Jenny Cooper Has a Secret is a rare gem: a story about growing older that refuses to treat aging as a tragic decline or a punchline. Instead, it’s a vibrant, sometimes messy celebration of reinvention, resilience, and the quiet rebellions that define a life well lived.

At 76, Linda isn’t just the protagonist—she’s a revelation. She falls in love, makes new friends, and even confronts a long-buried mystery. But what makes her journey so compelling is the subtle tension the author creates: Is Jenny’s version of the truth reliable, or is her memory softening with time? This ambiguity adds a layer of tenderness and intrigue, making her every revelation feel earned and poignant.

The novel also doesn’t shy away from harder truths. Linda’s best friend’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis is handled with grace, underscoring the fragility of memory without reducing the character to a symbol of loss. And in a moment I found deeply affirming, Linda models agency in her romantic life, unapologetically prioritizing her own pleasure—a quiet but radical act, especially for a woman society often renders invisible.

Meanwhile, her daughter’s late-in-life PhD (at 49!) is a subtle rebellion against the idea that achievement has an expiration date. So many stories sideline characters over 40, but this one insists their lives are still unfolding, still mattering.

Funny, moving, and full of heart, this book is a gift for anyone who’s ever feared becoming irrelevant—or who just loves a well-told story about second (and third, and fourth) chances

Linda Davidson's best friend, Carol Kreiger, is in a memory care facility. While visiting her, another patient named Jenny Cooper, gets Linda's attention and tells her she has a secret and what a secret it is! Linda gets to be good friends with Jenny and finds out about all of her secrets. The big question was is Jenny telling the truth, or is it her dementia doing taking over. I loved the other storylines in this book as well and I did get tired of the Carol/Jenny banter that was very repetitive. This is my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC of this very exciting book.

This was my first time reading a Joy Fielding book and I know it will not be the last. I am your newest fan!

I absolutely loved Jenny Cooper Has a Secret! It’s so refreshing to read a thriller where the main characters are older women. Linda and Jenny felt real, complex, and full of life! It’s rare to see stories that center on older folks in such a layered, engaging way, and this book nailed it.

The mystery kept me hooked, but what really made it stand out was the deep friendship between Linda and Jenny. Their relationship felt genuine and heartfelt, adding emotional weight to the suspense. Plus, the humor sprinkled throughout made it so much fun to read and balanced the darker moments perfectly.

The mix of psychological tension, tender moments, and humor made this book hard to put down. It also made me think differently about aging, memory, and how we all carry secrets.

If you want a thriller that’s both smart, heartfelt, and genuinely entertaining, with characters you don’t often get to read about, this one’s a must-read!

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved the premise and it was executed so well. Dealing with aging, memory issues and Alzheimer’s are tough topics but Joy handled it beautifully. I laughed and wanted to cry a bit. Jenny and Linda are just figuring out how to deal with their new normal when they find each other. Their relationship was so great. Jenny was the best!!! It made me want to go hang out at the local senior center and make some friends and listen to some stories.

•When Linda’s longtime best friend moves to a memory care facility, it crushes Linda. Despite how difficult it is to see her friend like this, she still visits her every other day. During one of these visits, Linda meets a woman named Jenny Cooper.

•Jenny is a fiery elderly woman, also in the memory care unit, who has a dark secret.. Jenny tells Linda she kills people. Linda doesn’t really believe her at first, but then other patients seem to die suspiciously. Linda tries to get to the bottom of what’s really happening with Jenny Cooper.

•This book had an interesting premise, but I felt underwhelmed by the book as a whole. A lot of the conversations between Jenny and Linda were repetitive as well.

•Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and Joy Fielding for this ARC. It will become available on August 5, 2025.

A thriller for when you don’t want any jump scares, just an intriguing little mystery. Linda Davidson is a recent widow, her best friend is in memory care, and her daughter and son-in-law have brought their contentious marriage with them when they moved in with her. She’s grappling with these life changes and trying to be a good friend to Carol, her best friend in memory care. While visiting Carol, Linda meets Jenny Cooper, a patient with a secret - she kills people. Or does she? I appreciated our mature heroine and that she doesn’t sugar coat the new challenges that come with age. It dragged a little and I think it would have made a better novella, but Joy Fielding is always a good read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

A perfect beach read, but I didn’t find the story to be that thrilling. Parts were not believable. Not my favorite by this author.

I loved this book so much! I read it in one sitting and found the characters to be so real and amazing. I loved everything about the plot, I love that we never found out if Jenny killed people or not, and I loved how Jenny’s secret saved Kleo.

I have read several books by Joy Fielding and enjoyed all of them. "Jenny Cooper Has a Secret" is my favorite. The story revolves around one burning question: Is Jenny Cooper a serial killer? Linda's oldest and dearest friend resides at the old folks' home. She is suffering from Alzheimer's. Jenny introduces herself to Linda and asks her many questions about herself. She then tells Linda that she kills people. Naturally, Linda is awestruck and begins investigating Jenny and her family, many of whom have passed. I would tell you what comes next, but then I would have to kill you. Narration is superb.

