Another incredible book by author Lynn Austin, we see so many secrets among the 400 in New York. So many things that are very foolish yet expected by high society. Sylvia and Adelaide, along with grandmother Junietta, are strong women, determined to succeed. But success looks different to each of them. I really enjoyed their journey of growth; their journey to complete honesty.

If you enjoy Christian historical fiction, because there is no doubt that it’s Christian, and especially stories about the gilded age, do read All My Secrets. You won’t be sorry.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Junietta, Sylvia, and Adelaide Stanhope are three women bound by one grief at the turn of the last century. Junietta married into the powerful Stanhope family after one mistake made her vulnerable to Arthur Stanhope’s machinations. For over fifty years, she has tried to influence first her husband, then her son and his wife, and now her youngest granddaughter to question their status quo.

When Junietta’s beloved son, A.B, passes away unexpectedly, Sylvia, his wife, and Adelaide, his youngest daughter, discover Arthur Stanhope’s will has dictated the bulk of their fortune will go to the oldest living male heir—leaving the three women with a cavernous mansion and no money to maintain it.

Sylvia’s idea of retrenching includes finding a wealthy husband for Adelaide as soon as a suitable mourning period has passed. Junietta’s idea of retrenching involves selling the house and moving into something smaller. Adelaide feels pulled between both women—she loves them dearly, but their goals seem at odds.

Will the turn of the century breathe new life into their scripted lives? Or will all three remain constrained by society’s expectations?

What I Loved About This Book

Lynn Austin masterfully portrays life in New York’s Gilded Age—an era of inconceivable wealth and opulence. As the title suggests, the secrets of two women will have a bearing on the final decision and outcome—but only if they have the courage to share their secrets with each other and learn from their mistakes.

Older readers will relate to the regrets and introspection of Junietta and Sylvia. Younger readers will relate to Adelaide and how she tries to balance the desires of the older women while honoring both.

If you’ve read other books by Austin, this one has a more leisurely pace. The gradual unveiling of the secrets keeps the action moving forward, even though the pacing seems slower. You'll love this book if you love complex stories with historical details and surprising solutions. Austin’s deep dive into contemplating our own mortality and our legacy will not only entertain but will also help readers think about their own choices, secrets, and legacy.

All my Secrets was the most aggravating book I have read in a long time. Yet this novel was also filled with an amazing look at the impossibility of living up to other’s expectations. All My secrets is about 3 generations of women with as the title implies many secrets. It unwraps the story of each woman and the consequences of choices made. Each story was quite interesting and kept me wanting to hear more.
I had to struggle to keep from getting annoyed as the plot had the youngest main character blindly obeying to find a wealthy husband to preserve the entitled lifestyle which she was used to. That way of thinking was beyond what I could understand. But All My Secrets was also filled with lessons of forgiveness and the great depth of God’s love. It was a great reminder of learning from generations before us. This novel would make a great bookclub selection as it would prompt some great discussions.

Thank you Lynn Austin, NetGalley, and Tyndale House for this gifted book!*

Synopsis: “Juniette believed that Sylvia and Adelaide could both fly freely on their own if they could find the courage to escape from their gilded cages.” The Stanhope women may be drastically separated in age, but the loss of son, husband, and father threatens to separate every other connection they may have had. As each of these women wrestle with the realities of being alone in the early 1900s, they realize life may just look different than what they’d always planned. Gone are the parties, wealth, high class society. But is that really all there is to life? What about faith, hope, and love? In a story of struggles, secrets, and strengths, the women must come face to face with the problems of the past and the possibilities of a different future.

Analysis: As a long time fan, I’m so glad to say Lynn Austin does it again! In this Gilded Age novel, you’ll explore the struggles of women in this time period from three different perspectives: grandmother, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter. I loved the unique perspective of each voice in this novel and the family tension with each woman. The history is well-researched and the characters well-developed. As I flew through the pages, I loved the vivid imagery of the mansions and other places they visited. I found myself wishing I could travel and see the locations in person (maybe someday🤞). In signature Lynn Austin fashion, you’ll see the characters come face to face with difficulty, but you’ll find the beauty and truth of biblical hope.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Rating: Clean

* *I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Historical timeline set in 1898 NYC, the story follows three generations of Stanhope women.

