What a wonderful story about family dynamics, second chances, loss, abuse, secrets and so much more. Are you thinking….how much more can there be? You definitely need to read Her Secret Life to find out.
A VERY emotionally charged and compelling story that will have you going through many different emotions.
Author Anna E. Collins is a new author to me. I found her writing solid. I was kept engaged throughout the story.
The development of the characters was wonderful.
All in all, a vey moving story that I am still thinking about.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A realtor, a librarian, and a pilot, all sisters, are abruptly reunited after their mother’s death.
The sisters’ estrangement means there’s lots of catching up. Each sister’s secret and fear is revealed.
Each draws strength from the bonds of sisterhood.
I found Leah’s Story to be the most compelling.
I liked how the sisters really began listening to each other, especially as their mother’s secrets are revealed.
Out of loss there is realization how much more there is to gain.

Her Secret Life by Anna E. Collins is an engaging family drama.
I flipped the pages so quickly with this one.
The book's pacing was excellent, keeping me engaged and very entertained.
An engrossing family drama involving three estranged sisters Leah, Gillian and Alison.
I enjoyed the dynamics of the relationship and seeing them from all perspectives.
A compelling read that I really enjoyed.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a contemporary fiction book. That being said, I am not sure that I am the ideal reader for this type of novel. For the book’s genre, however, I enjoyed the thoroughness of each of the characters. This made all of them relatable to the reader in some way. I did guess the twist that was at the end, but this did not take away from the overall plot or experience for me as this is not considered to be a thriller novel. Please check out any relevant trigger warnings before picking this one up, but if you enjoy different POVs, family secrets, and relatable characters, you may want to give this one a read.

Three sisters, each scarred psychologically in some way by their childhood and lives, brought together when their mother takes her life.
This story narrates their coming to terms with their pasts, their individual relationships with their parents and sisters. Each of them look at where and how they should be in their own lives to be at peace with themselves. In their search for the truth they discover their mother’s secrets. The characters are expertly written and so realistic that they were very credible.
I loved the way this story was written and the way each sister evolves personally and then how they come together to move forward.
A moving story which was worth reading.
4 stars

What a page-turner! It grabbed my attention from the start and held it until the end. I loved that it was told through multiple viewpoints, with each one offering something unique.

This book had it all: family drama, mystery, love, loss, suspense... The characters were multidimensional and relatable and the pacing was spot on. It also cast a light on domestic abuse and its long-reaching and long-lasting impact. I highly recommend.

Her Secret Life is an addictive and compelling read that's near impossible to set down.

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley, and the author for an advanced reading copy.

A captivating story of dysfunctional family relationships, and how one loss can bring everyone together.
Based on the cover I was expecting a mystery/thriller but had I paid attention to the category I would have known it was women’s fiction. Once I adjusted that in my mind I was quickly drawn in.
Told from the viewpoints of the 3 sisters after their mom passed away, it offers a unique viewpoint into each woman’s personal life and their relationships with their mom.
TW of note:suicide, abuse (mental and physical). Even with these dark issues, a very good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was fantastic and I was so invested. The alternating viewpoints of each of the sisters added such a depth to the story and really connected me to each character. Each sister was so different from one another and I loved that we got to know them as children and as adults.

Reading the synopsis, I went into this novel expecting a thriller and it definitely wasn't that. Really, it didn't even feel like much of a mystery to me. Sure, the sisters' mom passed away and they uncovered some unexpected truths about her past, but those revelations were slow to unfold on the page but felt obvious to me as the reader. This in no way took away from the book as it felt so genuine and authentic. It was eye opening and enlightening to think about how little we know of our parents outside of their roles in our lives and I love that this novel explored that.

For as much as the novel was centered around the characters, the plot was excellently executed as well. The pacing was perfect and the story flowed really naturally.

This was my first novel by Collins and definitely won't be my last. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the copy.

Usually, I have to sit on such a good book for a couple of days before delving into my thoughts on it, but I was writing the review in my head throughout this book, for the best reasons possible. After a mystery/thriller spree, this book was a breath of refreshing PNW air.

Sisters Alison, Leah, and Jillian live all across the country from each other. Each with their own lives and careers and not thinking twice about the others. But when Leah goes home and discovers that their mother is dead, it's up to her to rally the troops back to their childhood traumas and different lives lived under the same roof. Will Alison, Leah, and Jillian be able to heal not only themselves but their connection to their mother? Or would this be the real end?
This book by Anna E. Collins deserves every single one of the five stars I'm giving it. The Multiple POVs, scenes, and life experiences make this book as wonderful as it is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutoure for the E-ARC version of this book. All opinions and reviews are my own and are not influenced by any outside party.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Three daughters all leading very different lives are back at home to plan their mother’s funeral and prepare the house for sale, They are shocked to hear mom was found by the lake by their home. Why would she kill herself?
As they search for answers they are shocked by what they discover about their mother and themselves.