One of the most inventive plots I've read i.n a long time! A seventy year old demwntia patient admits she is a murderer of long- standing.a brilliant premise for a mystery that quickly draws you in. Original, fast paced and not to be missed.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this but I would disagree with this caption on Goodreads "In this riveting psychological thriller, a woman must decide whether she can believe a dementia patient who claims to have a dark secret"
I found the story to be more of a family drama or women's fiction genre vs psychological thriller. It was funny, heartwarming, and infuriating at times but overall I loved Jenny and Linda and their relationship!

Expected publication
August 5, 2025 by Ballantine Books
3 ⭐'s

JENNY COOPER HAS A SECRET BY JOY FIELDING is a thriller that keeps you wondering even after the book has ended.
It Tells the story of Linda a 76 year old woman whose best friend goes to a memory care facility and she goes to visit her. There she also meets 92 year old memory patient who tells Linda she kills people.
They develop a sort of friendship and Jenny tells her of some of the killings. You wonder if she could be telling the truth. You will laugh ad cry with the characters. they are developed so well with humor and empathy. A great read

Linda is visiting her best friend in a memory care facility when she encounters another resident, Jenny Cooper. Jenny appears to be out of it sometimes and other times claims to have murdered people. Do we believe her or is it rambling of a confused mind. Jenny was an interesting character, she made the book. Her conversations with Linda will sometimes put a smile on your face. Is she confused or just cunning? Loved the ending of the book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Linda Davidson's best friend Carol has been moved to a memory care facility for Alzheimer’s and Linda is struggling with that loss, on top of the loss of her husband. While visiting at the facility she befriends a ninety two year old resident who claims to have killed people. With her foul mouth and slipping in and out of reality, Linda doesn’t know what to believe. Jenny becomes her unlikely confidant and they share their secrets with one another. Jenny Cooper is delightful and quirky, she made the novel!
I appreciate the ARC from Netgalley and our library will be purchasing this title when released.

I have book hangover from this one!
my secret recipe:
1. part Abbot and Costello
2.part trauma
3.learning to live without apologies
stir well.
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Linda Davidson knows loss. There is the recent death of Bob, her husband of many years. Then there is Carol, her best friend “since forever,” who is now a resident of Legacy Place a memory care facility. With Bob gone and Carol with no memory of their friendship, Linda is floundering. She is feeling down and finding very little interest in life. Added to this is the constant arguing of her daughter Kleo and her husband Mick who moved in with Linda after Bob’s death. Things are so bad in Linda’s house, that she often delays going home to avoid the conflict. Enter Jenny Cooper, a Legacy resident who Linda meets while visiting Carol. Linda finds herself drawn to Jenny, even though some of Jenny’s memories (stories) are hard to believe. However, through her blossoming friendship with Jenny, Linda begins to again engage in life, small steps at a time. She goes for coffee with Loren, joins a book club and plays bridge with Max. As she begins to experience life again, Linda also finds a way to help her daughter out of her bad marriage. In Jenny cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding, the reader discovers that our best advice often comes from the oddest places. Joy Fielding has done it again. A good book.

I usually love Joy Fielding books but this one fell flat for me. It seemed that nothing really happened. There was no big mystery. Others might like this book but it wasnt for me.

76 year old Linda Davidson is still mourning the death of her husband and has allowed her daughter Kleo and Kleo's brute of a husband Mick to move into her home while Kleo is finishing her dissertation and Mick is launching a new business. In the meantime, her lifelong best friend has just been admitted to a memory unit at a nursing home and barely recognizes her. Then Linda meets another resident of the nursing home, Jenny Cooper a 92-year-old dementia patient who shares her secret - she kills people. I personally love reading Joy Fielding's books and this newest one does not disappoint. I adored Jenny Cooper. - even if she is a cold-blooded killer. This is a page-turner that you will not want to put down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this advance reader's copy. I hope it get turned into a Netflix movie!

Jenny Cooper Has a Secret was a fun read. I enjoy Joy Fielding stories. This one involves Linda who has a friend that lives in a memory care facility. While visiting, she meets Jenny Cooper, also a resident, who tells Linda that she has killed people. Throughout we and Linda aren’t sure if Jenny’s stories are true or the rambling of a 92 year old suffering dementia. Linda’s daughter and son in law lives with her which becomes a difficult situation in itself. The ending was satisfying even if a little rushed. I liked that the story involved older characters and the things that they face as the world changes around the,. I enjoyed this story a lot.

Jenny Cooper Has. secret is a very entertaining story. The writing is smooth, funny and intriguing. Jenny lives in an assisted living home and Linda Davidson has a best friend that lives there also.
Linda visits her friend even though her friend doesn’t remember her. Jenny Cooper tells Linda she has a secret…….she kills people. Linda and Jenny start a friendship because Linda isn’t sure if Jenny is demented or telling the truth.
Linda has problems of her ow. She has lost her husband and is floundering as to what to do with herself. Her daughter and son in law have moved in with her and there is a lot of drama.
I read this book in one sitting. I laughed out loud. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this book!