Matriarch Junietta's story follows her life before and after her marriage. Newly widowed, Syliva's life is in upheaval after learning that her husband's fortune and company follow his father's will and passes to the nearest male heir - leaving her with a crumbling mansion and a daughter on the marriage market. Adelaide, Sylvia's daughter, is being launched into society to make a good match and save the family from falling into disgrace. The storyline follows each lady and goes back into their past to show what made them the strong ladies they are. A really interesting story that kept me engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The author's choice to narrate this story from the viewpoints of three generations of women in the hopes that the stories will inspire readers of all ages amazed me. It also made the story more intimate and captivating. The youngest character, Addy, is often getting caught up in what other people think of her and taken in by the societal norms that tell her what she should be and do.

Adelaide's mother Sylvia is another lady going through unpleasant changes following her husband's untimely death. She is in grief and coming to terms with the fact that her daughter will soon get married and leave her all by herself.

On the other hand, Junietta truly believes God, can use us at any age. This story explores the idea of God's forgiveness while exposing the negative consequences of resentment and bitterness. As the secrets these ladies have been keeping come to light, amazing things happen.

Readers are given a close-up and intimate look at how these three incredible women struggle to survive when it seems impossible for them to do so. Oh my, this was such a heartfelt story with incredible attention to detail. Junietta sees an opportunity to help Addy venture beyond the confines of her childhood home. Junietta tells Addy, “It’s your life, not your mother’s. Do you have the courage it takes to break free from the mold that society will try to cast for you? You don’t have to do things their way, you know…As we start all over again, we’ll have a chance to make a new life for ourselves and decide how we want to live from now on. Change can be difficult, but it can also be very good for us.”

I admired how each of the three ladies looked within to determine what matters most in life. Will they play the role that society has urged them to play, or will they look for a greater good and try to change the world? They could reduce their belongings and intentional about decisions that will impact not just their own life but also the lives of numerous generations to come.

This is a powerful, thought-provoking story. I like how the author skillfully included biblical verses into the story, allowing these complex characters to go inward and gain fresh insights on their surroundings and a deeper understanding of themselves.

If you haven’t read a book by this author, I recommend this one. This would work for a book club pick too. There is much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

All my secrets by Lynn Austin is a great historical fiction that I enjoyed.
I have read many books by Miss Austin and I have always enjoyed her books. I have very few Christian riders that are my favorite, and she is at the top of my list. Her characters have depth, and I love how she intertwines God into everything and Jesus without it seeming to unrealistic.
This novel tells a story of three mothers. So it’s a generational story. I believe she did this before with eves daughters, and that was one of my favorite books and I love the generational reads. I recommend this read I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Thank you in NetGalley and Tyndale house publishers for this ARC in return for my honest review!

I loved the historical setting in the Gilded Age and the three generations that were represented. The story had just enough mystery to draw me in and then to keep me reading to the satisfying conclusion. I have enjoyed many of Lynn Austin's books and the way she tells a compelling story. She is, in my opinion, one of the top writers in Christian fiction. Historical fiction is not my favorite genre within Christian fiction, but I always enjoy Austin's stories whether contemporary or historical. This one was no exception. Highly recommend to anyone who likes a good story.

A rough start makes All My Secrets a difficult book to begin with, but a charming second half is the reward for those who can make it through that rough patch.

New York, 1898. When the wealthy Arthur Stanhope III dies at the age of forty-seven, it causes no end of turmoil for his family. Not only must they manage the emotional fallout of losing their patriarch, the terms of his grandfather’s will bestow the family company and the vast majority of the inherited wealth on the nearest male relative, a reprobate cousin. Stanhope’s widow, Sylvia, is left the house, an expensive-to-maintain yacht, his personal items, and a trust fund. His nineteen year old daughter, Adelaide, is left a small trust, and his mother Junietta is left to their care. Sylvia realizes there is no time to waste. She will have to launch Adelaide into society even as they are restricted by the long mourning process demanded of them. If a wealthy husband can be found for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the girl’s life and future.

Junietta, like many people who have never wondered where the next meal is to come from, sees this as an opportunity. She had been miserable living life as a society wife and is convinced Sylvia can’t have enjoyed it much either. If Junietta has her way, they will sell everything – the yacht, the mansion, the furnishings, and the art in the house – and launch Adelaide on a grand adventure, like college and a marriage for love rather than money. Never mind that Junietta’s own adventure had ended in catastrophe, that she is dependent upon her daughter-in-law because she spent her own trust fund on her charitable foundation, and that she and Adelaide are two very different people. She is determined Addy choose a path beyond societal expectations.

Sylvia has no intention of letting that happen. She works with the young partner in the law firm managing the estate, Howard Forsythe, to discretely sell what she can, all with the hope of buying time to find Addy a rich husband. Addy is willing to go along with this scheme, but she does hope her mother can find her a man she will at least like. The elderly widower – roughly her father’s age! – and the boorish heir she is initially introduced to are emphatically not the person she wants to marry.

