Long time NYC gal, Bells Walker, her husband, and their two teens need to suddenly move to upstate for her husband’s job. On top of that, Bells realizes she expecting a very (VERY) unplanned baby. The adjustment pains are real, and when Bells starts a blog to help her deal with the crazy new hipster town, things don’t go quite the way she had planned. I was a bit disappointed by this book and found there were a few missed opportunities to make Bells a little nicer and her predicament a little more understandable. It wasn’t a bad book, but won’t make my favorites list for the year.

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really i feeding and entertaining glimpse into midlife and all its surprises. Somewhat stereotypical in mother in law, husband, and mom clique characters but overall a fun read.

TTaOHT by Lea Geller, published by Lake Union Publishing, is a highly entertaining, can't put it down read. The writing is fantastic, makes it want to read in one sitting.
Elsbeth Walker is a 42 married mother of two who just had to move more rural than NY.
Add in a sweet surprise, judging mombots, you get the picture. What does she do???? She goes right for the jugular in a highly entertaining, witty and fun read, a storyline that gave me all the feels, let me easily connect with the characters. A great 5 star read.

Bells Walker learns she is pregnant the day her Husbands tenure is declined at his university. So, pregnant and with teenagers, they pack up and move from Manhattan to Pigkill, Hudson Valley.
After not being able to find a job Bells starts blogging, anonymously dishing the dirt of Pigkill and it’s residents.
The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a great read. It’s a perfect spotlight on life with teenagers, life with new babies and moving to a new area. It’s is well written with really likeable characters. Bells mother and mother-in-law have to be my favourites.
I love the humour. I love the poignant moments. And I really love the scandal Bells uncovered.
It is a nice, easy read that will leave you smiling at the end.

Díd it ever happen to you to read a book and to like it so much that even the acknowledgement was an interesting read? Well, in this case it happened to me.
Bell's is a forty something woman living in New York, who finds out almost at the same time that her IUD failed and that her husband lost the opportunity to get tenure, a professional goal he'd considered almost achieved. Even after all these shocks, she tries to be a good sport supporting her husband Harry's new opportunity, and moves her family up the Hudson valley to face an entirely new experience. Did I mention Bells was a blog's writer? Among many things, she was. And somehow upon arrival to the new destination, her muse gets hit with deep inspiration. So deep that she forgets to avoid elemental risks while enjoying her ride while accommodating to the new community and baking at impossible hours in her new unattached kitchen.
I liked this book very much. I suspect it was because I felt absolutely identified with Bells. She's sort of an introvert who tends to be observant about all around her. I found interesting the way the author guided Bell's character grow through the pages and managed her anxiety while she finds herself trapped in the middle of letting go her older offspring and nesting for the upcoming new member of the family.
The narrative hits high standards, and it's full of witty sparks. The characters are very well developed and absolutely lovable. Add a good plot and voila, a great story is up and alive!
It's my first book from this author and I hope it will not be the last
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A couple of years ago, Lea Geller burst onto the scene with her debut, Trophy Life. I loved it, so I was thrilled to see she has a new novel publishing soon and I got my hands on an advanced copy right away. Then I proceeded to devour it as soon as I picked it up.

I enjoyed The Truth and Other Hidden Things even more than Trophy Life. I could easily relate to Bells, aside from the pregnancy part (not to jinx anything though). When my family and I first moved out east, we lived in a town where I felt completely out of my element. I'm also a blogger, but I'm not snarky about people in my community. (I stick to blogging about books and pop culture, for the most part.) I get why Bells fed off the notoriety though, even if she was staying anonymous. I can also relate about raising teenagers/preteens, feeling inadequate, being (currently) unemployed, etc.

I liked all the elements of this story and how they fit together. The humor was spot on, even if it wasn't my type of humor. It was more subtle, but it worked for this story. I'm already chomping at the bit for whatever Lea comes up with next. She's definitely become a go-to author for me.

Movie casting ideas:
Bells: Lauren Ambrose
Harry: Ben Feldman
Sam: Grayson Maxwell Gurnsey
Alice: Mariel Sheets
Vivian: Christine Baranski
Cynthia: Monet Mazur
Joey: Maya Hawke
Suki: Jennifer Spence
Hanna: Karen Allen

When Bells Walker find herself unexpectedly pregnant at 42 and forced to move, she takes some pretty drastic actions. She starts a column about all the people in her new town and makes things tense for everyone. The voice of Bells, the MC is amusing and made it an easy read. In the beginning I found myself cracking up at Bells and some of the situations she found herself in at certain points. I loved her kids and the attitude and jokes they provided. Her family was well written and helped flesh out and balance the story.

