Lindsay, a recent college graduate with a degree in art, takes a summer nanny job on Martha's Vineyard with a family known in the arts field. The promise of connections and a possible art field job in the fall helps get past that feeling of being an outsider, along with the fact that some college classmates are summer residents there to help ease the feelings of not fitting in.
There is the local guy Dylan and rich guy Brian for romantic interests, but not everyone has her well being at heart.
The couple she lives with have issues of their own and aren't quite the perfect parents to the two children she cares for. Lindsay tries to help the teenage girl Georgie as she sees the awkwardness of that age as a memory she shares. Of course no good deed goes unpunished.
Two things annoyed me with the first being the male nickname for the girl. Dad calls her Gigi, which is fine, but there are so many pretty female names so why does she have a male name? My pet peeve, but I see it so often and don't like it. The second was the common practice of every chapter narrative by a different character which in itself is fine, but here content is repeated when seen through the eyes of the different characters. Some of that is fine, but there was no need to relate as much of the situation as it was repetitive and made me want to skim over it.
Not a bad story, but the end left something to be desired. The last chapter timing was not right. Seriously, weeks? Not believable.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Lindsey finishes college she gets a summer job as a nanny for a wealthy family with two children.
Their daughter Georgie is a fourteen year old with a rebellious nature and wants a summer job of her own.
One evening when Lindsey and Georgie are out at the lighthouse an incident happens that changes their lives forever.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was offered this book to read by Lake Union Publishing. It will definitely be a good summer read. Lindsey takes a job as a nanny with the upper crust on the island in hopes of it getting her the job she desires. Things move along as expected with a summer at a beach club and then something happens one night just before Lindsey is set to leave to shake her and the young girl she’s been living with as a nanny for her family. Ten years go by when things finally are revealed and Lindsey has to make a major decision that could change her life.
I enjoyed the read and always enjoy “being on the Vineyard” in books.

I enjoyed this mystery told in two different point if views about the same experiences during a summer at the beach. Told from the perspectives of nanny, Lindsey and Georgie, a teenager, this story started strong for me. The only issue I had with it was the pacing in the last 3/4 of the book, it seemed a little rushed. Overall I enjoyed the way the author handled some heavy topics while focusing on the building of relationships and self acceptance. I will definitely look for more by this author.

4.5 stars!

Georgie is a teenager from a well-to-do family, and while spending the summer on Martha’s Vineyard, she hopes to become more independent, make new friends, and find young love. Lindsey is fresh out of college and dreams of landing a job in the art world. In the meantime, she accepts a job as a nanny for a family who could help her get her foot in the door at a Boston art gallery. Sounds perfect, right?

Lindsey and Georgie develop a bit of rocky friendship as the summer progresses, but one night changes everything and neither one of them speaks of it again...until 10 years later. But is it too late for justice?

This was a great summer read, and it reminded me a lot of summers spent in Cape Cod with my family. I thought Georgie and Lindsey were great characters, and I found a lot in common between the two young women. The situations they found themselves in were real and relatable (though at times difficult to read because of the subject matter), and I thought the way they responded emotionally to those experiences was spot on for their levels of maturity. Great character development!

Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3320975584

SOMEONE ELSE'S SECRET
BY JULIA SPIRO

I have recently been in a terrible reading slump and am thrilled to say that this phenomenal book gave me a reprieve and I can't recommend this one highly enough. If I could give it 100 stars I would. Both the plot and characterizations were absolutely fantastic. There is so much I want to say about this tale and how it affected me but I don't want to give away spoilers. This novel had me feeling so much empathy and compassion for it's many character's except for the antagonist.

It is college graduation time for Lindsey and it is 2008 during the time of this country's great recession. If you are old enough to remember that year you will realize that the joblessness was at an all time low and if the government had not bailed the banks out for the sub prime lending regarding mortgages this country would have gone into a Depression. People were losing their homes. That doesn't have anything to do with this book except to depict one of our main female heroine who has just graduated college studying art and her job prospects are low to non existent. She wants to work in Boston in one of it's art museum's and one day become an art curator.

While Lindsey is celebrating her graduation from college and wracked with years of college loan debt she has been trying to find an internship and can't find one. Most of them are unpaid but she is willing to take on any job while also working for free as an intern at one of the art museum's but she has found out that you have to know someone to get hired. Lindsey is jobless and during graduation a professor comes over to her table and says she would like to introduce Lindsey to the Decker family. The Decker's are on the board at the Museum of Fine Art and need a nanny this summer at Cape Cod.

Lindsey is an only child and doesn't have much experience with taking care of children. Jonathan Decker says that if things work out this summer with Lindsey being their nanny he can introduce her to his friend whom both husband and wife can get Lindsey a paid job in the fall at Boston's Museum of Fine Art. Lindsey is beautiful and has great ambitions of creating a great life for herself in the art world. Jonathan and Carol Decker tell Lindsey that she will have a free place to live with food and all she has to do is take care of their youngest child Berty by taking him to tennis camp and getting him breakfast and her afternoons can be spent taking Berty to their beach club. Berty is five years old and I just loved him. He is a lovable child and easy to care for. Lindsey decides to take the job.

