“because in the heart of the mess was sometimes where goodness lay”

What a fun read! Four college friends get together for a weekend away after not seeing each other for a couple of years. The story is told from all 4 points of view, past and present. The characters are well developed, likable and flawed. Secrets are revealed and harsh words are spoken. Can these women who have changed so much since college remain friends?


Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Emily Cavanagh for this ARC.

This novel is about four college friends getting together for a weekend. It has been twenty years since they left Harper. Each has secrets they are hiding. The first few chapters gave us some back story. Sometimes too much and sometimes too little background. I kept waiting for it to hit the gas and get good. Well it did and when that happened I could not put my tablet down. I don't want to post any spoilers so I will just say don't give up, it is worth it in the end!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my voluntary review. All opinions are my own and freely given.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it's a story of 4 old friends each with secrets who meet up for a weekend. I found it absorbing and a realistic account of how friendships change as you get older and have different priorities.
This is a compelling read as the lives of the characters unravel. The author is an excellent storyteller and I just couldn't put this book down. A hugely enjoyable read and I can highly recommend it.

Her Guilty Secret by Emily Cavanagh is a story about the friendships that last the test of time back from the good old schooldays. The type that back in school you all looked after each other and you told them everything, good and bad and you still didn't falter. As the years roll by everyone matures, marries and you have children, you don't get together as you did back then...the contact is minimal but best friends don't need to be on each others backs, do they?
Elise, Libby, Ada and Ivy all met while at University and a friendship developed that has stood the test of time, or has it? A girlie weekend at Elise's holiday home for them all to get together and spend some time reminiscing together about what they did in the past and how they are doing now, turns into something unexpected when a game of truth or dare begins. When the secrets begin to be told how far does friendship go, and will it survive the weekend?
A tale of friendship, loyalty and second chances. Set in a lovely summer home in Cape Cod, where maybe, appearance isn't everything ,and facing your issues and dealing with them is more important. A story that captivated me, with the setting and the dynamics between the friends. We get to see things such as status updates or texts between them all at the beginning of every chapter. This shows us how people hide things and live a 'perfect life' online and in reality it is totally different. I enjoyed this little touch. It gave a feeling of realism to the book as well. An immersive story with a twist that I thought was well written and would easily recommend.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the copy of the book.

Four 40ish college friends gather for a weekend at Cape Cod. All of them carry secrets, some large, some small. None of their lives are exactly as they appear. At first Elise, Ivy, Ada, and Libby all present their happy sides but as the weekend progresses truths are revealed. With the help of their old friends and some uncomfortable discussions, each woman is able to take steps towards a new path. They leave with a renewed sense of closeness.. This is my first read by Emily Cavanagh but I will certainly seek out some of her other books. It was a totally enjoyable read.

We all know that reality is always different from what we may post on social media and this story will unfold so many secrets and untold truths about a friendship that lives over the years.
Three women kept in touch but never really made time to met in person after they graduated and now , years after and each one with their own experiences of life, they get to spend a few days together in a getaway holiday.
A truth or dare game is on and that will change each other’s perspective and beliefs on how the others succeed in their lives and all the dirty secrets are unveiled.
A story about friendship, life and mistakes as well as trust and deceits.
A page turner that many readers will enjoy.

Spark of Vitality that keeps you wanting to turn the pages! A Five Star read!
Friends from college who come from different walks of life have always been good friends even after graduation, so they believe. Elise is the go-getter and planner and decides to have a reunion of the group, which consists of Ivy, Ada, and Libby. They all have secrets and issues, but they haven’t shared them with each other.
The author invites us to look into the characters lives and relationships and we wonder if we can relate or know someone who can or has. The author develops the storyline with such flair that every distinctive trait and personality with twists and turns makes this book so UNPUTDOWNABLE!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

“Good friends. Good mothers. Good liars.” A girls getaway weekend where a game of truth or dare is played and lies are shared? Oh, I knew I was going to love this book!

Comfortable, familiar, likable, realistic and relatable characters. I started a new book right after this one like I usually do, but I just couldn’t get into it. I missed the characters and story from this novel too much and wanted more of those instead!

It wasn’t just that it was easy to read, it lured you in with fantastic characters and brilliant writing. I devoured every word and couldn’t get enough.

Great book, definitely read this one!

Publication Day – Feb 12th 2021

#netgalley #herguiltysecret #bookouture #blogtour @bookouture

This is a new to me author and I enjoyed her book very much.

It's not a psychological thriller but it packs a punch for what it is. It's about the ups and downs of friendships and the secrets and betrayal that come along with that.

It kept my attention from start to finish and will read more from this author.

This wonderful story tells us about four old college friends, who keep in touch, but don’t get to meet up very often, and now they’re all meeting up for a weekend away in Cape Cod.

