Book Review – The Safety of Secrets by DeLauné Michel

I received a copy of this book through the Gather Fiction Readers group. I didn't expect it to arrive so quickly and was already just beginning another book at the time it was delivered.  I began reading this story once I had finished that one, and was able to complete it over the holiday weekend.

The Safety of Secrets follows a friendship forged during childhood through the trials of growing up and becoming an adult.  The friendship is tested throughout the novel on more than one occasion as the two main characters, Fiona and Patricia, face the challenges of their daily lives.

Through common bonds, childhood experiences, career paths, marriage and childbirth, their bond is illustrated through intermixing their past experiences with the present day challenges of life as Hollywood actresses.  As with anything in life, sometimes growing up means growing apart.  This aspect is even more apparent as the story progresses.

It took several chapters for me to get used to the style of writing in this work, but once I hit that rhythm, The Safety of Secrets was an easy and enjoyable read.   The characters were well defined and likable. There were times, however, that I wondered why these two were still friends.  I also found myself looking back to some of my own childhood friendships, which have been lost somewhere along the way, identifying the point where they ceased to exist.

This thought provoking story is the perfect summer escape and would be a great book to take on along on a vacation.  The easy-flowing writing style, along with the intertwined past and present lives of these two individuals, paints a vivid mental picture of how a friendship can be tested over time.

I especially liked the book's ending. It fit well with what I had come to expect from Fiona and Patricia. I enjoyed this book and appreciate the opportunity to read and review it.