In a bid to get her way, Junietta begins to tell Addy and Sylvia the story of her past. It’s a sordid tale of an affair with a stable boy, an unplanned pregnancy, and a marriage of convenience which put her under the thumb of a cruel tyrant. Will spilling her secrets result in Addy learning from her mistakes? Or will Addy follow the same path of seeking security through a cold union made for money rather than love?

This is a moralistic novel that showcases the evil of the Robber Barons and the unholy excesses of the Gilded Age. The privileged Junietta is our primary tour guide/authorial mouthpiece for this journey. She has, through her charitable foundation, given away millions of Stanhope dollars, which she labels blood money due to the actions of Arthur Stanhope, the founder of that wealth. She is vocal in her disdain for the lavish lifestyle of the family while benefitting from it. For example, she never removes herself from the household to a modest dwelling of her own, even after her son grows up and her husband dies. Instead, she gives away the money that would have provided her with independence and uses the familial connections to the rich and powerful to find donors and board members for her charity. It disturbed me that Junietta was demanding sacrifices of Addie and Sylvia that she had never made herself.

Junietta is also the primary conveyer of the Christian faith in this novel. For her, witnessing to her family primarily consists of telling them God will forgive them their numerous sins if they will simply repent. Oddly, I never felt Junietta was one for repenting of her own sins – she felt badly enough about the sex/pregnancy and a time when she had helped spearhead a deadly family rift, but she never repents of the relationship with the stable boy that led to so many problems and was clothed in lies and deceit, or of lying by omission to her husband and the hurt that caused him, nor of the way she charged through life self-assured she was right when she was more often wrong.It could be I just don’t appreciate the interfering, boisterous, rapscillion elderly character but I found Junietta an especially irritating example of this trope.

I endorse everything Junietta gives lip service to believing – faith, Christian charity, that unethical business practices should be called out along with worker abuse, that gap between the workers and employers in this era was deplorable, and that women should be allowed to vote, hold jobs, and be independent – I just didn’t think she was a good spokesperson for any of that.

Conversely, Sylvia would have made a lovely champion for those causes. A thoughtful, patient, courteous, and quietly courageous woman, she understands the practicalities of what Junietta espouses far more thoroughly than Junietta herself does. We don’t get her history until the halfway point of the novel, but Sylvia’s backstory shows that even as a young girl, she was an obedient, caring daughter and a morally upright individual. I don’t need my heroines to be either of those things, but it makes a nice contrast to Junietta, who expects of others what she doesn’t do herself.

At the start of the story, Adelaide isn’t a person. She’s a quiet, shy mouse of a creature who, by her own admission, couldn’t tell you a single opinion she holds, even for something as simple as a favorite color or flower. In the second half of the story, she blossoms into a charming young woman interested in the suffrage movement who is compassionate to everyone around her, and wanting to marry for love. I liked Addy, even when she was reticent and just discovering who she wanted to be, and I liked her even more as she became a secure, independent individual with a sense of purpose and strong ideas of her own. I wasn’t very excited about her romance at the end of the story since I felt she still had some growing up to do, but as it was more a happy for now than a happily ever after, I could accept it.

I struggled with the focus on Junietta at the start of the novel as well as with how faith is often depicted through her words and actions. The latter part of the story makes up for it, with Sylvia and Howard Forsythe showcasing a less judgmental version of piety and Addy growing into a charming person. I would recommend All My Secrets to long-time fans of the author or those who don’t mind wading through a bit of a slog to get to the good stuff.

Over the last few months, I’ve been eagerly anticipating reading this book. Lynn Austin has long been one of my favorite authors, so whenever I see one of her new titles coming out, I do my best to get my hands on it. This one took me a little while to pick up before I was able to slip it into my reading rotation, but I started it with high anticipation. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a Gilded Age novel before, so that, too, added to my excitement when I picked this up.

Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. Despite elements that I genuinely enjoyed, I found a good part of this book disappointing. Much of this book fell into the telling (not showing) writing style, and throughout the story, I struggled to connect to the characters. I did LOVE the grandmother; her perspective and old-lady tendencies (especially as regards her ever-present and ever-useful cane!) were a delight to read. But Sylvia and Adelaide were characters I never felt like I got to know properly; they felt much more reactive than proactive.

The historical narrative scenes were somewhat interesting, but I realized I was having trouble with those, too, when a tragedy happened, and my reaction was “Okay, so what?” Normally, I would have expected that scene to be a real gut punch, but it wasn’t…and that was disappointing, because that’s when I realized I couldn’t care less about the characters. I feel like if this book had been written as a split-time novel (rather than lots of flashbacks and narration), it may have been a stronger story.

