A brilliant fast paced YA thriller that’ll keep you guessing throughout. The plot was fun with plenty of twists to guessing. The reason I’m only giving it a three stars is due to the fact that I felt it lacked a bit of depth in some places, I wanted a bit more from the characters because I really liked them and felt they could’ve used a bit more substance. However, this is a YA thriller so I think targeted at a younger audience it was perfect just perhaps not older teens.

Sophie McKenzie has such a recognisable voice in the YA field. I enjoyed this story of family, loss, intrigue, UK based stuff. I think young people will really enjoy this.

A great teen thriller from a popular author that will appeal to younger teens who enjoy a good fast paced read. Plenty of twists and turns to keep them engaged. I’m sure it will fly off school library shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I initially requested this as I had read and enjoyed Sophies previous books when I was a teenager and really enjoyed them. Hide and secrets was no different. I was reminded of how much I liked the writing style. This story is centred around teenager Cat trying to uncover the truth about her dad, who's believed to be dead. However, after receiving messages from one of his friends, it looks like that isn't actually the case at all. Tasked with uncovering what really happened, Cat enlists the help of the boy that's staying nearby for the holidays to filter out the lies from the truth.

This was such a fast paced, easy read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the dynamics between the two main characters. A classic teen thriller that gave me everything I was looking for and then some.

This was quite a clever YA thriller, it obviously didn’t have as many thrills and drama as an adult novel but it was interesting and held my attention throughout

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

This was a fun and entertaining read. A thriller for younger teens. With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book

As a keen fan of YA and thrillers, I was keen to read this one. I’ve not come across McKenzie’s books before, but the blurb really appealed. Whilst this is YA, it felt more on the younger side of the YA audience and the adult in my head found the first half a bit run of the mill, if I’m going to be honest. But then some twists started happening and it started to appeal more.

This one ended up being an engaging read and I enjoyed following Cat on her adventures - there are parts when you really do feel for her. And I found her friendship with Tyler really refreshing and the support he gave her was a good touch. Her little sister was very endearing too.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Simon and Schuster UK and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

Hide and secrets is the first Sophie Mackenzie book I’ve read although my daughter has read the girl, missing trilogy and loved it.

Although the writing was good and storyline easy to follow I find that with YA thrillers they lack the excitement that I find adult books have.

Saying that, I really enjoyed the character developments of Cat and her sister Bess who lost the ability to speak after their Dad’s death.

Tyler was a great crutch for Cat and his support and friendship through their whole adventure was really endearing.

I will definitely read more by this author but due to the YA nature of them I won’t expect the same thrills as I get from adult books.

A fast-paced, well written tale full of friendship and intrigue. I really enjoyed unravelling the mystery!

Hide and Secrets is fantastic. It's one of Sophie McKenzie's best works. Full of suspense and mystery, it draws the reader in and keeps them on their toes.

Hide and Secrets is a fast paced YA mystery novel following Cat and the whereabouts of her father - a man assumed dead after a boating accident. But after receiving a phone call from an old colleague his turns Cat's world upside down.
Cat a strong, savvy protagonist forms an alliance with Tyler a sweet lad who Cat has a soft spot for.
You really grew attached to the characters like Cat's silent little sister Bess, who's just so sweet, all the relationships in this novel are brilliantly written; sisterhood, love, mother's love and more.

I haven't read any books by Sophie McKenzie before, but her writing is fast paced and really gripping, that you can't put the book down. I did enjoy this very much, but I marked it down as it didn't fully thrill me and I did want alittle more from the characters.

I will say there are a couple of things that might be a trigger, however the author deals with them perfectly.

I'd say it is a great, fast read for ages 12+, as there is nothing unsuitable or graphic.


‘My life isn’t decided by the planets, and their positions. I choose who I am. Every day.’

My daughter and I loved reading Sophie McKenzie's books when she was younger so I was delighted to receive this as an ARC. It didn't disappoint (even though I am now 50!) Some young adult fiction can actually be for all ages and this is one of those books.

A gripping first sentence that instantly evokes the need for the reader to know ‘why?’ ‘What happened?’
McKenzie makes this accessible to teenage readers by incorporating thoughts and speech that sound as though they come from a girl of that age, without sounding condescending.
Things are confusing enough for Cat, the main character, when she is sent a message that claims her father is not dead, as she thought. Then, as she tries to discover the truth behind this claim, she becomes embroiled in a cunning criminal plan that is dangerous for her and her younger sister.
‘Hide and Secrets’ is the sort of book I would have loved as a teenager as it combines mystery, a bit of detective-work and also a hint of teenage romance, but within the context of a realistic setting. I would definitely recommend this for boys and girls looking for just such a read and think it should be included in every children’s library.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant page turning book for Young adults. This is a great introduction to the thriller genre without being too graphic or violent. The twists kept me guessing and I will definitely be recommending this to my students.

Another stonker from Sophie McKenzie, full of cliffhangers, twists and turns, secrets, family issues and a little bit of romance too. McKenzie is a master at a well-rounded plot which gives you plenty of detail and emotion without being heavy handed, so the reader feels like they can guess at what is coming (even if they're wrong!). Very popular title in our school library, and students who try this as their first McKenzie come back gushing with praise and asking if she's written any more!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK Children's for the arc of Hide and Secrets by Sophie McKenzie.

4 stars- Follows 14 year old Cat whos alone.. her dad is missing and presumed dead.. her mum is like she is in her own world own thoughts and her sister Bess refuses to talk.. A boy Tyler and his father stays nearby for the holidays she opens up to him and then discovers some information which then gives Tyler and Cat to unravel the lies surrounding her fathers disappearance.

Hide and Secrets is a fast paced mystery following the search by Cat for the whereabouts of her father - assumed dead after a boating accident. After receiving a phone call from an old colleague of her father's Cat's mundane life is thrown into turmoil as everything and everyone she has known is deemed untrustworthy. McKenzie weaves in different themes - coming of age; romance; crime; family dynamics - to create a book bursting with plot twists, dead ends and revelations which should keep most YA readers guessing to the end.

Far fetched, brilliant fun, if a bit predictable in parts. (Especially the twists towards the end.)

Perfect for younger readers to introduce them to thrillers, I plan to definitely have a copy in my classroom library.

Even though this is a bit more YA than I was first expecting, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I really enjoyed Cat and Tyler’s character as well as the diversity of Bess! There were plenty of twists and turns in this book that kept me guessing until the very end. I found it very well written and easy to read, it kept me wanting to turn the pages and I really really enjoyed sophie Mckenzie’s work. Will definitely read more!