Avril’s mother drowned 12 years ago, off the coast of Connecticut, and was ruled an accident. But Avril doesn’t believe that, but rather the legends that surround Whisper Cove. While she doesn’t believe in ghosts, she’s spent the last 12 years trying to piece together what really happened. As she becomes more involved the more secrets that should stay buried come to light.

I really liked the storyline and characters that Ginny wrote. I loved the atmosphere of the creepy cove and the fog that settles there. I love fog, in of itself, because it makes for such a somber yet spooky feeling. I liked the complexity of they story itself as it builds and develops. The mystery and thriller behind the story had me engulfed. Ginny just has a natural way of somehow getting under your skin, but not in a super creepy way.

SECRETS SO DEEP starts off a little slow and took me a minute to get into, but by the end of it it had my heart racing. One thing I loved about Sain's previous book, DARK AND SHALLOW LIES, was the how the author was able to create such a unique atmosphere for the book and its setting. Reading SECRETS SO DEEP took me back to acting classes and summer camp and it just had this encompassing quality to it. I love the spooky feeling of Whisper Cove Theater, and all of the secrets and lies of the past and present meld quite nicely together to give this book a paranormal edge to it. As Avril learns more and more about the mother she never knew and herself, I got more invested in the overarching mystery surrounding her death. Ghosts of the past haunt the present and the true monsters are not the ones you expect. SECRETS SO DEEP with all of its twists keeps you guessing until the conclusion. I also love how Sain embraces the found family trope in this one, especially with Avril and her friends. So overall, I thought SOD was a solid mystery from Sain and still cements me as a fan of hers.

This atmospheric novel was took me places. This was like a fever dream and I loved it.

Avril is spending the summer at Whisper Cove theater, the place her mother died years ago. She is there to participate in theater and learn from the greats, but to also find some answers. The death was ruled an accident but Avril needs to know more.

She makes some new friends in the other attendees and is pulled into the magical orbit of the theater owner, Willa, her later mother’s best friend. Feeling an incredibly strong pull to Whisper Cove and the strangeness that surrounds the place, Avril and Willa’s son Cole spend time trying to uncover the secrets of her mother’s death.

This was spooky and dreamlike. I had my assumptions of the end pretty early on but it didn’t take anything away from the feeling I felt while reading this book through.

This author does a wonderful job of fully immersing you into the story. It’s all encompassing and such an experience.

Content Warning: drowning, mention of suicide, arson, hallucinations,

Ginny Meyers Sain has such a way with words, and she has the ability to draw you in within the first chapter with her beautiful, atmospheric prose. This is such an atmosphere-driven story, but it has to be to get the full effect of what Avril is living through during her time at acting camp. Avril returns to Whisper Cove where her mother died twelve years prior, to try to figure out what truly happened that night. All she remembers are the stars falling from the sky, a blinding light, a tight grip on her wrist, and the sense of flying. As she get closer to famous playwright, Willa Culver, and her mysterious son Cole, Avril learns that what the sea wants, the sea gets and it might just be after her.

The characters were interesting. I liked Avril and Cole’s relationship. They understood each other and helped support each other through their struggles. Their chemistry in the play was also great. Lex and Jude were adorable. I felt like Val was an ok character but she didn’t really serve a purpose to the story. A few of the characters didn’t really have much development throughout the story which was kind of sad since it’s a 400 page book.

The mystery aspect was interesting and it kept me guessing the majority of the time. It was hard to figure out what was happening in real time and what was in Avril’s head though. It made it harder to understand some scenes. I was also able to guess the twists well enough in advance so they weren’t that exciting for me once they were revealed.

I do want to to mention that the ending was very abrupt. I actually dropped .5 of a star rating because of it. It felt very rushed after the final twist and I felt like we didn’t get enough closure. And then the epilogue was just dumb in my opinion. I originally thought I was missing part of the book because of how abruptly it ended but nope. It was all there.

I would recommend this to someone who is new to atmospheric reads and to YA. I did like the majority of the book but I’m also hesitant to recommend it because it feels unfinished. But that’s just my opinion.

I read this immediately after reading this author’s other book Dark and Shallow Lies, and honestly I didn’t realize it was by the same author because the issues I found with the first book were a bit more well disguised in this one. However, many of them were still present. The love interest in both books makes me question whether he is a real character or not. In DSL, it is a bit more difficult to figure out because no one else knows he exists, but though the character in this book is somewhat more tied to reality, he still acts a bit ghostlike. He appears randomly from the fog, roams around the beach in the middle of the night, doesn’t eat, doesn’t sleep, and makes cryptic statements for the entire book. The romance is very instalove, with the characters having always been drawn to each other for some reason that’s never explained. Just because I was friends with someone when I was five doesn’t mean I’ll immediately fall in love with them if we meet as adults. The red herring characters were slightly better than in DSL, which was nice, but there were still way too many of them. Another thing that bothered me throughout was how everything the MC did and everything that happened to her during the acting practice was chalked up to great acting and no real comments were made about the most random things happening. The MC would literally pass out on stage during every other scene because she’s having flashbacks or something, or she’ll burst out sobbing or just have a full blown hallucination during the rehearsal but no one says anything?? She starts sleepwalking and literally finds herself in the ocean on multiple occasions without knowing how she got there and doesn’t tell anyone about it, and is literally seeing things that shouldn’t be there but apparently no one else sees them until suddenly her friends also see them and she finds out that the caretaker can also see them so at that point I’m just confused about the mechanics of this plot point that was used for atmosphere building but never really explained.
Overall it was still a fun read and I didn’t hate it, but it could’ve been better.

