If you’re looking for a really good book, I would recommend Friends With Secrets by Christine Gunderson. This was a First Reads book for July, which means that from now until the end of the month, you can get it for free if you have Amazon Prime or for $1.99 if you don’t. This is the story of two women and their decision whether they want to reveal their true selves.
What You Should Know
This book is mostly about two moms, Ainsley and Nikki. I think they are both in their early 40s. Ainsley is married to the heir to a chocolate candy fortune. At one point, the author tells us he’s very close to being a billionaire. Ainsley grew up in a completely different world, struggling to survive in a rundown trailer park. She has a notebook with information to help her dress and act properly in specific situations. She’s faking her way through it. She’s even changed her birth name so she’ll no longer be associated with that child. Ainsley goes out of her way to appear perfect so no one will guess her true origin story. Her husband and a handful of other people are the only people who even know the basics of her childhood.
Then there’s Nikki. She recently gave birth to her fourth child and was fired from her broadcasting job around the same time. Now, as a stay-at-home mom, she feels like she’s falling apart. Unlike Ainsley, Nikki doesn’t have just the right clothes or make just the right snacks for her kids. She’s seriously struggling to adapt to her new reality.
Through a series of events, Ainsley and Nikki find themselves thrust together. Despite their very different lifestyles, they quickly establish a friendship. Oddly enough, both women wish they could be a little more like the other one.
When a person from Ainsley’s past appears in her life, she knows something has to change. If she continues to hide the true story of her younger years, she won’t be able to expose the man’s secrets and save others from harm. She teams up with Nikki to share the truth.
My Thoughts
This was not the book I expected. It was better in so many ways than what I expected. There were a few parts of the story that felt a bit far-fetched, mostly things falling into place a little too easily. Yet, I love the genuineness of our two main characters, Nikki and Ainsley. I never thought I’d say this about a character who’s living a millionaire (nearly billionaire) lifestyle, but they are relatable characters. Both women deal with the pressures of trying to fit in. Both are really great women who want what’s best for their families. They seek to be true, good friends to the other woman.
Reader Warnings
This book has some mild swearing. I didn’t count the swear words, but there were probably no more than about 6-8. As a warning to readers, this book does deal with some pretty serious issues. Let’s just say that the book fits in well with the “Me Too” movement, including women who dealt with it when they were underage or barely legal. I felt like it was handled in a sensitive way without going into too many graphic details. The actual sexual content and violence are minimal.
My Final Thoughts
Had I realized the subject matter this book was going to deal with, I probably wouldn’t have picked it as my First Reads book for the month. Yet, I’m really glad I grabbed it. Yes, this book deals with some serious and potentially sensitive/difficult topics, but it does it in a good way. More than a story about Ainsley’s past, though, I feel like it’s a story about being true to yourself. It’s about realizing that you don’t have to live up to someone else’s expectations for you. Along with that, it’s about realizing that we all make mistakes, things we’re not proud of. It’s also about being careful how or why we judge others. We are not in their situation, so we don’t know why they chose a specific path for their lives.
If you’re looking for a book that will have you laughing at times, sympathizing with characters at other times, and cheering characters on, I would recommend this book. It’s got some mystery, suspense, friendships, moments of our main characters falling apart, and an assortment of other elements.
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