper does, illustrating that no matter how put together you seem or how old you get, you can still grow and be better. Additionally, while Jasper feels insecurity over Robâs success, as well as the fact that Rob comes from a wealthy family (particularly compared to Jasperâs poor/middle class upbringing), Rob is as insecure as Jasper; he’s insecure about his age and whether Jasper is actually interested in him at all.
Since the story is mostly in Jasperâs POV, his character has the most development. I wasnât sure I was going to like him much given how disparaging his thoughts are about his best friend in the beginning and that he admits he drags her to gay bars with him for self-validation. Moreover, he knows a lot of their outings/friendship dynamics are out of whack and one way. But over the course of the story and in getting to know Rob, he brings Lacy to life for her estranged uncle (and the reader) through his remembrance of their friendship and special places. Seeing Jasper deal with Lacyâs death, his shortcomings, and other painful relationships/losses, and finally owning up to the fact that his is not the only valid pain in his circle of loved ones is gratifying.
Normally, I would try to avoid saying what happened to Lacy in my review, but what I find most compelling about the book is not Jasper and Robâs tentative romance, but what brought them together in the first place, and frankly the narrativeâs underlying discussion of suicideâhow or if people can help loved oneâs struggling with suicidal ideation; how, can, or what to do if you recognize the signs of depression; how do you deal with the inevitable guilt whether you could help or not, etc.âtook on a life of its own. All the questions the narrative poses through Jasperâs struggle when facing his own selfishness and sometimes just normal self-centeredness, for me, make Lacy more alive than she was for the few pages she appeared at the beginning of the story (especially with the slight paranormal element involved) and much more interesting than the connection between Jasper and Rob. The blurb mentions the âbloom of new romance,â and this is a very apt description. Their relationship is at best budding, and it is doing so in the midst of heavy circumstances and then almost overwhelmed by a Noah-sized flood of secret shame. Given the circumstances and Jasperâs insecurities about their wealth disparities, it is little wonder that I couldnât feel much chemistry between them, and it was usually only somewhat bolstered by one of the few, well-timed Rob POV scenes.
The Secrets We Keep isnât your typical romance, but the story is honest and compelling in different ways. The MCs are fallible and human. They are two people getting to know each other in the midst of their shared grief, guilt, and belief they failed someone they loved. They donât fall instantly in love or lust. I also like that Jasper and Rob end on a very realistic HFN. Not only are they still getting to know one another, but they are still grieving, still dealing with the fallout of losing Lacy in such a tragic way, and still learning new things about themselves.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for Older/Younger Hero Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win one of FIVE $20 JMS store gift cards from JMS Books! Commenters will also be entered to win one of our three amazing Grand Prize book bundles. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here (including all the contest rules) and more details on Older/Younger Hero Week here.Â
I picked a book that deals with depression too. But my MC couldn’t even hide it. And there wasn’t a trigger for him, it was the clinical kind. Lacy, it seems, had plenty of problems. Maybe Jasper was too preoccupied with his own life to notice and help her and Lacy was a master at hiding it, and putting up a front. It’s really hard to notice the signs.
Thanks for the review!
There’s a bit of that, but Jasper admits that he noticed that she wasn’t living her own life, that she was depressed, etc, but that it was easier to not deal. But to be fair she does let him off the hook in the book as well.
This does sound like an interesting book, Jovan, so I appreciate you bringing it to my attention.
This sounds a little intense but it helps to know that there is a HFN in the end.
Thanks for the review. ð
It is emotional, especially for Jasper bc he has a very tragic backstory and emotionally fraught relationship with his dad. It’s a journey for him in many ways.
I have several of Rick’s books on my TBR. I think that I’ll be adding this one as well.
It sounds so intense, but well-done!
This sounds like a really interesting book. I’l be adding this to my TBR list. Thanks for a great review!
I do like real characters and this sounds like one and RRR usually writes good stories
Great review! I just read this book and had very similar feelings. It was definitely an emotional read!
After reading your review I think I might give this one a try. I wasn’t sure about before.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It sounds like a provoking read.
Thank you for the review, Jovan. Although the plot did not much attract me at the beginning, your description of the characters and how Lacy is discovered through their memories, sounds really interesting. I’ll add it to my TBR list
Great review. This doesn’t sound like it would work for me right now.
I usually prefer more solid HEAs but the rest of the book sounds interesting. I have a couple Rick Reed books on my TBR, I should bump one to the top
I like this kind of thoughtful exploration and don’t mind that it’s not a typical romance, so this one definitely pings for me. I would definitely be wary just finding out an author used a woman’s suicide to bring two people together, but from your review, it doesn’t feel like that here. Also, I don’t mind if I don’t like the characters at first, either, because we are all very human and have no so great parts. I want to see growth and understanding by the end, and this sounds like it satisfies on that end. Thank you, Jovan!
This sounds interesting, also a bit intense cos it deals with mental health. I haven’t read a book by this author before, so I might start with this book.