I have been waiting for a thriller to gobble up this year and Little Secrets ticked every box. A really great variety of characters who I had mixed feelings for. Marin is especially likeable, despite having her own flaws. In fact, I'd argue all of the characters (the good and the bad) are. It was a fast-paced plot that provided the right dose of every emotion - sadness, fear, excitement, thrill. I was pleased that just the right amount of time was spent on Sebastian's disappearance, instead, more time was dedicated to Marin's unravelling as a result. The author did (what I imagine to be) a really great job of portraying the total devastation of losing a child. Others might have seen the ending coming but I didn't and enjoyed the twists that got me there. Looking forward to reading more by Jennifer after this entertaining read.

This is a story about the loss of a child -- but it is about grief, shock, friendship and inevitably about different kinds of love. It is challenging to read about the grief of loss and the way it makes the characters behave. There is a desperately difficult relationship with a previous partner that develops in very unexpected ways as the story unfolds.
The main character is struggling with many things but ultimately relies on her previous friendship to support her in her struggle - this twist develops to surprise the reader.

Thoroughly recommended

Marin and Derek's 4-year-old son, Sebastian gets kidnapped when Marin momentarily takes her eyes off him in a crowded market.
16 months later, he's still not found, and while Marin is still struggling to cope with his disappearance, she finds out that her husband is cheating on her. Having lost her son, she is determined not to lose her husband too. What lengths will she go to to keep him for herself?

The story alternates between Marin's point of view and that of Derek's mistress, Kenzie. The opening chapter draws you in instantly, but I must say that I went into this novel expecting it to be a quest to find Sebastian, so I was surprised to learn that this wasn't the case.
That's not to say that it wasn't a nice surprise.
It was a suspenseful and fast-paced read that kept me engaged, but I'm on the fence about the rating.
I usually reserve 4 stars and above for books that have me racing through with bated breath and this one, despite being very entertaining, didn't meet these criteria. However, the ending left me open-mouthed, and that's the reason I contemplated raising the rating to 4 stars.
Unfortunately, in the end, I couldn't fully justify it, so I settled for 3 stars.
I'm aware I'm in the minority on this, I have read a lot of glowing reviews, so I urge you to check it out yourself.
It is definitely a good read that doesn't fail to keep you hooked.
It was my first book from this author, but it won't be my last.

Thanks to Atlantic Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not especially likeable characters, but wow what a gripping story. I thought I "got" who did it quite early on but the hows and whys were nicely hidden until all was revealed in the latter stages of the book.

Very well written and crisp dialogue and although it's not something i can relate to personally, I thought that the author's descriptions of Marin's inner and permanent turmoil even as she went about her daily routines we exceptional

An excellent read.

When I started this book I really didn’t enjoy it but reading the resume I decided to continue....it was well worthwhile. The storyline really pulls at your emotions especially if your a mother like me. I would really say persevere with it and you will be rewarded it’s a very powerful read!

Wow this was a real twisty and compulsive read that’s starts with a 4 year old boy being taken from his mother Marin as she lets go of his hand for a few seconds in a busy market. A year and a bit later Marin is trying to cope her marriage all but over and her life on hold as she desperately tries to come to terms with the fact she may never know what has happened to her son. This is a heart wrenching story of blame but it’s also so much more because there is a whole lot more going on in this twisted book as Marin realises there are secrets here and some very unpleasant ones at that.
I wasn’t expecting a lot of what happened in this book and it made for a thrilling read I flew through it as I was desperate to find out the outcome and it didn’t disappoint one bit it was a brilliant read full of emotion, well written and with some very believable characters.
A well deserved 4+ stars and 100% recommended I loved the book.
My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Little Secrets follows Marin, a woman who has the seemingly perfect life. She is happily married, has a successful career and they live in a gorgeous house with their son Sebastian. At the beginning of the story Marin’s world starts to fall apart after their son is taken while she is out shopping with him just before Christmas. Fast forward to the following year, Marin is a shadow of her former self. The FBI search for her son has gone cold and she and her husband are barely on speaking terms. She hires a private investigator to pick up where the police left off but instead of finding her son, she learns that her husband Derek is having an affair. Unable to make any progress in the search for her son, Marin decides to focus her attention on problem she can fix, the younger woman with whom her husband is having an affair, Kenzie.

I think the main reason Little Secrets struck a chord with me was because the subject matter and the way it was handled in the book felt so real. On the surface it is a really addictive domestic thriller but underneath that it is also a story about a mother who is trying to deal with losing her child. All of these elements in the story felt very raw and emotional and the characters were very believable. The tension towards the end built up so fast that at one point I was actually holding my breath, desperate to discover what happened in the end. Another great thriller from Jennifer Hillier - I would highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the ARC and opportunity to review.