Georgie is the Decker's fourteen and a half year old daughter who is going to be working her first job at the Picnic Basket. She is disdainful, moody with hormones and doesn't want to have to answer to Lindsey. Lindsey is kind and friendly and doesn't force a friendship with Georgie. Georgie is experiencing all of the teenager angst of wanting to find romance. Georgie doesn't have any friends this summer as her former friend's are ignoring her and she is jealous of Lindsey. Carol Decker is a very hands off mother and I didn't like her at first until later in the novel when I learned what she has gone through. Carol seems very cold and uninterested in her children. This leaves Lindsey with the full time care of Berty from morning until after he is read a bedtime story by Lindsey and he falls asleep for the night. After that Lindsey is free to do what she wants and she usually goes out.

Brian is the character that most readers I suspect won't like at all. His parents are wealthier than the Decker's and also the ones who are pivotal to Lindsey getting her job in the fall. He is also Joanna's boyfriend. Joanna didn't give Lindsey the time of day in college but for some odd reason she befriends Lindsey and there are many nights spent drinking at beach parties with Joanna, Brian and all of the other wealthy 24 year old's who spend every summer at Cape Cod. The first party that Lindsey attends Joanna leads Lindsey to do something to get back at Brian by keying his car. When it is time for Lindsey to go home she meets a wholesome and kind working class guy named Dylan who sees Lindsey and offers her a ride home. The two of them fall in love over the course of the Summer.

Georgie has a deep crush on Brian even though their age differences are significant. Brian goes into the Picnic Basket every day for iced coffee and again for lunch. Georgie whose job assignment is to work in the back office sorting mountains of paperwork and inventorying all of the swanky merchandise that the establishment sells besides food. When Brian comes in Georgie is often found sweeping and washing down tables escaping the back office so she can talk to Brian. Georgie feels awkward and frustrated with her life and getting a few breadcrumbs from Brian makes her feel like he is interested in her. One odd night Brian sees Georgie walking home from a party and he offers to walk her home. They almost kiss when Lindsey being protective comes out and breaks it up. This is where the climax of the story begins.

Georgie runs into her house and sobs uncontrollably over Lindsey ruining her big chance of romance with Brian. Lindsey had that day off and she spent the day at Joanna's drinking and later that night went out with Dylan and drank more. After separating Brian and Georgie Brian asks Lindsey to go for a walk to the lighthouse on the beach. What happens next will alter Lindsey and Georgie's Lives for the next ten years. It will haunt them both and change who they are for the worst. I felt so much pain for both of these two and felt like it happened to me. I asked myself what would I do if I was Georgie or Lindsey. Something brutal happens and the way they deal with it by keeping silent is the lesson of this excellent book. This was a fascinating story that I will never forget. Every once in a while I read something such as this excellent book and it is so compelling that it raises the bar so high that I never want the story to end.

This is a gripping narrative that examines so many important themes that I highly recommend this. I thought about what would I do if I was in Lindsey, Georgie or even Carol's position. Thinking about the consequences for these three character's if they face the issue and illuminate it could I do the same thing? Ten years later the issue will resurface and that is really the heart of this story. I highly felt so much compassion for these character's and how much a single incident can bore away at your soul and obliterate the way in which you live and the way you view yourself and everybody else. This author is one to watch out for and this was a fabulous debut which I loved so much I know it will take a long time for me to value a book as much as this one. Don't read any reviews if you choose to read this as I didn't and it worked out in my favor. Unforgettable, Life changing, Original and highly relevant in this day and age.

Thank you to Net Galley, The talented Julia Spiro and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publication Date: July 1, 2020

#SomeoneElse'sSecret #JuliaSpiro #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley

What a great debut novel! Someone Else’s Secret is an addictive read that centers around two women and a 10 year old buried secret.

Lindsey, a recent college grad, takes a summer job on Martha’s Vineyard as a nanny with the Decker family. Just a filler job until she’s able to secure a job in her major. Lindsey has never been a nanny before and she feels a little out of her depth, but a job is a job...right!?!?

Georgie, 14 year old and daughter and eldest of the two Decker children. Obviously, the nanny her parents hired is for her younger brother and she hopes no one thinks otherwise. Trying to find her way through the awkward teenage years is tough, but Georgie is hoping this is the summers she makes real friends...and maybe even find a boyfriend.

The summer of 2009 proved to be unexpected for both women in so many ways. Georgie and Lindsey end up meeting again in 2019, 10 years after that summer. As old wounds are opened up the two forge together in truth to ultimately solidify the bond that was built a decade before! I found this engrossing novel hard to put down—the pacing was perfect! The storyline had me feeling soooo many emotions! I am really looking forward to reading what Julia Spiro comes out with next!

I was delighted to be sent an copy of Julia Spiro’s novel thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.

