Book Review: Tell Me a Secret

Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one…

In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.

Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.

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In a Nutshell: Tell Me a Secret is an emotional rollercoaster of one girls journey through teen pregnancy and self discovery.

Putdownability Factor: I can't really say it much better than Deb Caletti does in the blurb on the back of the book "I dare you to set it down during its last hundred pages. I dare you."

Cover Love: I feel like the cover isn't really accurate in giving you a taste of what Tell Me a Secret is about. Its a bit intriguing sure, but honestly it made me think the book was a romance, which it isn't. Also that type is soooo 90's. But that's just me.

The Review

The first time I saw the cover of this book I thought "Nope. Not reading it. It looks like a romance." Then a friend of mine suggested it on her blog and I got intrigued. Then I watched the book trailer and I was officially sold on reading this book. I know what you're thinking. A GOOD book trailer? Well prepare to be amazed! This isn't your ordinary book trailer! Behold:



BEST. BOOK. TRAILER. EVER.

If that doesn't convince you to read Tell Me a Secret nothing will. :)

Tell Me a Secret was a brilliant novel. Heartachingly brilliant. Its hard to explain this novel because there are so many facets to it. Its a book about teen pregnancy. Its a book about family secrets. Its a book about a girls self discover. And its a book about emotional healing. But even though there are so many different elements to Tell Me a Secret, Holly Cupala is able to weave them all together beautifully.

While I wasn't totally in love with any of the characters in this novel, I did think they were well written. The character development in Tell Me a Secret is particularly notable, especially Miranda's. If I had to pick a favorite character I would go with Shelley. She was such a wonderful mother presence. I would love to have a mentor like her in my life.

Every author has a niche, and while this is Holly Cupala's first novel I think its pretty safe to say that her niche is tackling difficult emotional subjects. Sometimes an author will sugarcoat it, or sometimes an author will make it so dark that the book leaves the reader feeling depressed. But not Holly Cupala. She approaches each subject perfectly. Tell Me a Secret is real, and painful, but also full of hope. And that's a rare combination.

Tell Me a Secret gets 4 out of 5 ice cream cones!

Who would I recommend this book to? Anyone who loves deep contemporary novels! Some teen girls may be put off by the lack of romance in Tell Me a Secret, but as long as you like your novels to have substance then you will enjoy this book.

Julia :)