Thank you to penguin teen for the e-ARC!

Secrets so Deep is a mystery set at a drama camp - a wonderfully atmospheric setting, perfect for this mystery to unfold. The story centers around Avril, who attends the camp... but it just so happens to be the place where her mother died, which is the real reason she attends. Avril friends herself surrounded by strange occurrences, memories, and ghosts, laying out a paranormal mystery tale that will keep you turning pages.

Avril has strange, foggy memories of the night her mother drowned off the coast of Connecticut twelve years ago. Now she’s returning to the exclusive Whisper Cove theater camp for the first time since that terrible night, and it might finally be the moment that her mother’s secrets resurface.

This is the absolute perfect blend of mystery, teen drama (lol), and ghosts! I was completely immersed in Whisper Cove and Avril's memories from the very beginning. The characters were full of surprises, and as a former theatre teen myself, I absolutely loved the theatrical elements of the story. A thrilling ride from start to finish!

Atmospheric mystery set at a drama camp in Whispering Cove, this book had me hooked from its opening line. Avril returns to Whispering Cove to attend the famed drama camp, but is more interested in seeing again the place where her mother died after she herself was coughed up on the sea and able to be rescued. She has no memories of her life or mother before that moment and feels as if she is incomplete. She becomes fast friends with her bunkmate Val as well as Lex and Jude. She meets Cole, the famous playwright Willa’s son, and feels an instant connection. As they attempt to figure out just what happened on the island that night strange things keep happening. Avril is overcome by memories or ghosts and strange occurrences. I truly was hooked and wanted to know what happened. The relationship and friendships were such an integral part of the story but the unraveling of the mystery had me wanting to keep reading until I figured it out. Perfect for fans of paranormal-ish mysteries.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the arc!

This is a fairly solid YA thriller with supernatural tinges, with a truly great premise. The execution didn't always work for me, and for some reason I couldn't connect with these characters. It had a fairly solid plot, though.

This book took me a bit to get into. I was able to put it down and move on to other things, and then I finally picked it back up and decided I would have to finish it. I felt our main character was flat, and with everything going on with her, it seemed no adults truly cared. I mean, homegirl was passing out and waking up in different places, and no one found that weird? We had a lot of different characters come into play, but they all just seemed to be one-dimensional. I honestly can't remember anything about them or their names. The only person I remember is the creepy guy who leaves flowers. I did like the setting of being on the beach and having fog just shadowed everything. I love those kinds of places that the author did great at describing. I did like the ending, but everything truly in between was just not working for me. Sad to say, I have to give it three stars.

Kind of thriller that I love. This book was incredibly fast paced and interesting to read!!! I would absolutely highly recommend it it’s the perfect thriller!

Here comes a review that I just really don't want to write. Dark and Shallow Lies was one of my favorite books of 2021. It was phenomenal and I devoured that book so fast. I had very high hopes for this book, but sadly it just was not for me.

First off, it didn't have the same atmosphere as Dark and Shallow Lies. I felt like I was truly there when I was reading Dark and Shallow Lies, but Secrets So Deep just fell so flat for me. I couldn't picture the location and it didn't make me feel any emotions.

The main character fell very flat for me and so many things happened that were red flags, but no one seemed to care. She was having visions and passing out left and right, but everyone was just okay with that?

I feel like this could have been at least a 3 star read for me if it weren't for the slow pacing. This book either needed more action or less pages because it seemed to take forever to get through. I figured out what was going on very very early on and the twist wasn't a twist for me.

I love the idea of this book, but the book itself just didn't do it for me. Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book is filled to the brim with surprises and plot twists. I don't know if I'm actually just really dumb or if they were actually really hidden and well-written. The main characters read a little child-ish at times and then combining with some of the darker parts of the book it felt like the characters jumped a bit between ages because of that. But overall, I did really enjoy this book and if you loved Ginny Myers Sain's previous book, I'm sure you'll like this one!

There is nothing I enjoy more than having a group of characters that are diverse and complex. It was interesting getting to know Avril and feeling like I was right there with her trying to piece together this mystery. The events that surrounded her and eerie things that happened added to the overall suspense and thrill of this book. It felt not only that it was playing tricks on Avril, but also the reader. It was fun trying to decipher the truths and realities and kept me on my toes.