It felt like an episode of the OC both drama filled and intriguing. Lyndsey a recently graduated art student is trying to make her way in the art curators world which is almost impossible to do unless you are rich and famous or know somebody rich and famous which lyndsey knows neither of these. Lyndsey is seemingly at a stand still after graduating college jobless when a professor sets her up with a nannying job for the summer for the rich and prominent Decker family. With strong connections to the art world, its not the job she wants but an offer she can’t refuse.

Moving to the holiday island of Martha’s Vineyard, Lyndsey gets to experience first hand the world of the wealthy. Its a summer she’ll want to forget but definitely won’t be able to.

Fourteen year old Georgie Decker doesn’t need a nanny and she is determined to make this a summer to remember and be remembered she’s doing everything she can to fit in and find the popularity she craves.

One dreadful night on the island will change both the girl’s lives forever.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. I was eager to find out what event would change the girl’s lives and equally curious at the insight into the world of the wealthy holiday goers.

The book started off strong for me but lost some of its spark towards the end. I enjoyed the split narrative between Lyndsey and Georgie and how the story explored how both characters were struggling with their identity and how they fit into their world. At first Lyndsey and Georgie’s sections spurred the story forward without too much overlap but I found towards the end it changed to both the girls chapters replaying the same moments. While I understand this was to give the reader insight to how each of the characters were feeling about certain situations I just found it quite repetitive.

This book is in the general fiction genre. The characters and topics explored in the story felt quite young and after reading the book I feel it would be better suited to a young adult audience. In fact I believe that lots of young people would relate easily to Lyndsey and Georgie which would make it a great read for them.

I received an e-ARC through NetGalley.

This story is centered on what occurs before and after someone is raped. It follows two women Georgie (then fourteen, turning fifteen), and Lindsey ( then 22), as they experience a summer on Martha’s Vineyard. At first, I thought this was going to be a light-hearted book about a family and their nanny over the summer. However, the. Book does take an unexpected turn.

The story is well written, and I would like. To see what the author writes in the future. Someone Else’s Secret is her debut novel.

Firstly i would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and Julia Spiro for sending me an ARC copy of Someone Else's Secret.

I'm not sure how to review this book as i was confused whilst reading it as to what category the book would fall into. I felt that it could fall into the older Teen Read section or maybe Chicklit for a holiday read.

The book starts in 2019 with a dream / nightmare and being transported back to an earlier event in their life with an incident taking place on a beach at night, and from this point of the book i was gripped and wanted to find out more.

You are then taken back to 2009 and the main character Lindsey Davis being on a ferry to Martha's Vineyard to become a nanny for a rich family for the summer. Lindsay has no job after graduating from college with an art degree and after so many interviews is losing hope of ever working in an art gallery.

That is until her teacher introduces Lindsey to The Deckers, a family who have contacts in the Arts and with the promise of a job after her stint of nannying for their 5 and 14 year old, Lindsay feels that this is her only chance of achieving her dream job.

From here on in i started to waiver with the book when Georgie the 14 year old is not amused at having a nanny and dealing with her teenage hormones, having no friends for the summer and wanting to be in the "in crowd", but not knowing how to go about it. She has a crush on Brian, but Brian is also the biggest flirt and known for leading girls on. Brian is also 24 years old.

She decides to get a job for the summer at the well known "Picnic Basket" hoping that having the job would help her to get noticed by the "in crowd" but when Georgie is put in the back office to sort out the paperwork her plan backfires and once again you are reading about a sulky teenager.

Lindsey is also trying to fit in with the Martha's Vineyard crowd and feels out of touch with how they all go about their days on the beach, endless parties and being popular. That is until she pops into a sunglass shop and meets up with Joanna, a popular girl from college but never a friend of Lindseys. That all changes when Joanna invites Lindsey to a party that night on the beach.

Fast forward and an event happens on the fateful last night that will change Lindsays life for the next 10 years after leaving the Island.

Someone Else's Secret by Julia Spiro, published by Lake Union Publishing is a gripping read that had me in suspense from the first page til the end.
In essence there are two stories told that took me on a wild ride.
Meet Lindsey and Georgie.
Their story starts out 10 years ago when Lindsey was fesh out of college and became Georgie's nanny for one summer. The 14 year old is not amused. She deals not only with her teenage hormons, her family is, lets call it special too. Absent parents, a special little brother, life is hard for Georgie.
Lindsey was never one of the rich and famous. She had to work hard for her success, but for the first time it seems, karma is smiling at her. But nope. It throws a major wrench her way.
Fast forward, 10 years later, she still deals with what happened at this summer.
Someone Else's Secret is a emotionl read, deals with sensitive subjects and is not for the faint of heart.
I loved the excellent written and beautifully thought out story. 4,5 Stars.

Loved this book! It was recommended by Netgalley and I'm so happy it showed up in my must reads. It is well written and the characters are developed in a way that truly make you feel like you know each one. Many elements to this book that will keep you turning page after page. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.