Each of them has something that they’re dealing with under the veneer of the perfection of their social media posts. We meet them all separately, getting a glimpse into their everyday lives, then they all converge and are together again. Like all the best laid plans, there are some problems and issues, and someone is keeping a long held secret.

We find out more about their college lives, and what happened to them all, and how they got to where they ae now. The status updates, and text messages at the start of each chapter add a real sense of authenticity to the book, as well as showing us that the real story doesn’t always match what’s posted online.

I found myself totally immersed in the story, and captivated by both the setting, and the insight into their stories. The friendships and dynamics between them felt so real, and it’s a real page-turner of a read. I was sorry when it all came to an end, I was enjoying it so much.

Just brilliant. I loved this book. What an absorbing, enthralling tale! Addictive, fast paced, packed with twists, this one had me absolutely transfixed. I did not want it to end even as I was frantically turning the pages. A thoroughly great read.

Thoroughly enjoyed this gentle paced friends emotional drama it is a different genre than I normally read and made a pleasant change.

Elise, Libby, ivy and Ada met at university a deep friendship followed that’s continued into their later lives. Elise arranges a weekend at her holiday home for the group of friends to reunite and catch up. The weekend doesn’t go to plan and tensions and secrets surface that make them question are they really as good friends as they thought.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 old friends get together for a weekend, each has a secret, but as the weekend goes on they realise how much they have all changed, but also how much they need each other, not my usual genre but it was a nice easy read

Brilliant book. Lovely story dealing the friendship of 4 girls which started over 20 years ago. It deals eith their lives up until now. The spend weekend together which does not go according to plan. A story of friendship,lies and betrayal. You really feelmthwt you are with them for the weekend.

This book was a fun and quick read. I love reunion books and these friends, who all met in college, were an interesting group. I'd love to see a followup to this, maybe another reunion in another location to see how each separate situation played out.

Four friends have planned a getaway weekend on Cape Cod. Ivy, Elise, Libby and Ada have been friends since they met in college twenty years ago. They have kept touch by phone calls and occasional visits but all are looking forward to reconnecting on this long weekend.

That doesn’t happen right away. The four women show as much of themselves as they want to be seen. Elise, married to a corporate lawyer and mother to three children, is the wealthiest and the super organizer of the group. It is at her luxurious Cape Cod vacation home where the reunion takes place. Ada, now on maternity leave, has a supportive, loving husband and is an attentive mother to a nine month old son, born when she was forty. Libby is a widow, trying to balance a return to a social life with the needs of her young daughters. Ivy is a free spirit. She’s married to an artist, has two teenage children, and is an aspiring jewelry designer. On the surface, all these things are true. It is what’s hidden under the surface that drives the plot of Her Guilty Secret.

At the conclusion, there are no more secrets. The women have learned that communication and truth have only made their relationships with each other and with their own families stronger. Problems may not be neatly solved but the future looks brighter to them all. This is an enjoyable, emotional read about a long friendship. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Emily Cavanagh for this ARC.

4 stars
Her Guilty Secret
Emily Cavanagh

Her Guilty Secret is told from the perspective of four friends coming together after 20 years for a long weekend of catching up. The book takes a bit to get into due to the varying voices, but once it gets going, this book is so good. The characters are fleshed out and real as everyone knows at least one of these women in real life.
The ending is a little expected. However, this is an incredible book that would make for a fabulous book club book. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

What happens to your friendships 20 years later? After marriages, kids, work, real life?
Four college friends get together for a long weekend. A vacation from their lives to reconnect.
Elise - mother of three, stay at mom who does it all and has it all. She kept a secret from her husband- he found out. Is her marriage over?
Ivy - mother of two, living in San Francisco and falling hard into debt. A friend recommended becoming an escort - has Ivy hit bottom?
Libby - widowed single mother of two, school counselor. Her family was shattered at the sudden death her husband. Will they ever move on?
Libby - mother to a nine month old boy, struggling with all of it. Will she ever feel like a person again?
Many women can relate to all of these scenarios. And the reality that our friendships stop and start.

I really enjoyed Her Guilty Secret. It told the story of old friends who meet up for a reunion weekend where their friendships are tested as secrets start to emerge. I found the characters all likeable and enjoyed reading about their lives.
I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

I enjoy reading books about female friendships and so when I saw this book available on NetGalley it was a no brainier for me to request it.
Her guilty secret is about four friends who agree to meet up at one of the characters summerhouse for a girlie break and catch up.
As all four ladies get together and start drinking and sharing stories through rose tinted glasses about each of their perfect lives they play a game of truth or dare.....
It explores female friendships and questions whether childhood friendships can stand the test of time now that they have grown up and lived their own lives and not seen each other for a couple of years.
Ultimately adult life can get in the way of friendships as everyone has busy lives and this book makes you think about how it’s important that you shouldn’t take friendships for granted and if they can stand the test of time.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.