The Secrets of Us by Lucinda Berry

 Found Sisters Krystal and Nicole had a hard life growing up, they seem to have thrived in their adult lives, but when something tragic happens, can they get through it in one piece?

WARNING

This review may contain spoilers. Skip to conclusion if only opinions are wanted.

    Krystal and Nicole, our two main characters, grow up in foster care on Ms. Wheelers farm, with her daughter, the narcissistic bully, Veronica. Throughout their childhood and teen years, Krystal and Nicole are ruthlessly bullied by Veronica because she could not retaliate on her own school bullies. The sisters were forced to basically be the maids and farmhands.

    Fast forward to the age of 17, when Ms. Wheeler arranges a sleepover between all the girls and a classmate, Alice. No one but Alice and Ms. Wheeler are excited about this turn of events. The night of the sleepover, Krystal and Nicole sneak out (like usual) to the barn with a bottle of alcohol. Apparently so did Alice and Veronica. Alice convinces everyone to play truth or dare in the hayloft of the barn, and Nicole and Alice get drunk. An argument ensues that enrages Veronica, and she accidentally pushes Alice through the open hayloft door, down to the concrete.

    Traumatized, Nicole and Veronica try desperately do save Alice while Krystal goes to get Ms. Wheeler. Alice ends up dead, and Ms. Wheeler basically threatens everyone top say the same story.

    Time passes, and Nicole starts to hear Alice. Never in the whole book does Nicole think Alice is just in her head, she thinks she is real. Slowly Alice starts to overwhelm Nicole, until it all culminates in her trying to murder Veronica. This spurs them to run away from the farm, but Veronica notices and tries to stop them from stealing the truck, by climbing into the truck bed. As they are driving, they slam on the breaks and Veronica goes toppling over the front of the truck, crumpling to the gravel. Still alive, the two girls drag her off the road and continue running away.

    Fast forward a couple decades, Nicole is married to a rich Architect, and Krystal is a family lawyer. Then one day, Nicole's house catches on fire. When the emergency response officials arrive, Nicole is dancing on the grass, while her husband, Aiden, is unconscious in the bedroom, blocked in. Everything points to the fire being set by Nicole. spoilers, it is. The problem is Nicole is absolutely psychotic at the time, screaming and calling Aiden a murder and having multiple delusions.

    Aiden survives, and after a troubling rollercoaster in the psych ward, Nicole becomes stable, but is missing large chunks of her memory. It is revealed that Aiden was a nymphomaniac, sleeping with way to many women to be a married man.

    All of a sudden, Aiden is a suspect of a murder of a woman a few weeks before. Krystal is taken by Aiden (by gunpoint. plot twist, its unloaded) to his and Nicole's house, showing her that he knew about their childhood and what happened, and reveals that it was Nicole who killed the woman a few weeks ago.

    Turns out, the woman who was murdered was... Veronica with a nose job and fillers, who changed her name to Marie and kept her ex husbands last name. Aiden was having an affair with her, not knowing who she truly was. Nicole happened to see them, and ended up face to face with Marie, instantly recognizing her as Veronica, which spirals her into another mental snap like when she tried to kill her the first time. Nicole goes home, then takes one of her own kitchen knives and finishes the job from all those years ago. 

Conclusion

    The Secrets of Us is written with two strong female leads, with both taking turns narrating. It goes between present day, and the past, and can be confusing at times, but the chapters make it clear who is narrating at the beginning of each chapter. Berry is exceptional at writing mental distress as accurately as possible, using her expertise. The world building and character building was well fleshed out, making for a read I couldn't put down. I literally read it in two days. There are several twists to always keep you on your toes, page to page. The way Berry incorporates found family into the main plot, and what one sister would do for the other is heartwarming. This is not the most flowing novel I have read, but not terrible enough for me to not want to finish it. I would definitely recommend. 

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

 

Two women. An online queer community board. And an antique apple peeler that starts a three month rollercoaster of chaos and obsession.

WARNING

This review may contain spoilers. Skip to conclusion if only opinions are wanted.

TRIGGER WARNING: Animal Abuse and Body Horror

    Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke is a short novella written in the format of email and instant messenger that takes place in 2000, showing the brief but intense interaction between Agnes Petrella and Zoe Cross.

    The book starts in the view of showing evidence, as compiled by the police, saying there is an open case as to the death of Agnes following the online relationship. Some things are redacted (per police request).

    Things start off relatively normal, with Agnes selling an antique apple peeler originally from her grandmother, in order to afford rent. In comes Zoe. Opening up to Zoe about her troubles, Zoe ends up sending Agnes $1,000 and tells her to keep the peeler. Extremely grateful, Agnes expresses her gratitude multiple times , exchanging IM handles, the duo quickly become close, and Zoe expresses that she would like to be more with Agnes, a BDSM relationship where Zoe controls the wellbeing of Agnes in every way. 

    "What have you done to deserve your eyes today?"

    The relationship starts normal enough. Zoe asks Agnes to find the brightest red dress she could find, and wear it to work. And she does, leading to her being sent home early. Zoe agrees that she deserved her eyes for the day.

    In comes the contract. Not much is known about the contract, as quite a bit has been redacted, but the basics are known. Zoe (Sponsor) has full control of Agnes' (Drudge) wellbeing. The next day Zoe requests for Agnes to go a step further, asking her next to leave her underwear in an open place in the bathroom, which results in Agnes being fired.

    When Agnes voices her desire to carry life, Zoe suggests her to find a salamander, keep it in her pocket for a whole day, then that night smash it with a rock. She does this, however it disturbs her enough to end the relationship.

    Over a month passes and Agnes reaches out to beg to reinstate the relationship, and Zoe accepts. Agnes still wishes to carry 'their' baby, even more so than before, but Zoe has reservations, mostly being that it is not possible, but has a solution... tapeworms.

    In comes the most disgusting description of rotting meat being consumed, but in the end, success. The last thirteen pages consists of Agnes becoming deeply obsessed with the tapeworm being their child. When confronted with the fact that it will pass, Agnes goes overboard, and in the end, Zoe terminates the relationship. Agnes continues to email Zoe, and it ends with Agnes passing the tapeworm, and implying she cuts out her eyes with the same apple peeler that started it all.

CONCLUSION

    A quick read. Personally I finished it in a couple hours. I find the format very interesting, but kind of written too much like a book to make the emails believable.

    Not a book for the faint of heart. Severe animal abuse and body horror is rampant and extremely detailed, so if that's not for you, then stay far away. It is horror in the fact that it delves into the very real issues of mental illness and terrible BDSM etiquette. 112 pages of pure shock horror. Loneliness is a big theme in this book, and the lengths some will go out of selfishness and loneliness. 

    Would I recommend this book? If you can get it for cheap, at a discount store or online, sure. But for those who like fleshed out horror, not really. 3 out of 5 stars.