When Leah decides to finally make peace with her mum, she arrives at her childhood home too late, her mum has been found dead.

Leah has to deal with her older sister, Alison and younger sister, Jillian. She rarely sees them or speaks to them.

Leah decides to stay at her childhood home to get it ready for sale, she has nothing to go home for as her husband died and her daughter has gone travelling with her boyfriend.

This story is told with each chapter written for one of the sisters. Through each chapter, we learn more about the sisters and their lives, as well as their childhoods.

It is a tale of secrets, many family secrets just waiting to come out.

The characters were well written, I wasn’t overly struck on Alison through most of the story. I found myself feeling sorry for her husband, Tyler.

I enjoyed the childhood sweetheart story for Leah and Andrew, and I felt for Jillian who didn’t really know what was missing from her life.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This kept me guessing and the twist was wild. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First, thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Anna E. Collins for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I really enjoyed this book about three sisters reuniting for an unfortunate reason. Their relationship is strained but I liked the way the author characterized each of their lives and why they had conflict. Their mother's death and what she left behind turned out to be rather mysterious and I loved that aspect of the book. The subject matter of abusive relationships, bisexual partnerships, a troubled marriage, and a budding romance just add to the dynamic flare of this book. I'm not a fan of secretive or deceptive characters, that's why I gave this book 4 stars. I would purchase this book for my LFL. Thank you Anna E. Collins for taking me away to Her Secret Life. #NetGalley #Bookouture #HerSecretLife

Secrets and red herrings kept me guessing. Mystery and intrigue……the ending is not easily discerned. That being said, I could not get into the sisters’ stories…just so negative.

A family drama involving three estranged sisters brought back together with the death of their mother. Leah, Gillian and Alison who each are struggling with their own personal problems, come together to mend their relationship as sisters. A moving story about the heartbreak that family can cause and how we can learn from that heartbreak and survive stronger.

Trigger warnings: suicide, emotional abuse.

Thank you Net Galley and Bookouture for the Advanced Reader Copy. #NetGalley #HerSecretLife

A great story about three pretty much estranged sisters and the estranged mother that they thought they knew. Families and their relationships can be hard and they certainly were for these sisters. Their mother had always been distant and they finally found out why, just not in the way they thought. Lovely development of character relationships, especially for one - I really liked the ending there.

The protagonist in this story is not looking forward to her family reunion. The loss of her husband has placed her in a situation where she may need to revisit some fences, if not actually repair them, but she is fairly apprehensive at the prospect...

This is an emotional and engaging read. When three sisters meet at their childhood home after many years apart, they are surprised to find their mother's house looking neglected. But not as shocked as they are when the police inform them that her body has been recovered from the lake behind the house.

One shock follows another as it becomes evident that their mother was in fact staying in another place - a cottage which they have now inherited.

But why? This seems to be just the latest in a series of secrets that their mother has kept from them all her life...

But then again, the sisters do have their own secrets as well. This is one of those stories packed full of the complicated family dynamics between siblings, parents and children.

The book tells an engrossing story, and it is an easy read. The characters leap off the page and some of their dilemmas feel relatable. Worth checking out for those who enjoy family-based dramas about secrets, lies and loss. It gets 3.5 stars.

Such a well crafted novel, compelling enough to pull you through and very quick read. I enjoyed it so much from the first page till the end. A good story like this needs a quiet afternoon, a sofa and a warm blanket.

3 sisters, one mother, they each have their own lives. Some have secrets they've kept for so long. I really loved how it all ended for them all ! Specially for one of the characters !

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

After a lot of thrillers and crime stories, it was time for something else. I used to read this genre a lot in the past, but people change and tastes do too. But you never forget your first love and that's why, every now and again, I go back to this kind of books.

I love these stories about families and long hidden secrets now being revealed. Now that I think about it, this genre does not differ a lot from a crime book. No one is being murdered physically, but I do feel some of the characters are responsible for killing someone's spirit. Isn't that a crime either?

The word 'relationship' is categorised as a noun, but in fact it is a verb. After all you have to work to keep relationships sane, whether it is one between spouses, family, friends, colleagues,..

Showing some respect, making time and listening to each other are some of the things that form a concrete base for any kind of relationship.

A secret life... although the society has changed a lot, there are still some things that are not being accepted by everyone.  Let's hope this will change in the future.

I liked the characters and the way they were forced to reflect and make life changing conclusions. 5 stars

Thank you