Best friends and artists Lily and Inga meet their future partners, Alex and Matt, on a night out. They all stay close even when Matt gets a job in London and Inga follows him.
As Lily continues to grapple with her tumultuous childhood, her long-lost sister returns along with Lily’s guilt over an incident that tore them apart.
This was a wonderfully engrossing story about two friends, two couples and two sisters. Lily, as the main protagonist, keeps getting up each day despite facing so many complications so you can’t help but admire her and really hope she gets her happy ending. A very compelling read that exceeded expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I am not sure why but this book did not work for me. However, as I always say when I don't like a book, just because I did not like the book, it doesn't mean that someone else won't like it. It also doesn't necessarily mean that I may not like another book by the same author. Or even that I may not like the book if I try it again in the future.

I felt absorbed by this story and this was simply due to the outstanding character development throughout the book. Gosh, I was really rooting for Lily! There are moments when she has the weight of the world on her shoulders and I felt such sympathy for her. Yet I was also in awe of Lily’s strength, perseverance and resolve.

So much was explored in this novel - with precision, depth, emotion and realistic dialogue. Childhood trauma is a heavy thing to bear and has lasting impacts into adulthood; affecting family relationships and friendships because some secrets are just too painful and it’s easier to keep them hidden in the past. Outlets and coping mechanisms that range from drugs and alcohol, to art and painting beside the crashing waves of the sea. All of this is portrayed brilliantly before reaching a satisfying conclusion for Lily in various ways. Sometimes peace is found by letting go (of both people and past experiences) and accepting that we cannot fix everything for others.

Besides Lily, my other favourite character is Beryl - the sort of Grandmother figure that we would all like! Only part of Lily’s life for a short time, but she leaves a lasting impact. Beryl’s kindness, warmth, listening ear, inspiration and honest advice is just what Lily needs.

A superbly crafted, beautifully written and highly relevant story.

Thank you to the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, for a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Closest Kept is filled with little joys and uncomfortable situations that Lily and her three close friends experience throughout the years after university. A story about working through difficult moments and being true to yourself, Closest Kept provides readers with the inner struggles many people face. Something that resonated with me in the novel is the struggle of the artist. Here, Lily and her best friend, Inga, are artists who constantly have to choose creativity or social/societal expectations. When they choose anything but art, they don't seem to feel whole. When art is selected, there is growth and emotional expression.

Overall, I enjoyed the pacing and realistic challenges Lily works through.

Lily's painful past resurfacing is a large part of this novel, which may be triggering for some readers.

A very well-written and engrossing story. Definitely will recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story starts out with best friends Lily and Inga meeting Matt and Alex one night. While there is instant chemistry between Lily and Matt, Inga makes it clear she set her sites on Matt and Alex became instantly smitten with Lily.
The plot is centered around Lily’s awful childhood and the burdens she has silently carried with her. The subplot is centered around the two couples.
Everyone, except for Matt and Beryl, seemed to dump their problems onto Lily. I found it difficult to relate to several of the characters like Violet, Inga and needy Alex.
I enjoyed her conversations with Beryl, as well as the special friendship she shared with Matt. The last part of the book was much better than the beginning.
The narrative is well-written, making it a quick read.
I found the book narrator irritating, which affected my overall experience of the story at first, so I switched to the ebook.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lily and Inga are inseparable since they became friends, so when they meet two guys who quickly become part of their every day lives, it seems too good to be true. Two girlfriends, meeting two guy friends and neither set were really looking for love but it seemed to find them. Inga had her eye on Matt and they seemed to fit well together and Lily then got together with Alex and love did come the more time they spent together. Things seemed to be well, and everyone was anticipating wedding bells in the future for them all. But relationships often cannot last when there are secrets being kept. Lily isn't sure she is ready for marriage but Alex and his mother keep pushing the topic as well as having children. Matt has done anything and everything he could for Inga, but she just doesn't seem happy. She hates their house, she can't seem to hold down a job and doesn't want anything to do with Matt lately. As the relationships fall apart, Lily and Inga realize how different they've become and the shocking secrets that they were keeping from each other. Lily can hardly believe how fast Alex moved on from her, and the things Inga was keeping from Matt. As relationships continue to strain Lily realizes she is sick of keeping everyone's secret, sick of hiding her past and sick of other dictating her life. As the truth of her past unravels, it reveals why Lily is who she is and why she has made the choices she has. But she finally has found that one person who she can open up to, explain it all and isn't afraid to fall for. I could not wait to see how this all ended up. I was rooting for them the whole time! Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of Closest Kept.