I was also a little disappointed at the faith element in the story; the main thrust of the book seemed to be that we ought to follow our heart and marry for love instead of monetary gain, and there was no real mention of looking for the Lord’s guidance and blessing in building these relationships.

As I said, there were parts of the story I really enjoyed. The grandmother was a lot of fun, and I found the perspective on some of the major historical events (the Gold Rush, the Civil War, etc.) to be fascinating to read about. I love it when I can get to see different and new aspects of historical events I’m familiar with in the fiction I read! If you don’t mind books that are a little slower-paced, this might be a book you’d enjoy; ultimately, it wasn’t for me. I’m looking forward to Lynn Austin’s next novel; hopefully, that will be more down my alley!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

Lynn Austin’s “All my Secrets”, offers a compelling exploration of three generations of women navigating the complexities of Gilded Age New York society. From the struggles of socialite women to the secrets that bind them, this novel captivates with its intrigue and whimsy.

While the initial chapters may be slow to engage, the story gains momentum as the narrative unfolds, revealing the hidden depths of characters and the stakes at play. With flashbacks that illuminate the motivations of Junietta and Sylvia, readers are drawn into a tale of family secrets and reconciliation. Despite some predictable moments, the overall experience is enjoyable, with a compelling storyline that keeps readers invested.

Ideal for fans of Historical Christian Fiction, "All my Secrets" also holds appeal for teenage readers seeking an engaging and thought-provoking read. Gratitude to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing an eARC. This review reflects my honest assessment of the book.

All My Secrets perfectly portrays the way that families have the potential to grow and change for the better, or to stagnate and become bitter about their circumstances. I was inspired by the three main characters, and their strong willed resilience to a life full of deep sadness. This story shows that those we view as having a life of relative ease are still prone to deep heartache, just like the rest of us. Each character in this story grows and blossoms, and I loved watching their gradual change. My heart broke and was mended time and time again as the story went on. This book is funny, heartwarming and historically accurate - all essentials of a lovely historical romance.

What a gem of a read! I have become a huge fan of Lynn Austin’s books and was so honored to be chosen to read this book early and be part of her launch team.
This is not a genre I’ve read a lot in, and I was sucked into this world from the first page. I absolutely loved how the story was told from all three women’s points of view. I loved the beauty of the Gospel and God’s love for us running through each woman’s story too. So beautiful! I highly recommend this book and know it will make my top reads of 2024!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have always loved Lynn's signature story telling style of flashing back and forth from past to present and this book is no exception to that. This book follows the lives of 3 Stanhope women with Mimi Junie, the matriarch of the story, desperately trying to impart wisdom before her time runs out. So, we read about the normal human life of making lots of mistakes and learning from them. It was a beautiful story, my favorite part being the hunt for a long lost baby. I think the one disappointment was really bringing home the redemptive part of the story. It was more about good works being one's life legacy and I would have preferred it to be all about Christ and how HE can change a life and allow someone to leave a worthy legacy. Over all it was an enjoyable read and I am left wondering if Sylvia becomes a fashion designer and if Adelaide does marry the guy. ;)

All My Secrets
by Lynn Austin
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishing
Series: None
Rated: 4
Obtain: Borrow or buy
Back of the Book: “New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company—and most of the vast fortune that goes with it—to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.
Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.
But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.”

Impressions: This was an interesting story with three generations of women navigating through the past and present in their lives. Each brought their own perspectives and experiences to the table following the death of Arthur Stanhope lll. With such different emotions brewing, the lady's tense relationship came to a climax as Junietta broke the silence by sharing her past. This book held good wisdom from each character’s journey. It was a Christian perspective with a clean romance. I enjoyed this story and the characters' perspectives.

Quotes: “’ Well, you can’t prevent change. It’s part of life. This cane was once an acorn, then a tree, then a stick of lumber,’ she said, waving it in the air. ‘Now it serves an entirely new role, propping up an elderly lady. Its usefulness came at the cost of a great deal of chopping and cutting and sanding. And we always abhor those painful processes, don’t we?’”

“’ Too much formality makes me uncomfortable.’ ‘And why is that?’ ‘It creates distance between people and keeps them from becoming friends in a natural way. And I think that’s a shame. There are enough divisions between people without adding more.’”

“’ Do all that you can, any way that you can, to whomever you can. But don’t do it to buy God’s forgiveness- forgiveness is free. Do it to show your gratitude for being forgiven.’”