There were so many twists which made this book one heck of a wild ride. Trying to guess the ending was tricky and impossible. The author did a fantastic job in writing a mystery that was both thrilling and captivating while having you on the edge of your seat. This book is worth checking out for those who love a great mystery with a crazy plot twist. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the ARC

um well.. this was definitely strange, i'll give it that.

it was a struggle to get through, especially after the first 20%. i'm sorry, i just really didn't like this- so let's rant.

first, i'll give it to the author- she can create an eerie, chilling atmosphere very well. the soft whispers, the clacking fingers, the foggy night, the strange gifts- i was definitely creeped out at some points. the whole book will have you on the edge of your seat because it feels like you can't trust anyone.

but the confusing storyline and characters really just ruined the book for me. i hated them all.

the main character, avril, had the personality of a brick. i could not STAND her weird, creepy inner monologue, and how she sort of wandered around with no real purpose. she was just so weird, like i just didn't understand her. the strangest shit kept happening to her, but she never had a logical response.

the love interest, cole, is literally the exact same. i'm still so confused because i genuinely thought he was like a ghost or something for half the book, because this man cannot be real. there are SO MANY unexplained things about him- why doesn't he sleep, why is always creepily stalking the beach at night, why can't he remember anything- SO MANY QUESTIONS BUT NOT A SINGLE EXPLANATION.

the romance between them was so icky and literally just so dumb. they're both so overly dramatic and all the conversations they had where they tried to be "deep" and "poetic" had me rolling my eyes. not to mention the horrid instalove. the author tried to make them so mysterious and unique, but she really just made them shallow, vapid, and unlikable.

all the side characters were strange, forgettable, and made me so deeply uncomfortable. there were so many people that did creepy, horrible shit BUT NO ONE EVER SEEMED TO CARE??!??? it felt like one of those horror movies where everyone is smiling these huge, deranged fake smiles, hiding the fact that they're dead inside or like a crazed killer. i genuinely could not trust anyone, and i didn't believe a single thing anyone ever said... but not in the fun, compelling way. the author just did a shit job characterizing anyone, which made them all seem "fake".


i'm all out of words because i don't have the words to explain how this book made me feel. i'm thoroughly creeped out- not in the mysterious way, but in the uncomfortable way. the plot made zero sense, i never really understood what was happening, the characters made me cringe, the ending was anticlimatic- I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE AUTHOR WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

I have been waiting with bated breath for the next GMS novel and I'm so lucky and grateful I got an early copy! This was the perfect follow-up to Dark and Shallow Lies, and she is officially on my favorite author list. I'm obsessed with the way she writes, so descriptive and vivid you feel like you're alongside the characters tasting the air itself. She's so good at the paranormal aspect, and I really loved the spooky and mysterious vibe this gave off and the summer location on the Sound was the perfect setting for this ghost story. Another thing I loved that elevated the story was the fact that the chapters were done as script scenes- it's a small thing, but it amped up the tension knowing you were getting closer and closer to the end. As always, the characters are complex and a little broken, but that's what makes them so perfect. There was just the right amount of romance to offset the supernatural, and overall this is great for hot, stormy summer nights or just in time for Halloween.

Theater camp and trying to find out how your mom died 12 years ago? Another great murder mystery. One you won't be able to put down one you start. A quick and easy read that will keep you guessing and wanting more

It's official. I love Ginny Myers Sain's writing. Wow. She has a way of drawing the reader in with beautiful prose but also an eery sense of place that is definitely addictive. I knew after reading her debut I would read her next book and I'm glad I did.

This is probably one of my favorite types of ghost stories - there's mystery, creepy fog, and a location to die for. I really liked the sense of the location and enjoyed the theater aspect of it. As a 'pit musician' I loved gettin g look into the theatrical side of things.

I also really liked how things slowly unrivaled to draw us in to the full story - the unveiling, if you will-and how that all came about. I also find it interesting the 'love interest' in her books always seems to be a little bit more broken than I would expect and yet it works.

I'd recommend to older YA readers (or adults) and those who enjoy the touch of paranormal without it being full-on.

Some (small negatives): Not a fan of all the underaged drinking/smoking. Probably a personal thing but I just don't enjoy that in books for YA readers.

!Language & underaged drinking/smoking in this one. Drug use mentioned.

My rating: 4.3*

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This book had so many twists it surprised me all the way through. The mystery thriller with a hint of paranormal is perfectly titled because the secrets really do run deep at the camp it takes place in. The characters are all complex with interesting back stories, leading to a variety of relationships that show the importance of support and loyalty. While it ended a bit abruptly it’s still very worth the read.

Secrets So Deep follows Avril whose mother drowned at Whisper Cove Theater. It was ruled an accident but Avril is not convinced. Avril returns to Whisper Cove to find out what actually happened to her mother. But the truth might be worse than not knowing.

This was a really good YA mystery book. I really liked the summer camp setting of this book. The plot twist at the end was really well done. I will say that I did have a hard time keeping up with this book sometimes. I think it was because of the paranormal elements. It was kind of hard to determine what was real and what wasn't. This was a very different type of mystery book, which I did like. This is one that I liked but I do not think I will read again. But I did enjoy it while I read it. Thank you NetGalley, Razorbill publishing, and Ginny Myers Sain for a copy of this book.