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Book Review of Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets
writer-renegade avatar reviewed on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Dirty Little Secrets has just about everything I love in a novel. Dark, disturbing, and real. Lucy seems normal enough, but behind the walls of her home is a secret she works hard to keep hidden from everyone around her. Piles of junk and stacks of trash. Nothing is thrown out, but everything is wasted. Suddenly her mother dies, and everything changes for Lucy. She knows she can start over -- fix what her mother let get out of control -- but she only has a few hours to do it.

Based on whatever summary you read, you may or may not know exactly what Lucy does when she finds her mother. I don't want to give anything away myself, but it's slightly disturbing. Despite this, there's a level of sympathy the reader has for her. Every word is captivating, while at the same time the horrific knowledge still clings to the reader. I for one had to keep reading to know how this would pan out.

Chapter after chapter digs deeper into Lucy's secret life, and even reveals secrets about her family that she never knew. A normal life is in her reach, and yet her old was is trying to drag her back.

I love it. So magnificently horrifying in a completely realistic way. The story takes place in a little more than 24 hours, and Lucy's anxiety translates onto the page. The end was what I would call perfect. Just as disturbing as the beginning, and not an ounce too corny.