Issues

The story itself was funny and I thought her column would be as well, but it wasn’t. I found myself cringing at everything she wrote.
I wasn’t a fan of the technique of hinting that something was about to go down because we all knew it would. The ending was underwhelming and didn’t reflect the necessary growth for a character that struggled throughout the book.

Overall the book was entertaining and well written with only minor issues so I would suggest reading it.

3 and 1/2 stars

Bells Walker is 42 years old, married, and mother of two teenage children.
On the day that her husband Harry finds out that he has been denied tenure at the Manhattan university he works at, Bells finds out that she is pregnant after her IUD fails to work.
The news comes as a shock, and the couple decide to make the move to Hudson Valley in NY, after Harry is offered a job at Dutchess College.
The move isn't an easy one; the home they move into is old and requires a lot of repairs, and the kids aren't keen on leaving their friends and social lives behind.
Bells, a former writer for a local newspaper, decides to start an anonymous blog under the name 'County Dutchess', and dishes the dirt on all of the local happenings. Bells struggles to make friends in the town, but she is fueled by the followers that her blog is gaining, and she feels that she can finally voice all that she has wanted to, but at what cost? She doesn't tell Harry about the blog, and it isn't long before things start to spiral out of control.
Once her identity is discovered, there are dire consequences for the whole family.
I thought that this was a pretty entertaining story, but it was a little predictable in parts. It was pretty witty, and an easy read.

There are many things I am not - and one of them is witty. So when another author writes with an abundance of that particular talent, it is a treat. In Truth and Other Hidden Things, Geller taps into the feeling of invisibility that many suburban moms (and, I suspect, moms everywhere) feel as the eke out any chances to be seen. The protagonist in this story - who has shades of being the antagonist - does just that, leaving the reader to cheer her on and be appalled at the same time. This is a story of mothers, friendship, and community, and I think all readers will find something in which to identify.

The Truth and Other Hidden Things by Lea Geller was FANTASTIC! Bells is a mom living in New York City with her two kids and professor husband. When her husband doesn't get tenure their whole world turns upside down and they decamp to the Hudson Valley for his new job with a stowaway unplanned baby bump in tow. To cope, Bells begins writing a snarky blog that has readers in stitches, but the local moms on the hunt for the mystery blogger. Pick up the book to see how this story plays out for Bells.

I loved how fun and lighthearted this book was. It was perfect for reading while on my lunch break and made me completely forget about work while laughing. While I didn't expect too much depth this book made me think about society, what I value and what I would do if I were Bells. Pick this one up and you won't be disappointed!

As a childless 28 year old, this book has provided me with more empathy to older mothers than anything I've read before.

I normally roll my eyes at those books that complain about 'mom-life' with the outlook that you chose to have the kids in the first place. But I found myself compelled by the desire of Bells to cling on to her OWN identify. It was funny, moving and although predictable, I came away with more than just a good read.

The only negative thing I would have to say about this book is that, I have no idea what tenure is, I googled it to try and understand and I still don't think I'm completely sure! It definitely took a while for me get into the book due to this aspect not really being explained - I think UK readers would need a little more clarity!

I also cannot believe for the life of me that housing is provided to staff (I mean I know this happens in the US) but as a teacher myself it completely baffles me!

As someone who has moved from a big city to a small town, I enjoyed the premise of this book.

It's a fun, relatively easy read that follows Bells journey from city life to upstate and the creation of a salacious blog that dishes the dirt.

I romped through this book in two evenings and honestly it was better than watching more mind numbling stuff on Netflix.

Without adding any spoilers, I felt like the book ended too quickly and would have liked more exploration into the consequences of actions.

A wonderful read a book women will relate to.It was a book that had me laughing at times and at other asking Bell the main character what were you thinking,So well written so much fun will be recommending.#netgalley #lakeunionpublishing

Happily married with two average student children, Bells Walker’s life goes off the rails in a single day. Her husband, Harry, doesn’t get tenure at a Manhattan university which means they are not only losing their source of income, but also losing their faculty housing. To top that unsettling news, she discovers that her IUD failed and she is pregnant at the “advanced maternal age” of 43. Harry finds a new position at a second tier university in upstate New York and, despite his enthusiasm, the rest of the family reluctantly relocates to the Hudson Valley town of – are you ready for this – Pigkill.

One of Bells’ sacrifices in this move is her unpaid job as a writer for a free (meaning obscure) newspaper. Despite having a dormant law degree, her passion is to be a writer. After being rejected by the editor of the new local newspaper, she begins an anonymous blog highlighting her new neighbors with their mean-spirited, even scandalous, behavior. The blog provides a much needed outlet for her frustration, all the while recognizing that it could jeopardize her husband’s tenuous position at his new institution since her targets happen to be faculty wives. Bells keeps her newly found creative outlet a secret. In the beginning she rationalizes that it is because she is on probation with her sponsoring online newspaper, but once the blog attracts attention she doesn’t want to risk shutting it down and losing the thrill of her success. When at last her identity is revealed the consequences are grave for Bells as well as Harry and her two children.

