Jenny Cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding. Realistically portrayed older characters with their various quirks and issues. Ms Field has told the story with compassion and humor. Thoroughly enjoyed Jenny Cooper Has a Secret, a highly recommended read.
Thank you to Joy Fielding, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Thanks to the wonderful publisher Ballantine books and Netgalley for this eARC.

I greatly enjoyed this story; as soon as I saw an offering from Joy Fielding (an author I have followed for decades) I immediately requested it.

This novel is one of those great slow burn reads with excellent character development that does what only the best books can do - pulls you out of your daily ennui / doldrums and provides you with a brand new world to become immersed in.

I greatly enjoyed the characters in this book, the aging widow, Linda Davidson, who is gracious enough to allow one of her two loving daughters, Kleo, to live with her, as well as her lout of a husband, Mick.

Linda meets Jenny Cooper when she is visiting her best friend in an assisted living apartment.

Jenny Cooper is a stellar character a seemingly ordinary (albeit cantankerous) elderly woman with a few extraordinary secrets to share. This story reminds us that within each elderly individual we meet a whole new world exists, if only we take time to listen.

My adoration for Jenny Cooper grew as steadily as Linda Davidson's.

I don't believe in adding spoilers to my reviews, but trust me, read this book; it is a testament to relationships - not just among the family members which are ours by birth, but also our friends who are family members by choice.

This book addresses themes of trust, friendship and love, in all its circumstances (including misplaced spousal delusion and misplaced adoration).

Fielding, a seasoned storyteller, once again proves her prowess in creating characters of great depth and plots with gripping storylines.

Fielding's writing style is engaging and accessible, with a knack for building suspense. Her descriptive prose brings the settings to life, and her dialogue feels authentic and natural.

The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of action interspersed with quieter, introspective scenes.

Whether you're a longtime admirer of Fielding's work or a newcomer to her novels, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

5 stars from this deeply pleased fan, it pulled me out of myself at a time when I greatly needed the escape. Then, it sent me back to the bookstore, to catch up on any previous delights that I have missed from the talented Joy Fielding, the author of captivating novels.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun ride! When a strange woman in a memory care facility whispers to Linda that she “kills people,” Linda is startled but intrigued. What is Jenny Cooper’s story, and is she telling the truth? This didn’t compare to The Housekeeper, but it was just as compulsively readable.

3.5 stars. I think this was a good book, but I do not think that this was the book for me. It really felt all over the place.

Linda Davidson is visiting her best friend who, sadly, has developed dementia when she runs into a firecracker named Jenny Cooper. Jenny whispers that she has a secret: She’s killed someone. But since she also has dementia and is 92 years old, Linda doesn’t take her seriously. At first.

What follows is an often entertaining look at the growing friendship between Linda and Jenny, along with the marriage between Linda’s daughter, Kleo, and her husband, Mick. I appreciated reading the perspective of an older woman, and Jenny Cooper made me literally laugh out loud a few times. I successfully predicted the ending way before I got there, but it was satisfying, so that was okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.