"Expectations are a powerful motivational tool"

books:


	• The Secret Between Us Barbara Delinsky Doubleday, 2008 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 40 reviews view larger image
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Lifetime Movie?

This book could not hold my attention and took me over a month to get through. I basically read it to fall asleep at night and not because it was terrible per se, but because it just slow paced and boring. I could definitely see it being a Lifetime movie or an okay summer read but I wouldn't exactly recommend it to anyone or say it was one of the better books I've read.

Wow, Barbara!

In going "out of your element" here, you made a giant leap forward, and I love it! This was a great read. It took me only 2 nights to devour and I left the 'meal' feeling quite satisfied. Thanks, dear.
"Funny Feline Fotos" author, Anna Marie Fritz.

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"Expectations are a powerful motivational tool"

The Secret Between Us, a novel by Barbara Delinsky, defines "a fast read." The writing is clearly the effort of a pro and flows from page to page with lots of dialog and little description or prolonged prose. The storytelling is first rate. I was riveted.

The main character, a woman named Deborah, is likeable and believable. She's a divorced mother of two, a small-town doctor. In the opening pages, she and her daughter, Grace, have a terrible accident, when their car hits a pedestrian on a dark, rainy night. The story unfolds from there, when Deborah takes the blame, even though her 15-year-old daughter was behind the wheel. Throughout the police report/investigation, this is the "secret" between them and it causes a myriad of complications. Probably the strongest message coming from these pages is about parent and child relationships, and how expectations can both help and hinder. It certainly made me think about my relevant relationships.

Deborah's sister, Jill, an independent bakery owner and somewhat of family "black sheep," is likeable too. As for most of the other characters, I'm afraid I found them not only unlikable, but also contrived. The selfish ex-husband; the patriarchal--even cruel--father; the loopy, grieving widow; the kind-hearted chief of police; the philandering high-powered attorney and his pathetic wife/best friend of the protagonist; the brother of the accident victim, Tom McKenna, walking the tightrope between both sides of the issue; the accident victim himself, Grace's history teacher at the local high school; the visually impaired younger brother; and especially the teenaged daughter, Grace, all seemed to me like paper cutout dolls, with unsurprising words and actions.

All these characters notwithstanding, the story was compelling, truly outlining how a seemingly normal life can change in an instant. Overall I'd say it was worth the read, reminding me of authors like Anita Shreve and Jodi Picoult.

From the author of A Line Between Friends, and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

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Well written... loved it!

Like reviewer Ann Mcpherson, I am a Delinsky fan. I have read her for many years and she doesn't disappoint me. She always leaves you thinking of her characters long after you've closed the book.

I thought this novel had a little bit of everything. Great discussion book. Lots of emotion - the scenario a young girl and her mother arguing while driving in the rain, and how in a split second something tragic can happen to change everyone's lives. The characters are likeable and believable, the accident one we can picture easily happening to anyone. The side stories contributed a lot to the enjoyment of the read: the boy with the eye disease/his feelings about playing baseball/his relationship with his dad and grandfather. I enjoyed the sister of the main character with her bakery venture, her choice for single parent pregnancy, and the small town scenario of everyone knowing everyone. The police chief being in the job forever makes the ending plausible, although doubtful in big city real-life.

The only reason I rate this a 4 instead of 5 is because there was one area that I found far-fetched, and that was about the victim in the accident, how he happened to be where he was at the time of the accident. Without giving anything away, I guess Delinsky needed to go that way to give us a satisfactory ending, and she did wrap it up nicely. I also felt it would have added a lot more to the novel to have a bit more character development about the victim and his family. Suffice it to say it didn't make me enjoy the book any less.

If you are in a book club, this is an excellent choice, as there is much to discuss. One thing to address if you are in a club:
1) Would you cover for your child if this happened to you in this way?
2) Is the teen driver here typical of young-girl-driver's today (guilt or relief)?

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5, 6, 7, 8

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