I received a complimentary copy of THE TRUTH AND OTHER HIDDEN THINGS by Lea Geller with thanks to @Amazonpublishing and the author as part of a @letstalkbookspromo tour!

THE TRUTH AND OTHER HIDDEN THINGS begins with Bells having a really bad day. In her early 40s, Bells is shocked to learn that her IUD has failed meaning she is about to have a baby. She also learns that her husband doesn’t get tenure at the university which means their family will be needing to make a move really soon to find new prospects.

Soon Bells and her family is moving to Dutchess county into a money pit of a university owned house and a neighborhood far from what she has dreamed of. Finding a writing job is proving difficult so when the uber competitive moms of Pigkill rub her the wrong way, Bells takes her revenge by penning a blog post as the County Dutchess, airing all the dirty secrets. What could possibly go wrong?

This was a really fun read overall, thought I will admit I had my moments of frustration with Bells. I could absolutely feel for her as her life is slowly unraveling around her. The house is smelly, the kids are in turmoil, her husband is settling in and Bells is feeling adrift. Her BFF back in Manhattan recommends she try to meet some moms, tries to fit in and find a support network… Bells decides to go in a totally different direction.

Some of what Bells uncovers to write about it juicy gossip and amusing to read, but she does cross quite a few lines along the way. Even as she is warned that there will be problems for herself and her family if she continues down this road, she just can’t help herself. You know the crash is coming, but you just can’t look away!

THE TRUTH AND OTHER HIDDEN THINGS just released on Tuesday! This was a fun read and it made for some great buddy read conversations so it is well worth adding to your TBRs!

The Truth and Other Hidden Things by Lea Geller is a cautionary tale containing great sadness and great joy, as well as lessons learned. Bells, at 43, discovered that IUDs were not foolproof. It was the same day that Harry discovered that he would not only no receive tenure; he wouldn't even be put forth for it. No one was happy. But Bells was even less happy a few weeks later when Harry announced he'd accepted a position in Duchess County, at a small college there. Even less happy was their 16-year old son, Sam, who was not excited about moving his junior year in high school. Their 10-year old daughter, Alice, wasn't excited, but she wasn't heartbroken, either. Bells had gone to law school to appease her mother but had quit being a lawyer the moment she was able...and heard about it regularly from that same mother. Now Bells was writing, which was what she had wanted all along...a small column covering local news here in the city: things like snow days, and garbage pickup. But it was writing. What would she do in Duchess County? That question was answered weeks later when she saw other mothers behaving in a totally foreign way and opted to venture into sarcasm in her work. People loved it. They wanted more. She called herself the County Dutchess and veered into ever-nastier territory.

Bells was a 43-year old woman with an attractive husband and no self-esteem. She took the route of belittling others in order to make herself feel better. She was good at it and she was funny. Her family and friends, those who knew, warned her to stop before someone got hurt. Did she listen? Not at all. Did someone get hurt? Plenty of someones did. This was a funny story at the same time it made my heart bleed. Many of us could find ourselves living Bells nightmare with her, i.e., the cautionary tale. What was really moving was the reactions of her peers, the women she had been writing about, belittling. This was such a good book: current, middle-age crisis, losing one's identity to become only a wife, a mother. All are true for many. Hopefully this book will help. We are not all writers, but there is something each of us does well. We need to find it and embrace it, just as Bells did. Good book.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Truth and Other Hidden Things by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #thetruthandotherhiddenthings

This story about a mid-forties writer who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, and relocating to a small town after her husband missed out on receiving tenure from his prestigious university job was so light and fun. The main character, Bells, was so relatable, and I loved watching her dive into small town drama, and the development of her blog which documented the indecent happenings between the millennials and the older Mom crowd inhabiting the small town of Pigskill. I could absolutely see this occurring in real life, and found myself enthralled with the dynamics.

This is a book I would recommend to my family and friends if they needed something light and fun.

