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.