The Secret Of Us

by Liesel Schmidt

[Leah]

When Liesel Schmidt sent me a message asking if I would like to review her new book The Secret of Us, I was thrilled to accept. It sounded like such an interesting read, as Eira tries to rebuild her life after her fiance leaves her for no real reason whatsoever, after a date night at their favourite restaurant. Eira makes her way to Florida (good choice, GIRL!) and gets the surprise of her life when none other than Matt himself ends up sitting at one of the tables, at the restaurant where she’s a waitress. But Matt actually has no idea who Eira is..

At first, I thought this was going to be a typical novel where the heroine never got over her ex, despite the fact three years had past (I mean, COME ON – it was three years ago) but actually the book takes an entirely different, and unexpected turn, and goes off in an entirely new direction, which surprised me, but was also a really, really good turn of events because it took it away from the cliched plot line I feared.

This was actually one of the most emotional books I’ve ever read. There is so much that happens in the book, so much I’m not willing to divulge because if I mention even one more word about the plot, it will likely ruin the entire book, and most of the enjoyment I got from this novel was the shock factor of new things being told to Eira. Suffice to say, there is a lot of emotions in the book, the plot goes off in a completely different, unexpected direction that only serves to make the book more gripping. I could barely put it down, because I was just so desperate to know more about Eira, and more about what Matt had done, and the entire thing with Oliver and Charles. Charles, who I fear was a tad bit Jekyll and Hyde, the way he tended to go off the deep end about most things; but then was Mr Charming days later (it was so bizarre, but so enjoyable). It’s amazing what anger can do to a person.

I really enjoyed The Secret of Us, there were so many layers to the novel, so much more than girl can’t get over her ex, which I was so, so happy about. I look forward to reading more from Liesel Schmidt in the future. She certainly knows how to put you through the wringer, and I loved getting to know her characters and I absolutely adored the Florida setting; I dream of living in Florida…