Bells Walker’s life has just been turned upside down. Her husband didn’t make tenure and she’s also discovered she’s one of the rare women who’s IUD has failed. That’s right-she’s pregnant!! If all of that wasn’t enough, her, her husband, & two kids are moving out of the city and into the countryside thanks to her husband Harry’s new job. Bells tries to do something for herself when she begins to write a blog about living in her new town under the pen name The County Duchess. The only problem is “The Duchess” isn’t so nice and dishes all the gossip about her new neighbors. Will Bells regret her decision to do something for herself?

This was such a fun, quick read! And I was surprised by how thought-provoking this one ended up being. I loved the theme about finding yourself and your people & how sometimes we have to step out of our own way to make this discovery! Definitely made me consider the ways I tend to box myself in to certain roles in life. Really enjoyed this one and it gets a solid 🌟🌟🌟🌟

On the same day Bells Walker learns that her IUD has failed and she is pregnant again at age 42, her husband is denied tenure at his Manhattan university. So Bells, Harry, their two adolescent children, and her baby bump move to New York’s Hudson Valley, where Harry has landed a job at Dutchess College in the town of Pigkill.

In many ways I could relate to Bells as a 40-something mom myself (I’m closer to 50, but let’s not split hairs here). This can be a challenging period of life, dealing with moody teenagers, husbands that take you for granted, and job/life balance (or in Bells’ case, lack thereof). You often feel invisible and unappreciated. In Bells' case, there are a few more underlying issues that make her especially crave approval.

While her husband is in farm-to-table heaven and her kids slowly warm up to their new home, Bells quickly gets bored. Unable to find a part-time writing job and not feeling any connections to the other moms in the community, she turns to the blogosphere. Under the pen name the County Dutchess, she anonymously dishes about life in Pigkill, detailing the activities of hypercompetitive parents and kombucha-drinking hipsters for hire. Suddenly, Bells has a place to say all the things she’s been secretly thinking.

This is where things go a little off the rails. As Bells’ readership continues to grow, she takes more and more risks in dishing about her new neighbors, to the point where she puts Harry’s new job in jeopardy, derails her children’s lives, and risks the one real friendship she’s built. Even though Bells’ history and past relationships explain her behavior a bit, I found it hard to believe that she would be that reckless with her family’s own security.

Overall, this was an entertaining and fast read. If you enjoy tales of moms behaving badly with lots of scandalous gossip and “oh no she didn’t” moments sprinkled in, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an e-galley of The Truth and Other Hidden Things.

Friends this book was laugh out loud funny. A mom in her mid-forties suddenly has her life turned upside down when her husband does not get tenure at his NYC university, he announces their move to upstate New York and her IUD fails. Bells is at her wits end with two teenagers and a new baby on the way. To top it off, the moms in Pigkill are...opinionated to say the least. As Bells tries to navigate life outside NYC, a house that is crumbling around them and the invasion of millennial hippies, she decides to start a blog the County Duchess. As she dishes on the hot gossip around, anonymously of course, she uncovers that not everything in Duchess County is picture perfect.

Lea Geller hit the nail on the head with Bells' story. It was humorous and relatable - who doesn't wonder why CBD is in everything and flights of *insert food here* are now standard. A perfect beach read!

I both loved and slightly despised Bells throughout this book but that's how I think it's meant to be. After finding out that her life is not as peachy as she'd planned by her 40's, Bells is faced with a new baby, a new town, and a whole new group of people to try and understand. Bells decides the best way to process this new life is a blog - who hasn't been there? Unfortunately, Bells blog becomes so much more than just that. Local gossip and secrets spread rapidly thanks to Bells new blog and shockingly no one knows it's her.... for now.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining, witty and 3.5 star read for me!
Bells is in her early 40’s when she receives two big surprises: she’s pregnant with her third child and she and her family have to move out of NYC for her husband’s job in academia. She’s spent her whole life in the city, living in apartments, and all of a sudden, moves to a house with a lot of problems in upstate NY. But the house isn’t the only problem. Bells is faced with the challenging situation of having to establish new friendships and networks...and along the way, learns that the high school mean girls have grown up into mean and competitive women. Bells turns to her writing to compensate...and begins writing an anonymous blog that opens the eyes of many readers and shakes things up, including the lives of her husband and two children.
Ms. Geller is a very entertaining writer and there were many laugh out loud moments, including this observation when Bells and her family first arrive to their new community of Pigkill: “Although I saw trees, trees, and then more trees, I didn’t see an actual farmer - just a couple of man buns, some tattoos, and a sea of yoga pants.”
Some serious issues are raised and tackled on a surface level, but overall, The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a fun read. Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to briefly escape to Pigkill in exchange fir an honest review.