This book is full of satirical wit as Bells reveals the truth behind the façade of the local women, mostly refugees from New York City. The idyllic small town atmosphere is full of surprise revelations that perhaps aren’t so surprising after all, but make for great gossip. Bells learns an important lesson in humility, seeing that people are not one dimensional and that good exists alongside human frailty.

I enjoyed the storyline and felt that the character development was detailed enough to give a solid understanding of Bells, her husband, the children and her extended family. I could empathize with Bells’ need for recognition beyond her domestic duties and how it lead her into troubled waters. My only criticism is that the conflict resolution ended not only too quickly to be realistic, but also left unanswered questions concerning the scandals that were uncovered.

My thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Bells Walker’s life plan all falls apart in a singe day. On that day not only does her husband not make tenure, meaning he is losing not only his job but also their housing, but she finds out that her IUD failed and she is now pregnant again in her 40s. Her family ends up moving from the city to upstate New York and it is not for Bells. Ultimately she begins writing an anonymous blog sharing all of the gossip on her new town and her neighbors. With new scandals being uncovered her blog is getting more and more popular. The question is, how long can she stay anonymous or will this all blow up?

This book had a slower start but then as the drama picked up I was completely sucked in. This book gave me total gossip girl vibes and I loved that. I do wish the ending was a little more flushed out - I felt it ended very quickly and would have liked to hear more about the impacts on all of the characters and what happened with some of the scandals. Other than that I really enjoyed this book. Bells blog posts had me laughing out loud at times, and even though I don’t have kids I could totally picture the moms she was talking about. If you are looking for a fun read, this is a great one to check out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on April 6, 2021.

I love the premise of this book - turning to undercover blogging to fill a void. The story was so well-written and I loved the dimensions to the different characters.

"Hells Bells!" - never was there a truer statement! This book was a riot to read from start to finish. I LOVED how Bells was so relatable. Being a 43 year old woman myself - all kids in college (Thank the Good Lord🙏🏻❤️ Above) - and in the process of changing out my birth control this month (sorry if TMI) - I swear I stopped reading and checked the author's name to see if I was related to her somehow because it was as if she was reading my every fear during this "cautious" and "precarious" time of my life. 😳 I sooooo don't want a newborn when my youngest is now 20 years old! But Bells didn't have a choice - her baby was already "baking" when the book started and I loved every word written about Bells and her life - pregnant and otherwise. 🤩 This novel was expertly written and kept me interested with all of her adventures 🤣 and mishaps 😒while she was navigating this crazy journey called life...plus doing it while pregnant, moving, and with teenagers. That woman deserved a medal for all she went through. I laughed, cried, worried, and sighed happily right alongside Bells and Lea Geller with this magnificently written book. Please make sure to add it to your TBR list...it's a doozy you don't want to miss! ☺️👍🏼

Ok, I'm a bit at odds about this book. It started out very promising and interesting, but honestly, as the book went on I liked Bells less and less. I love me a flawed character and but omg she was annoying, immature, and selfish most of the book. by about 65% through the book I really didn't have much interest in what happened to her or the other characters in the story.

I first became familiar with author Lea Geller when I read her 2019 novel, Trophy Life. It was such a fun and entertaining read that had a lot more depth than I initially expected. I loved how her writing covered motherhood, friendship, disappointment, self-discovery, and finding your own path in life and I couldn't wait to read what Geller came out with next.

When I saw that Geller was published another novel in 2021 I couldn't wait to read a copy! The Truth and Other Hidden Things ended up being a total gem of a novel. It isn't often that a book has me laughing aloud, and this one definitely did. Geller is gifted at writing narratives that are relatable with the perfect amount of humor and substance.

On the same day, Bells, the main character finds out that her husband wasn't given his long-awaited tenure, she also finds out she's pregnant. Needless to say, her tween and teenager aren't thrilled.

As her family is forced to move out of the city, Bells is thrown into a group of women she doesn't feel she fits in to, and turns to anonymous blogging, turning her feelings about her new hometown viral. I loved the humor, the writing, and the underlying messages of this unique and fun read.

I cannot wait to share more about this book closer to its publication date. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a gifted advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book! Grouchy teen children, a backdrop of stuffy academia and juicy small town gossip galore. The catty in-fighting added just enough of a hint of Real Housewives without being too surface level. Thanks NetGalley!