Marin's life falls apart when her son is taken while she is distracted at the market. She hires a private investigator to try to find her son, and gets her hopes up when they get in touch over a year later to say she has some news. Unfortunately it isn't about her son, but rather she finds out that her husband is having an affair. Rather than completely fall apart, Marin decides she will do anything it takes to prevent her losing her husband as well. The story is told from both the perspectives of Marin and also her husband's mistress Kenzie. The plot is thrilling and is full of suspense and shocking twists, and the tense tale leads to a fantastic ending. A captivating read that I can't recommend enough. I can't wait to read more of Jennifer's books.

After reading the wonderful Jar of Hearts, I was always going to read Jennifer Hillier's latest heart stopping psychological thriller, set in Seattle, that grabbed me right from the beginning. Marin Machado is the woman with everything, the perfect life, running a string of hair salons for the wealthy and celebrities, with a good looking husband, Derek, a CEO and wealthy man in his own right, pillars of the community, blessed with a 4 year old son, Sebastian, conceived after fertility treatments. All it takes is a moment for Marin's life of privilege to go down the pan, on a Christmas shopping trip whilst answering a text. Sebastian is taken, taken by a person dressed in a Santa costume, and neither the police or the FBI succeed in finding the missing boy.

Over a year later, Marin is a complete wreck, distraught, her marriage to Derek has descended into a worrying silence, life seems barely worth living, she is seeing a therapist, attending a support group, the only place where she can be herself with others, and she just cannot forget or move on from the all enveloping grief over the loss of Sebastian. She is a mother who makes the momentous decision to hire a private investigator, Vanessa Castro, with Sebastian's abduction now being viewed as a cold case. Her life spirals into a nightmare when Castro informs her that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman, the beautiful pink haired 24 year old art student MacKenzie Li. An angry Marin has lost almost all that matters, she is not prepared to lose Derek too, that is one step too far for her.

In a story narrated by Marin and Kenzie, this is a twisted, tense and suspenseful tale where not everyone is as they appear. With many of the trademark tropes of the psychological thriller, there are eminently dislikeable characters, such as a Kenzie who exploits the frailties of being a man with no compunction whatsoever. This is a fast paced and riveting read, with no so little secrets, lies, loss, betrayal, being a mother and guilt at the heart of the novel. This is another great thriller from the pen of the talented Jennifer Hillier that I recommend to other crime and thriller readers. Many thanks to Atlantic Books for an ARC.

Marin Machado owns several upmarket salons and is very successful. She is Christmas shopping with her son Sebastian, known as Bash. He’s understandably getting fed up and to keep him going just a little bit longer she promises him a lollipop. When her phone rings she lets go of his hand for just a moment and that’s all it takes. The unthinkable happens and every parents nightmare. Sixteen months later she’s desperately struggling to come to terms with his abduction if indeed you ever can. She meets with others who have suffered similar losses in a support group but she’s basically putting one foot in front of the other at best. Her husband Derek is a very successful businessman and is extremely wealthy. When they should have been supporting each other he plays away and is having an affair with MacKenzie Li, a struggling art student and many years younger than Derek. What unfolds is dark and twisty and a really good read. The story is told by Marin and MacKenzie.

One of the biggest strengths of the book is how the author depicts Marin and Derek’s loss. You feel Marin’s pain and her guilt which at times is hard for her to live with. I like Marin although let’s just say she doesn’t always do the right thing! Derek lets her down so I don’t find him likeable and I won’t say much about MacKenzie as it would be a spoiler but her motives are not exactly honourable! Marin’s feelings for MacKenzie does do some good as the hatred helps bring her back to life. The story builds well and the end is really good and surprising.

My only negative is that I don’t find MacKenzie’s back story as interesting as Marin’s and I feel it’s too long. Other than that it’s a fantastic read, full of unexpected twists and turns and takes you on an intriguing rollercoaster ride.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the Arc.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

I really enjoyed reading Jar of Hearts last year. I enjoyed it so much that I actually read it again a few weeks ago.

Now, Little Secrets starts off with a big bang. Marin is trying to get in the last Christmas shopping with her 4 year old son Sebastian. One faithful moment she takes her eyes off him, and he is gone.
After this we flash forward a little over year, and Marin has changed.

When a P.I she hired to find Sebastian informs her that her husband Derek is having an affair, Marin latches on to this. Anger, she can do that.

What follows is a very interesting story. We are told the story from two points of view, Marin and Mckenzie, the mistress.
None of the characters in this book are very likeable, but I always have a weak spot for horrible characters in stories.
I did enjoy reading this a lot, however, I felt that the ending and the big twist was predictable.

I devoured Little Secrets. This book is one of those that the rest of your life goes on hold for!

I found myself totally gripped from the end of the first chapter and then it just got more intense! This is a page turner and a half! Marin isn’t a character that you like but you can feel her desperation through the pages

The only downside is I suspected who the antagonist was and was correct. Minor issue really!

The title of the book is a red herring there’s no little secrets here. Just huge life destroying ones.

5/5! Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. This book started out really good; i did think parts in the middle were a little slow, but def picked back up and holy secrets!!! relationships coming into the light I didn't see coming, lies people told each other, i didn't see coming. Great ending!