The Truth and Other Hidden Things: A Novel by Lea Geller is a funny and emotional story that every mom should read. I say this mostly because I read the book the month after I gave birth and it resonated with me on such a deep level, but you don't have to be a mom to enjoy this book! If you've ever felt invisible in your own life, I think you'd find this to be right up your alley.

I have to admit, I devoured this book back in October when I first received an ARC. The struggles of the main character feel realistic and valid in todays internet-driven society. Geller's writing captured me from the first chapter and I had to keep furiously turning pages to see what happened next.

This book gets major kudos for mental health rep. Though portrayed in a hopeful light, this could be potentially triggering for those with depression, PPD, anxiety, and those who have experienced internet bullying.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis: When life takes a few unexpected turns Bells is left trying to figure out how to change her Manhattan life to one in uptown New York. Bells continues her writing to uncover what is really happening uptown by using a pen name so no one knows that it is her. Will she be found out of what she did? If she does get caught will her family and friends forgiver her for airing all of their dirty laundry?

Thought: As someone who used to be a live on professional I really enjoyed connecting with the author and what she was going through. When you have a job that also chooses where you live and your living conditions that has a huge effect on your life. From the outside looking in everyone just sees easy rent and none of the hassle. But really you are living where you are told without much control. I really enjoyed this book and her using a platform to vent. While it wasn't always the best sometimes I wonder if we would all benefit from getting to really air our thoughts and not have to hold in so many of our feelings. Society makes it to where we feel like we can't say what we really want or should act a certain way around different types of people. This book was funny, real and discussed how one's life and their choices can be molded by what others around them think. I recommend this book for anyone looking for some real life experiences on small town drama and family life.

How often do you check the numbers on your Instagram/ Facebook account?
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I confess to being way too concerned about the number of followers, likes, etc. that is have, especially lately as my number of followers seems to either stay stagnant or decrease daily. It is just frustrating even though I know it really has nothing to do with my value as a person.
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Unfortunately, Bells, the protagonist in Truth and Other Hidden Things by Lea Geller, does feel like the comments and likes on her blog post are the only thing that keep her from being completely invisible.Having found out on the same day that her IUD failed and that her husband was turned down for tenure at the university where he taught, she is grasping at chances to control her life and be heard. A move out of NYC and into upper New York provides a chance to reinvent herself as an anonymous columnist, the County Duchess, who’s most popular posts are the ones where she puts aside observations of kombucha drinking hipsters and county fairs to dish out the juiciest gossip about her new neighbors.
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Her husband is thriving at his new post at Duchess College. Her son is about to graduate high school and leave her, and her daughter is fully focused on school plays and new friendships. No one seems to care about what she has to say except for the readers who have found her blog. She gets wrapped up in being the mysterious Duchess with a trending hashtag and can’t see stopping, no matter the consequences.
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Her blog had a great Lady Whistledown (from Bridgerton) feel to it and I thought that was a lot of fun. The book was a great treat to read! I really enjoyed it!

Loved this one! So fun and love the 40-something protagonist whose IUD fails as some major life changes are happening. It's got a fun city vs country storyline and makes fun of all the changes in the small towns that have been overrun by city people moving the smaller towns for schools and space but want their kombucha bars and their overpriced avocado toasts. It is set in NY but it could easily be any major city where there has been any exodus. It's so funny probably because it's very real! And Bells gets herself into a pickle and I swear, my heart was racing and I was having anxiety as it was building up. I was almost relieved when things came to a head!!! So fun and would be an amazing vacation read or beach read - funny, smart and relatable!

I loved this book, with its laugh out loud moments, as well as heartfelt bits. Bells is facing challenges in her forty third year, as her husband Harry does not get tenure at his prestigious college, they lose their Upper West Side apartment, cramped as it is, her IUD fails, and she is raising her two adolescent children. Forced to leave Manhattan for Dutchess County, the family moves and must adjust to those who fled the city post 9/11, who also resent the current group fleeing Brooklyn, with their kombucha, man buns, and hipster ways. How will newly pregnant Bells fit in with these super Moms, pushing their kids to succeed, while she is content to accept her kids as they are, without the disappointments she feels from her own mother. The characters are relatable and the story line is appealing, I highly recommend and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

Bells Walker lives in New York City with her family. When her husband doesn't make tenure at the university they have to move upstate to a town called Pigkill in Dutchess County. Not only that, but Bells is pregnant in her forties after her IUD failed.
The house is rickety, the children hate the new area and schools but her husband Harry has fully embraced their new lifestyle and has been suckered into a life of glass jars, farm produce and hemp. Bells is completely unsatisfied with her life. She's unable to get another writing job, the other mums are bitchy overachievers, she feels fat and frumpy and her kids hate her. She decides to start an anonymous blog to vent about all the fakeness and overpriced hype living in an area overrun with hipsters. It starts off as a funny, slightly botch viewpoint, but as it gains more traffic Bells finds herself getting addicted to all the success it is generating. Her posts become more and more acidic and more personal. She runs the risk of jeopardising her children's school life and even her husbands career. She won't be able to stay anonymous forever. Can she handle the inevitable fallout?

This is a really funny insight to the crazy world of clean living, artisan candles, vegan food fairs, hemp, CBD and all the latest trends that are seemingly taking over at a vastly overpriced rate. Bells really doesn't fit into this lifestyle at all but at the same time, she makes zero effort.
I enjoyed the change in Bells' character towards the end. She spends most of her time moaning about the way she looks, about what people think of her and about the sacrifices she's made. But then I remember how hormonal and insecure I felt while pregnant so can completely forgive her for that. One thing I really didn't like was her best friends use of the phrase 'hells Bells'. It was funny the first time, then just gets tedious.

This is full of laughs but with the overhanging sense of doom. You know its going to end badly and with a huge confrontation. The suspense was great. With every new post you kept thinking, oh no! Please stop now before it's too late! So I thought that was really well written and thought out. I'll definitely be recommending to friends and family.

This was a fun, catty read. Bells, evicted from New York and stuck in Dutchess County, takes out her pregnancy emotions on the other urban transplants in an anonymous column for her old newspaper. The characters and caricatures throughout the book were entertaining. I think everyone can think of someone they know that fits most of the ones presented in the book. Two things bothered me throughout reading this book. I couldn't figure out how she wasn't exposed sooner and how she didn't really consider the seriousness of the potential fallout from being exposed. But if you can ignore the pending doom, it is a fun and silly read about late in life pregnancy, parenthood, and the humor of looking at the strangeness of life. I tried to ignore my worries and sit back and enjoy the book. I was about 75% successful. I'll take that as a win!

Bells Walker is 3 months shy of 43yo, has 2 teenagers, and is planning a future that comes with her husband getting tenure at his university. The day she finds out that her IUD has failed, is the same day that her husband learns he isn’t given tenure. Talk about life changing!

Harry finds another teaching position upstate in Dutchess County, thus moving the family out of New York City. Bells is pregnant in her 40s and has no real career of her own. She desires nothing more than to be a respected author by her audience, her mother in law, and her mother. Bells feels isolated and forgotten living in Pigkill, and she feels that the constantly judged by the other mothers in the community. Enter the County Dutchess and her blog to dish the bits of salacious gossip about the mom’s in Pigkill and surrounding Hudson Valley towns.