Lily and Inga are best friends who end up meeting their future loves at a bar together one night. Then the four of them become inseparable. But then life changes take them away from one another and they start to question if they were meant to be or not.

I truly could not stand any of the characters in this book. They were all selfish and not good people. This was not the book for me.

:Lily has held onto her traumatic past and kept it secret even from her partner Alex, her best friend Inga, and Inga's partner Matt who might actually have been the one for her. Now, though, thanks to her sister, she's got to face things. This is a thoughtful look at family and the family we make as well as overcoming our issues. Lily is a sympathetic character who feels very real. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

This book was so well written and it just flowed really well. Our protagonist Lily.... oh I felt for this girl! She just kept having thing after thing thrown at her, making her take care of others but never herself. There are a lot of heavy subjects in this story...parental neglect, parental abandonment, childhood trauma, drug use relationship ups and downs, etc.

I really liked that Lily had Matt to rely on. Inge and Alex were there but not in the same capacity as Matt I felt. I hated how Lily let Violet always walk over her. I know she's her sister but the things she does and says are not healthy for either sister.

I need to read more of her books if they are like this. So great!

this is a solid and unwavering read following a groups lives and loves and spending time in their lives will leave the reader raw and emotional too.
the themes arent always easy, at all. but they are handled with the careful touch they deserve.
i felt for Lily so much in this book. can we all just leave her alone please. i mean give the woman a second to catch up before chucking the next thing at her. she was carrying so much. her feeling all over the place at time. and alot of people not considering those feelings in the way they should!
we meet Lily and Inga, now est friends. who meet Matt and Alex and end up pairing of with eachother, they are now a four. what follows is the lives they lives together and apart all centred around what is going on for Lily and how what happened in her childhood and beyond changed her life forever.
it was raw and exposing at times and really well written themes such as mental health were included with the light and shade they deserved.
i thoroughly enjoyed this book. its a heart hitter for sure.

i loved this book so much… even though at one point or another, i absolutely hated every single character (except maybe matt. matt stays winning). and lily—my girl lily—i adored her, but sometimes her “helpful” energy had me like… please. just say no. you don’t have to fix everyone.

about the characters:
matt: obsessed. never had a single note. he needed more page time.
inga: good friend! but also?? a bit much. she was intense.
alex: hated him. never liked him. not once. i’m praying fatherhood humbles him.
violet: a firm no from me. beginning, middle, end, past, present—no.
lily: my sweet soft girl with so much growth!! her arc was everything.


the pacing was tight, the plot was packed, and if you’re into character-driven books with friendship, family tension, and thoughtful mental health themes—add this to your tbr asap. it’s messy in the best way.

Closest Kept is an emotionally charged, beautifully crafted story that will pull at your heartstrings and leave you thinking about it long after you finish. Kitty Johnson masterfully balances vulnerability and strength in this tale of secrets, relationships, and the complexities of love.

The characters are richly developed, each with their own hidden layers and struggles. The slow unraveling of their truths kept me hooked, and I found myself rooting for their journeys, even when the road ahead seemed impossible. The tension between what’s said and what’s left unsaid is palpable, and Johnson does an excellent job of making you feel the weight of those unspoken words.

There’s a quiet intensity to this book, a sort of emotional buildup that makes the payoff all the more impactful. It’s a story of facing the things we keep closest to our hearts—and how, sometimes, letting them go can be the only way to truly move forward.

This is a poignant and introspective novel that delves into the lasting effects of childhood trauma and the complexity of familial bonds. Centered around Lily, a woman who seems to have built a stable, promising life, the story is upended by the unexpected return of her estranged younger sister after years of silence. This reappearance forces Lily to confront painful memories and unresolved emotions, challenging her sense of identity and future.

While some of the heavier themes—like alcoholism, child neglect, and drug abuse—are handled with a lighter touch than they perhaps deserve, the emotional heart of Lily’s journey remains engaging and authentic. This story focus on sisterhood, personal growth, and the often messy road to healing. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories with emotional depth and a hopeful undertone will find much to admire here, especially those familiar with Johnson’s previous work.

4.75 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster 🎢—in the best way. Lily's journey is raw, real, and full of heart 💕. I laughed, I teared up, and I rooted for her every step of the way 🌧️➡️☀️. Beautifully written with strong themes of healing and learning to put yourself first. A touching and powerful read 🌸🫶🏼📖

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free ARC copy to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of Closest Kept by Kitty Johnson.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Many kiddos to Kitty Johnson for writing characters who are likable and relatable. They pull you in and keep you flipping the pages to see what’s going to happen next. In Closest Kept, the main character Lily has lived through a traumatic childhood and is dealing with this in adulthood the best way she can. She has her best friend, Inga, who they then go on to date best friends Matt and Alex. But how close can four friends be or even the two in a relationship when it seems there are always some secret being kept. This book is really a story of growing up, growing apart and back together in different ways, and most importantly overcoming all the obstacles life can throw at you plus the trauma you’ve endured. A little bit of romance, a whole lot of heartache, but overall a happy ending and many answers for all. A worthwhile read!

Thank you to the author for reaching out to me and offering me the chance to read an arc of Closest Kept. I loved Prickly Company so I jumped at the chance.

This another character led story of complicated relationships and how traumatic events experienced as children can follow us through our lives. Focusing a lot on mental health issues as our characters face difficult times in their lives. Being abandoned. Unplanned pregnancy and abortion. Controlling relationships. Death of a parent.

The story is told from Lily’s POV. I loved her friendship with Inga, with all its ups and downs. On a night out they meet friends Alex and Matt and their lives change.

Other than Matt, most of the characters had a lot of unlikeable traits, putting poor Lily through the mill as she had to support everyone much to her own detriment. I was willing her to find someone who could be her rock and help support her.

We all have our ups and downs in life, and this could be the story of any of our friends. We need to keep supporting each other and asking are you okay? Are you sure?

Absolutely loved it. Another cracking page turner which kept me reading well past my bedtime last night!

Im Buch begleitet der Leser die enge Freundschaft zwischen Lily und Inga, die gemeinsam durch Höhen und Tiefen des Lebens navigieren. Nach einer zufälligen Begegnung in einer Bar scheinen die beiden mit Alex und Matt ihre perfekten Partner gefunden zu haben. Doch als Inga und Matt berufsbedingt nach London ziehen, wird ihre Freundschaft auf die Probe gestellt. Hinzu kommt, dass Lilys Beziehung zu Matt intensiver wird, was sie an ihrer ursprünglichen Partnerwahl zweifeln lässt. Die unerwartete Rückkehr von Lilys entfremdeter Schwester bringt weitere Herausforderungen mit sich und zwingt Lily, sich ihrer Vergangenheit zu stellen und lang gehütete Geheimnisse zu offenbaren. ​

Johnson zeichnet einfühlsam die Komplexität menschlicher Beziehungen und die Auswirkungen vergangener Traumata auf das gegenwärtige Leben. Die Charaktere sind vielschichtig und authentisch, was es dem Leser ermöglicht, sich mit ihren inneren Konflikten und Entscheidungen zu identifizieren. Besonders beeindruckend ist die Darstellung von Lilys innerem Kampf zwischen Loyalität, Liebe und Selbstfindung. ​

Fazit: ein bewegender Roman über Freundschaft, Liebe und die Kraft der Ehrlichkeit. Er lädt dazu ein, über die Bedeutung von Vergebung und den Mut, sich der eigenen Vergangenheit zu stellen, nachzudenken. Ein empfehlenswertes Buch für alle, die tiefgründige Geschichten über menschliche Beziehungen schätzen.

I really enjoyed reading this heartfelt and poignant story. Though very different from the author's previous novel, PRICKLY COMPANY, it is still very much on author brand, exploring difficult themes of childhood trauma, romantic entanglements, complex parent-child relationships, motherhood, and womanhood, in an accessible and truthful way. The main character, Lily, is a complex character with many issues that stem from her horrific childhood, and that keep reverberating through her life, subverting it in painful ways, forcing her to dig deep to find the courage to break away from its suffocating grip. This is Women's Fiction and Kitty Johnson at their best.

Emotionally scarred from a tumultuous childhood Lily reinvented herself and her family when she met Inga at art college.
Years later they are flat sharing, trying to make it in the art world whilst supporting themselves by waitressing and office work.
A rare night out and they meet Matt and Alex. The two friends become a foursome.
Lily is still hiding secrets about her adolescence from all of them.
Years pass, careers and life changes occur. Can the foursome still be two couples and will the couples go the distance?
A very emotional and at times raw story but excellent in it's telling.