Family Secrets

This week we take a look at two books which I read in 2022 and which both centre around family secrets.

Both of the books for this week are ones which I really enjoyed and recommend. In saying this, the second book caused a bit of controversy among some of my friends – it tends to be one you either highly recommend or get really frustrated by. I am in the highly recommend category!

First up we have Miracle Creek by Angie Kim. I found this book really thought-provoking. It explores themes of family, identity, and justice. The story is about a Korean immigrant family who run a hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) business in rural Virginia. The story begins with the explosion of the HBOT chamber, killing two people and injuring others.

The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, including the mother and father who run the business, the teenage daughter who is struggling with her identity, and various other characters involved in the trial that follows. This book is a page-turner – I really wanted to find out who was responsible for the explosion and what happened in the lead up. This one kept me guessing (and reading, and reading, and reading…).

I liked the way the characters in Miracle Creek were developed - each with their own flaws and struggles. The author does an excellent job of portraying the complexity of human relationships, and the way that secrets and lies can tear families apart.

Add this one to your TBR!

Next up we have The Paper Palace by Miranda Crowley Heller. Please, please have a look into the trigger warnings for this book before you start reading it.

This is the more controversial of the two recommendations this week. I couldn’t put this book down. I really enjoyed the way this book is written as it explored different time periods to develop the characters and the story, and the way a family’s secrets and betrayals are revealed.

The story is focused around the main character, Elle. A married mother of three who has returned to her family's vacation home in Cape Cod. Elle’s childhood sweetheart, Jonas, is also there, and she must confront the feelings she still has for him, as well as the secrets they share from their past and present.

This story is told through exploring different periods of Elle’s life - the story flips back and forward between Elle’s childhood and through to the present day.

The way this book came to me was in an online group started by a friend of mine for people to recommend good books and podcasts. Someone posted asking if anyone had read this one. A chat followed where people were commenting about the ending – “did you understand it?” “What do you think happened?” “I read it a few times and I still don’t know.” I was so intrigued by all of this that I went and borrowed it from the library the next week – I wanted to know what everyone was talking about!

I won’t give away what happens for people to have this reaction to the book. I will say that I loved the ending! Have you read this one? I would love to know your thoughts, especially about the ending (No spoilers please – you might have to private message me!)

Have you read any books about family secrets? I’d love to know your recommendations too, because life is too short to read bad books.