As a mother the same age (but thankfully not pregnant) with the similarly aged children, I found Bells to be a relatable character. Many things that Bells did or wrote made me cringe, but the humor in Lea Geller’s writing topped the cake! The overall message of community and family were key in this book. The characters in this book and the drama were entertaining and kept me engaged throughout.

4 stars for this fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bells is a hugely relatable narrator, even for someone who doesn't have have children and who has so little desire to have them that they convinced their gynaecologist to tie their tubes while they're still in their 20's.

That's not to say I always liked Bells. Her internal narrative was at times hard to read because of how petty or vindictive she could be, or because of how her dysphoria and low self confidence has reminded me of similar times in my past. But its exactly that push-pull of likeable and unlikeable that makes her so real and believable.

As someone who was a Sam/Alice growing up (that is to say far more artistic than academic and with undiagnosed ADHD) The Truth and Other Hidden Things made me appreciate my own Mom and all that she did for me as I navigated middle school and high school that much more.

I knew as soon as I read a friend’s review of this book that it would be the perfect spring break read and I was right! I lounged poolside and couldn’t get enough of the drama Bells was stirring up. I think most moms can relate to her feeling of being “unseen” and with that unappreciated. Fears of not living up to our potential beyond our role as mom are real and common and I think Lea Geller captured those feelings perfectly without allowing the book ti get heavy in any way. The story was fun and engaging, especially the depiction of life in Hudson Valley. I would definitely recommend this book to my mom friends looking for a fun read.

Wow. Lea Geller put on paper how I feel about motherhood. The stress to fit in, trying to fit in with the parents who seem to have it all together, trying to parent in a sea of parents who are young enough to be your kid. To paraphrase a line from the book... she sees us. I’ve been Bells. Maybe not the blogging about my town gossip— but I’ve been the mom worried she is not doing enough, never good enough for her mom and mother in law, feeling like an outcast in her own skin. This book spoke to me- made me laugh, made me cry, and made me proud of what I have become. This is a definite must read for any mom who just wants to be seen.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC to facilitate my unbiased review.

This is a witty, fun and cute book. A good light read, but one that ultimately did not go quite as deep as I wanted.

Bells learns her husband has not gotten tenure at roughly the same time she learns she is pregnant at forty-two, despite her IUD and two older children. She ends up moving to Dutchess County in upstate New York, where her dream of writing takes on a somewhat catty form of a gossip column in the free paper dishing dirt on local moms. Meanwhile, her much more serious husband is trying for tenure at his new school. All this leaves Bells feeling dissatisfied and unseen, which comes out in her increasingly catty anonymous column about her peers in the community.

I thought the writing was zippy and cute, and Bells’ family was very relatable. The one weak link was her husband, who somehow I never really found quite too likable. I did not like his general failure to appreciate her goals and dreams in life in favor of his own. His propensity to take Bells for granted never really felt like it got fully resolved, and I didn’t see enough of what she loved about him.

Overall, I would have liked for the author to show us more vulnerability in Bells as the book went along, and get into maybe a little more depth about how unhappy/unfulfilled she actually was before the end. The book wraps up into a somewhat tidy package but I didn’t feel like we really got the emotional depth and self-realization throughout that I was hoping for from Bells. What are the reasons Bells was compelled to write this ultimately somewhat nasty column? The author explains them at the end but does not really show the sadness to us in Bells’ daily life before that point.

Nonetheless, this was a clever and fun light read that will likely please many people, especially those frustrated with the overachieving, privileged moms and norms in their community. Bells is a likable heroine with a distinctive voice, and so is the author herself.

3.5 stars, and I’d read this author again in hopes she would go a little farther and deeper with her interesting ideas next time.

Thanks to Lake Union, NetGalley and the author for the ARC!