Title: Secrets Between Friends
Author: Fiona Palmer
Published: September 12th 2017
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Pages: 368
Genres: Fiction, Australian, Women’s Fiction/Life Lit
RRP: $29.99
Rating: 5 stars
My review:Friendship is a million little moments, but can it survive this one? Three friends embark on a luxury cruise to celebrate their ten-year reunion in this heartfelt story of how long-held secrets can catch up with even the best of friends
Life was about living, experiencing and emotions. The good and the bad. You had to laugh to cry. You had to love to hurt. You had to jump to fall or fly.Best friends Abbie, Jess and Ricki are set to recreate a school trip they took ten years earlier to the historic port town of Albany, the oldest city on the stunning turquoise coastline of Western Australia.
Ricki, a dedicated nurse, harbours a dream she hasn’t chased. Is she actually happy or stuck in a rut?
Jess, a school teacher and single mother to little Ollie, had a tough upbringing but found her way through with the help of her closest male friend, Peter. But Peter has bought an engagement ring and is ready to propose to Ricki . . .
Abbie had it all: a career, a loving boyfriend and a future, but a visit to the doctor bears scary news. Her world is tumbling down and she feels adrift at sea.
SECRETS BETWEEN FRIENDS is a poignant novel of romance, family dynamics and friendship. Through her highly relatable, sympathetic characters, beloved Australian storyteller Fiona Palmer writes about issues, experiences and emotions we have all faced while posing the ultimate question: What is really important in this life?
I just love how the idea for this book was born. Two of my favourite West Aussie novelists, Fiona Palmer and Rachael Johns, decide to take a three day cruise together. These two creative minds banded together in the best way possible and hence, Secrets Between Friends was conceived by Fiona Palmer on this high seas author adventure. Fiona Palmer’s latest release takes the secrets held by three close high school friends and airs these problems out on an unforgettable cruise of a lifetime.
Told from the shifting viewpoints of three twenty something friends, who have been close since high school, Secrets Between Friends looks at how a ten year reunion on board a luxury cruise liner, has the power to unveil a number of close held secrets. Each friend is as different as the other but somehow this trio, along with male friend Peter, have kept their friendship alive. For Abbie, life has been a breeze on the career, love and life front, until all hell breaks loose in close succession. Her boyfriend breaks up with her, she quits her job after a run in with her crazy boss and a worrying health condition arises. The cruise with her friends marks the perfect distraction to Abbie’s crumbling life, but can she keep the news of her health crisis a secret from her friends? Ricki is a hardworking nurse who has the perfect relationship with fellow high school friend Peter. Lately, Ricki has felt the need to stretch her wings further afield and do something meaningful with her nursing degree. The arrival of a new colleague at work sparks Ricki’s passion to follow her dreams elsewhere, in more ways than one. It spells trouble ahead for Ricki and Peter, which will all come to a head on the cruise. The final member of this high school trio is Jess. Jess balances her work as a teacher with the care of her son Ollie. Jess is a single mum but she has the unconditional support of her high school buddies, especially Peter, who she has been close with since a young girl. The feelings Jess has towards Peter become confused when Peter announces his intention to propose to Ricki on board to cruise. Jess realises now might just be the right time to take a step away from Peter, so he can concentrate o his relationship and impending marriage to Ricki. However, this isn’t as easy as it seems for Jess and Peter. The cruise plays the backdrop to the revelation and fallout of a series of secrets that are revealed as the ship sails across the tranquil West Australian waters.
Fiona Palmer’s first turn away from the rural romance genre into the field of women’s fiction or life lit as I prefer to label these style of books, is superb. I was impressed by the latest book from Fiona Palmer and I can safely say I enjoyed this book as much as, if not more than her fantastic rural romance novels. Secrets Between Friends is one of those books that has it all for me as a reader; a sensational West Australian setting, varied characterisation and a cracker of a narrative. Secrets Between Friends is a book that simultaneously brought tears of sadness, as well as joy.
The initial appeal of Secrets Between Friends was the familiar and well depicted West Australian setting. It was great to see Palmer move away from the outback based settings of her popular rural romance books and branch further afield to showcase some coastal, regional as well as city suburb based locations for her latest novel. In particular, I loved her sections based in Albany, a port stop for the cruise which the main characters of the novel embark upon. Palmer covers this area with plenty of local detail, providing plenty of great descriptions of the locale to entice state, interstate and international readers to want to visit this picturesque and historical hub of Western Australia.
The move to set the bulk of the action of a cruise ship was exciting and interesting. Although this was a short cruise, I enjoyed the time I was on board with the characters. Palmer gives the reader a good sense of what the cruise ship experience is like, complete with plenty of cocktails, sun and of course the beauty of the sea.
Palmer’s characterisation is solid and the alternating chapters which were shared between the three main characters gave the reader a well rounded insight into the innermost thoughts of these characters. I liked all of the characters in this book, despite the fact that at times I had to question their suspect decisions, actions and secrets. They did frustrate me and they did get under my skin, but they were still a loveable set. Mostly I admired their friendship and willingness to stick by one another despite the busy lives they all lead. The story arc involving Abbie, tests their friendship and really elevates it to another level. Palmer handled this section of the book very well.
Secrets Between Friends incorporates a number of themes and issues, all in the one compelling narrative. Palmer carefully explores single parenting, adultery, the ice epidemic, domestic violence and illness. There is the dominant theme of friendship that beats strongly throughout this novel. There are definitely sorrowful and dark moments in this novel. However, Palmer is careful to offset this tone by the themes of hope, love, family bonds and the achievement of personal dreams.
I appreciated Palmer’s decision to include a moving and poignant epilogue at the close of Secrets Between Friends. I wasn’t expecting it, but it gave essential closure to this heartfelt novel. Don’t forget the tissues though!
Secrets Between Friends receives a five star rating for me, I don’t give these out too often but when I do, it is an indication of a book receiving of my commendation. I look forward to your next addition to the life lit genre Fiona!
Secrets Between Friends by Fiona Palmer was published on September 12th by Hachette Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of Secrets Between Friends, Fiona Palmer, visit here.
Advertisements Share this:
