All The Secret Things by Sheila Cragg

As the title suggests, there are many secrets in  this story. Eight-year-old Emily Walcott goes through life dealing with how these secrets affect the whole family. Her alcoholic mother abandons them, leaving her father to raise her and her younger sister on his own.

It was disappointing that he married so soon, and I wish he'd tried a little harder to spend more time allowing the girls to adjust. However, the new step-mother does her best to bring a semblance of stability to the newly formed family.

Unfortunately, before long, her son creates an unsafe and scary environment for his step-sisters. Though Emily tells how he torments her and her sister, the step-mother is in denial. Emily searches for love, and sometimes turns to the wrong person to find it. This book documents the life from childhood to adulthood, and even then, she still discovers the biggest secret of all. The way Emily deals with it is astounding.

Kudos to the author on this debut novel. All the secret things is an entertaining and insightful read.

4 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.