The book had an interesting premise and I appreciated the raw, emotional undertones. The story captures the confusion and intensity of being a teenager really well. However, I found it a bit too slow at times, and I never fully connected with the characters the way I wanted to. Still, it was a thoughtful read with moments that stayed with me, even if it wasn’t a favorite.

The Secret Year tells the story of two young people who have a secret affair over the course of a year. They are from different parts of town and shouldn't be together at all, but they are drawn to one another. But when one of them dies in a car accident, the other can't help but wonder what happened and why. Why did it have to be this way? Would things have been different if their love wasn't secret?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love a good YA story that is also a mystery. These seem to be the best stories out there. This one will definitely wanting to read more.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I’m glad it was a really fast read because it definitely wasn't a good match for me. I found it terribly depressing and the characters terribly annoying. I usually really enjoy YA but this was one that just didn’t do it for me.

Colt's grief is compounded by the fact that no one in his life knew about his relationship with Julia. The most important part of grief is the ability to talk and share your grief with other people who also loved that person. Colt and Julia had been secretly seeing each other for the last year; they had kept it a secret because Julia and Colt were from completely different backgrounds. But then Julia dies in a car accident, and how can he move on?

Interesting read, first time reading from this author, and I enjoyed it. Can read the book in one sitting.

Such a heartbreaking book. It really makes you think about what's important in life. When Julia is killed in a car wreck, everyone in her high school suddenly starts grieving her - - even people who didn't know her that well. But Colt has to grieve her in silence to avoid raising suspicion. Even though he loved Julia - - no one knew about their relationship - - the one that stretched out for almost a year. No one knew - - especially not her boyfriend.

Julia leaves a lot of heartache behind. Colt doesn't know how to deal with his grief but by good fortune, Julia's diary ends up with him and he is able to relive their last year through her eyes and words. It helps him to find closure even while bringing back memories that also prove painful. I felt like this book really makes you think about not getting caught up in what other people think but living more for yourself. You have to always realize that life is short. Even when you think you have years and years ahead of you - - sometimes you don't.

Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy.

it wasn't for me. i tried multiple times but i had to give up on this one . the plot wasn't convincing enough and i was starting to get irritated by the pace

The Secret Year
by Jennifer Hubbard
A brief warning of life choices. The romantic entanglement of Julia and Colt shows the heady nature of romance. How feelings can overwhelm logic, and emotions overwhelm best practices. The brief romance entangles and endangers both their lives.

The Secret Year just wasn’t it for me. I get that it’s YA, but the drama felt so high school in a way that didn’t pull me in—it just made me roll my eyes a little. The emotions were there, and I can see how it would hit for readers who love that super intense, secret-romance-turned-grief kind of vibe, but I never fully connected with Colt or felt invested in what was happening. It wasn’t bad, the writing was fine, but overall it left me kind of meh. Definitely one of those “not for me, but I see the appeal” reads.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for an advanced copy of this book.
The Secret Year was a quick read. The plot sounded intriguing to me but I don’t think it was executed as well as it could have been. I didn’t really feel the connection Colt had with Julia or Kirby for that matter. I didn’t feel like there was any depth to the characters either. That being said I didn’t dislike the book, I just felt there was something missing.
3⭐️

Ok book but very lacking.
I found it lacked an emotional connection. I kinda figured it would have been a tear jerking but it wasn’t. The characters lacked depth. Very basic run of the mill.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

Young love and growing up are both hard to do. Colt is from the flats and secretly seeing Julia. She has a boyfriend and always claims they are breaking up…. But never does so the affair continues. Julia has died in a horrible auto accident, Leaving Cole with his emotions. Great YA except I didn’t like the ending.

Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead, and that's how Jennifer Hubbard begins her reflective short young adult fiction, “The Secret Year,” about two star-crossed high school lovers from different economic backgrounds who have been clandestinely meeting for passionate trysts and successfully fooling all of their peers until a diary of their affair is found post mortum.

A high-society Black Mountain girl, Julia, runs in country club circles. From a working-class family, Colton lives in the Flats at the bottom of the mountain and enjoys nothing better than getting his feet muddy in the local Willis River, which he does almost every night. Stars aligned on one fateful evening when Julia waded into Colton’s favorite watering hole, and their inauspicious romance began.

This thought-provoking story presents a unique look at tragedy and the expressions of grief and loss seen in friendships and intimate relationships. Those shown are often handled inappropriately: by the use of anger, acting out, avoidance tactics, denial, and by entering into casual intimate relationships.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks Netgalley, Author Jennifer R. Hubbard, and Publishers: Penguin Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Viking Books for Young Readers for early access to this Advanced Reader’s Electronic Edition for Review. “The Secret Year” will be available to the general public on January 7, 2025.
https://www.goodreads.com/joyreadergirl1

This is a powerful book about love, loss and
the class divides that still exist to this day. I would read more books by this author.

I tried so hard to make it through this book, but literally nothing was happening. My first DNF of the year.

I love the premise of a secret romance, it started all good but as you keep reading I was hoping it would come out as another thing..
secret romance, loss and grief are some of the aspects of this book .. overall a good reading a little bit slow but gets better at the half

Thanks to the Author, NetGalley, Penguin group Penguin young readers group and Viking books for this arc

Book Review: If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin
For fans of deeply romantic novels, Laura Nowlin's If Only I Had Told Her is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of grief. The story revolves around Colt and Julia, who share a secret love over the course of a year, hidden from the world due to their differing social circles. Julia thrives within the elegant confines of her country club life on Black Mountain, while Colt navigates the vibrant energy of the flats. Their clandestine meetings by the river are filled with electric chemistry, making their connection all the more intoxicating.
However, the narrative takes a heartbreaking turn when Julia tragically dies in a car accident. This devastating event catapults Colt into a whirlwind of memories, particularly a fight they had on their last night together, leaving him to grapple with unresolved feelings.
The discovery of Julia's diary becomes a pivotal moment for Colt. It offers him a glimpse into her innermost thoughts and secrets she never had the chance to share. As he delves into her words, he finds himself on a journey that may heal his broken heart or unravel a tangled web of secrets that could change everything.
Nowlin’s writing beautifully captures the raw emotions of young love and the pain of loss, inviting readers to reflect on the importance of communication and understanding in relationships. If Only I Had Told Her is not just a love story; it's a moving tribute to the power of memories and the unbreakable bonds that endure even after tragedy strikes. This novel is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a heartfelt narrative that lingers long after the last page is turned. #netgalley

I have some mixed feelings about this book. I liked the premise of a secret romance, but that fizzled once the accident occured. I thought the secret journal was a cool idea, but I didn't buy that Colt didn't read that cover to cover the night he's given it. The rich girl matched up with the less fortunate young man was also an interesting part of the story that just didn't pack the punch it could have in this story. I had high hopes but unfortunately, it did not hit the mark for me. I wanted more out of this story. Your mileage may vary as they say.

The Secret Year was a quick read. It was confusing at times with the way it skipped around in time. The writing itself wasn’t terrible but I struggled to finish it.

Colt obviously loves Julia and how wonderful she is when they are alone yet she treats him like he doesn’t exist around everyone else. Add in the cheating aspect and I just couldn’t stand either of them. Though I do recognize that since their relationship was secret, Colt couldn’t mourn in public which caused problems for him in his relationships with other people.

It would have been nice to see Colt have his own voice and not just follow what his friends did. However, what we got was a story where it seems like he would be stuck not processing his feelings ever.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an early cop of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one sitting. This was a story of lovers from different sides of the track. I loved the characters and the storyline. I would definitely recommend this book.