I received this book from Goodreads Giveaway Program.

This was a good read. The characters were well developed and the book went through a lot of emotions. Quite well written. Not something I would usually read but rather enjoyable. Definitely recommend.

Loved this book it was my first by rachael johns and I m making sure the Patterson girls is in my Tbr pile

I absolutely love books like this, filled with secrets that intertwine and come out of the wood works. It really solidifies that honesty is the best policy in our household. I have nothing negative to say about this book so I will tackle this review through each of the main characters.

Felicity: What a woman?! Flick has kept an incredible secret for most of her marriage. Her friends have no idea that her marriage is far from the perfection they see. I can’t give away too much but I think that Rachael Johns tackled this issue with a huge amount of respect. It is amazingly relevant in this day and age too. It’s not so unbelievable. I loved Flick. I sympathized so much with her. I can’t imagine what I would do in her situation.

Emma: I was glad to see the ending on this one. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Emma was loveable but you got that sense that not everything is right. I felt deeply sorry for her and wanted her to have the happiest outcome. I am glad Rachael Johns did this.

Neve: This poor woman had the best of intentions at the time and it backfired hugely. It’s a case of hindsight being great. I think the issue was tackled well.

All in all the story was actually surprisingly believable. I don’t know why but I was expecting a romance novel and was pleasantly surprised with what I read. I cannot wait to read more of Rachael Johns, my next trip to the library I will be scouring the shelves.

My recommendation: If you haven’t read Rachael Johns, do it now!

Loved it, very compelling and engrossing story. But I found the ending a bit abrupt and unexpected, hence dropping one star...reluctantly. 4.5 stars otherwise. A great read!

The Art of Keeping Secrets was my first Rachael Johns novel.

As the title and the blurb indicate, this novel is about three women friends, all in their early forties. They're all busy, working mums. Felicity, aka Flick, is a taxidermist, married to a lovely man, and has two kids. From the outside, their life is perfect. But there is one big secret that's been driving Felicity crazy.
Emma is divorced and the mother of three teenagers. She's struggling and is constantly exhausted.
Genevive, aka Neve, is a make-up and hair artist and a single mum to Will. She's been lying to her son and parents for a long time.

When Neve decides to go to New York to right the huge mistake she made eighteen years earlier, Flick and Emma accompany her. Lots of things happen while they're in New York.
I can't say too much more because it will spoil it for you.

I will just say that the characters' struggles are relatable. The power of female friendship is at the centre of this novel. I enjoyed reading a novel set mostly in Perth.
The writing is accessible, without many flourishes. Each friend is given relatively equal air time, so we get to become very familiar with their inner thoughts.

This has been an enjoyable novel, filled with emotional moments, without being melodramatic or saccharine-y.

I've received this novel via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publishers, Harlequin, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

:Cover: 4.5 stars

Neve, Emma, & Flick are at a cross roads, they became friends through their sons & now their sons are about to graduate. This time is full of emotion & they discover that the friends they thought they knew everything about have been keeping earth shattering secrets. Will they trust each other enough to reveal their secrets? And will their friendship survive if they do? A story of friendship & trust.