“’ The important thing isn’t what we do, but whether we’re willing to obey God when we do it.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

Following three women - grandma, mom and daughter -, this book gives us a glimpse into the struggles of socialite women in the late 1890s. But each woman has secrets they haven't shared with each other. This book is intriguing and whimsical.

It was hard to get into this book. The first few chapters are honestly kind of boring. BUT I really enjoyed the rest of the book! Once we started to get some flashbacks and really set the scene of what was at stake, I was invested. I wanted to know why Junietta and Sylvia were the way they were. I wanted to know all the details! I was very curious about what Adelaide was going to do and honestly felt bad that she was being pulled between her mom and her grandma. Were there parts that were predictable? Yes. Was it still enjoyable? Yes.

Definitely a great book for those who like Historical Christian Fiction! Also feel like it's a fantastic book for a teenage girl.

Thank you Net Galley & Tyndale House Publishers for this eARC! This is my honest review.

As always with Lynn Austin novels All My Secrets has beautiful, complex, intriguing, characters. I was thoroughly engaged in this delightful, not predictable story with its themes of God’s grace, forgiveness, love, redemption and providential leading through choices that carried lasting generational impact. Well researched, interesting history is woven throughout, showcasing the Gilded Age in all its over the top glory along side depths of poverty and despair. The three Stanhope women that the story revolves around are very different but each strong, resilient and deeply impacted by long held secrets and regrets.
This beautiful story has a satisfying ending but I truly hope there will be a sequel to continue Sophia and Adelaide’s journeys.

Absolutely beautiful and wonderful! This author does such a phenomenal job of writing such rich characters that I felt like I had been dropped into their lives and was experiencing their stories with them. Each of the characters had realistic struggles and mistakes with powerful stories of forgiveness and redemption that made them feel authentic to me. The spiritual truths were deep and raw and did not feel preachy but were relatable and true. I thought that the history was very well researched and integrated, and it was easy to imagine each of the time periods as each woman recounted her story. There were unexpected twists and fascinating character connections that made the story hard to put down. I loved how each of the three women realized that their worth was found in God, and not in material possessions or the opinions of others. I loved how each woman found her courage and her purpose and legacy. This is a story that has stayed with me long after I finished the last chapter. I highly, highly recommend this novel and cannot wait to read the next masterpiece by this talented author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Adelaide Stanhope had always lived the privileged life of the Gilded Age high society, that is, until her father's untimely death and the restrictions placed on the family's wealth by her great grandfather's will. Now there are hard choices to be made, choices made more difficult by the vastly different opinions of her mother and grandmother. The lives of these three women change as they learn many lessons over the next year, lessons readers of each of the story's represented generations could learn from as well.

This novel focuses on priorities: allowing them to be formed for us or choosing to form them on our own, determining what position one should have within their own priorities, and contemplating where and how God's will impacts one's priorities. These are meaty questions, ones Lynn Austin masterfully walks her characters through as they negotiate their changing circumstances. A secondary theme of how to live with or to move on from mistakes and hard feelings is equally well-handled. The story is beautifully written and is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of All My Secrets from Tyndale via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

All My Secrets, by Lynn Austin, is a truly remarkable work of historical fiction. Sweeping across several decades in nineteen century New York, this epic novel is engrossing and thoroughly moving as it tells the unforgettable stories of three women bonded together through family, love, and loss. This book is skillfully written and filled with heart, hope, and redemption. From the compelling storylines, to the extraordinary characters, to the relevant themes, this thoughtful novel is truly surprising, enriching, and ultimately uplifting.

Ms. Austin is an incredibly talented author with a real gift for meaningful story-telling. Mingling elements of history, mystery, and romance, this story inspires while it entertains. Filled with faith, friendship, family, and new beginnings, All My Secrets also features a thematic emphasis on compassion, forgiveness, love, and redemption.

In addition to thought-provoking themes, All My Secrets contains well-developed characters who are simply captivating and abound with authenticity and credibility. Their questions, their insecurities, their fears, their needs, and their desires are wholly believable, heart-wrenching, and inspiring. As they struggle through much loss and uncertainty, they grapple with their faith and God’s specific purposes for their lives. The opportunities, the choices, and the trials that the characters endure are intricately developed, and from them there unfolds a story that is stunningly unique, richly nuanced, and deeply touching.

Within this novel, the well-researched details and descriptions ensure that every moment spent reading this book is a thoughtful experience to be savored. Page after page, it delights the imagination and easily holds the reader’s attention making it the type of book to ponder and enjoy. All My Secrets is quite special and memorable. I recommend it wholeheartedly to all readers who enjoy wonderful historical fiction. 

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher/author and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.