YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

A girl takes over her twin sister's identity in this emotionally charged page-turner about the complicated bond between sisters.

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver will be our third GBR for August 2015.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

It sounds a little like The Lying Game. I have high hopes for this book!

Is that the one by Sara Shepard!? I need to read that series, but I don't want to start it until I've finished the PPL series.

Starting this one early! I love contemporary books, they're like my guilty pleasure, it has a lot of promise so far ^.^

35% (view spoiler)[ I'm kind of wondering what the end game of this is going to be...she obviously can't tell her parents that she lied about being her dead twin sister? (hide spoiler)]

Hmmm

75%: (view spoiler)[ ALEX IS SO ANNOYING

and also how have her parents not noticed it's her? You'd think parents would be able to tell their own kids apart? (hide spoiler)]

the end: (view spoiler)[ talk about anti climatic, like everyone just accepted that she was ella? nobody is mad? Alex has to mourn his girlfriend now, Maddy's friends have to mourn too, didn't anybody think of them? No, just add in a hug and everything's fineeeeeeee (hide spoiler)]

Starting this early. I might be able to finish it tonight.

Prologue: (view spoiler)[ It was very interesting and cool. I am already wondering what's going to happen. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ I don't think I can ever handle a twin brother/sister. I do like how they do thing for each other. I don't think I would ever help my twin out that way at school. She makes Maddy look smart, and herself look dumb. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[ I am wondering what happened to Maddy. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[ Alex thinks Ella is Maddy! Because she called out to Maddy! Poor Ella! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[ That sounds like the most excruciating way to know which twin is who. (hide spoiler)]

Connie wrote: "35% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I am wondering about that too. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26: (view spoiler)[ Josh knows that she is Ella and not Maddy. At least her best friend can always be there for her now in secret. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[ I feel bad for her mother. She listened to Ella's voicemail 15 times in a day. (hide spoiler)]

Connie wrote: "the end: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I thought that too, but I am still glad that she admitted to herself that she couldn't be Maddy anymore. I agree Alex and Maddy's friends should have to mourn her loss now. (hide spoiler)]

Starting now!

2% - if the phone ringing is annoying you so much, why don't you turn it off? Geez.

3% (view spoiler)[ I'm not liking that sister! She is so stuck up! (hide spoiler)]

Done! Another fast read!

(view spoiler)[ I couldn't like Maddy. She was too bratty and unethical for my taste. And the mystery felt a bit underwhelming. I was expecting more than Maddy drugging someone else. Don't get me wrong, that was bad, but I was expecting more bad things, y'know? Alex led me to thinking Maddy had done more bad stuff to be popular and all that. (hide spoiler)]

Starting now. :)

Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[Wonder what happend to make her so upset? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 - Well, It's a fast read, but it's nothing special so far.

That wasn't bad, but it definately wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

20% done (view spoiler)[ If she knew what she did it would kill her that's probably why she woke up with amnesia (hide spoiler)]

chapter 1-6 (view spoiler)[It's not so original but it's very fast paced and I am hooked up! (hide spoiler)]

32% done (view spoiler)[ Not talking to Josh?How could she? (hide spoiler)]

72%(view spoiler)[ She's pissing me off.Just come clean,you will eventually amyway- (hide spoiler)]

Chap 32 (view spoiler)[ It's pretty obvious.You took the drugs and switched your tests.She is supposed to be smart (hide spoiler)]

93% (view spoiler)[ Finally ! (hide spoiler)]

chapters 7-12 (view spoiler)[I was wondering how and when she would discover that she is really ella and not Maddy, I think that is a way good as any others, but I am not so impressed. The starting was good but now I am not so sure that I am liking it anymore (hide spoiler)]

Lydia wrote: "32% done [spoilers removed]"

I totally agree!!!!

Chapter 1

(view spoiler)[So far I think Maddy is really annoying (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[I just wanna reach through this book and slap Maddy. She's such a brat (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9

(view spoiler)[I get that they're identical twins, but how can you not tell that the girl you were dating for three years isn't the girl you're talking to? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22

(view spoiler)[I feel really bad for Josh. I think this whole thing is probably the hardest on him (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 26

(view spoiler)[I'm glad Josh knows. It was about time someone figured it out (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 39

(view spoiler)[I feel like they were too calm after finding out that Ella was really Ella (hide spoiler)]

chapters 13-21 (view spoiler)[ The idea was intriguing and from time to time is an intersting reading, but I think I know what is happening within Maddy's circle and I am mostly bored (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 4

[spoilers removed]"

Me too!!!!

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 39
[spoilers removed]"

I totally agree with you!!!

finished (view spoiler)[I am happy that the thruth comes out and I am happy for Josh, I like him as a character, but the end seems to me a little bit unrealistic. Sure, I'm happy for the "happy ending" but all the things seem rushed and so I am not so satisfyed with the ending. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Maddy is really annoying and takes advantage of her sister way too much. But I'm wondering why she is upset. Something happens at the party. But what? (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 4

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ same but she is acting this way to hide something else. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9 (view spoiler)[ yes. She remembers who she really is. I'm surprised that Alex does not realize. (hide spoiler)]

done (view spoiler)[ overall an okay book. Good have been better with a few changes. The ending felt rushed when everything else during the book was drawn out.

I loved when Josh found out. I was feeling bad for Josh and wanted to slap Ella from the start for even doing this.

As for when her parents found out. I was surprised how little they reacted. I was expecting more.

It was an interesting idea and a enjoyable read. (hide spoiler)]

Katrina wrote: "Chapter 26

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ this was one of my favorite parts. I was happy he found out. But surprised it took so long. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 3 (view spoiler)[Oh, what happened to Maddy at the party?!. (hide spoiler)]