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jessicafarmer80's review
3.0
3.5⭐️ I listened to this as an audiobook and liked it. Somehow I guessed the ending super early in the book - but still enjoyed it!
mpr2000's review
4.0
Cristina is a therapist, she had a very difficult year, but now she is ready to work again and accept new clients and start living again.
So, when her first new client, Leon, starts his therapy, she will feel connected with his situation; the loose of something they loved and the need to continue with their life. Cristina knows that she is starting to feel too much involved with Leon’s situation but can’t stop seeing him. The main question will be, is Leon telling all the truth to her? Why would he lie?
This is a slow paced story; part of the plot is the story of Cristina and how is she dealing with her feelings. While we start seeing how she crosses the boundaries between client and therapist, even knowing the consequences, she can’t seem to stop doing it.
The book treats some very interesting themes; how the therapists have monthly talks with other therapists as a way to keep control of their work, the reminder that not everyone is grieving the same way and we all should do it in our own pace, without pressures.
It’s not difficult to discover from the first moment that Leon is hiding something from Cristina, but we can’t know for sure what. And Cristina is so overwhelmed with emotions and lust that I don’t think can see how dangerous is Leon and the situation she is involved with.
This is a book easy to read and to get lost between the pages; the story felt real and human.
Are you ready for “Her Little Secret”?
So, when her first new client, Leon, starts his therapy, she will feel connected with his situation; the loose of something they loved and the need to continue with their life. Cristina knows that she is starting to feel too much involved with Leon’s situation but can’t stop seeing him. The main question will be, is Leon telling all the truth to her? Why would he lie?
This is a slow paced story; part of the plot is the story of Cristina and how is she dealing with her feelings. While we start seeing how she crosses the boundaries between client and therapist, even knowing the consequences, she can’t seem to stop doing it.
The book treats some very interesting themes; how the therapists have monthly talks with other therapists as a way to keep control of their work, the reminder that not everyone is grieving the same way and we all should do it in our own pace, without pressures.
It’s not difficult to discover from the first moment that Leon is hiding something from Cristina, but we can’t know for sure what. And Cristina is so overwhelmed with emotions and lust that I don’t think can see how dangerous is Leon and the situation she is involved with.
This is a book easy to read and to get lost between the pages; the story felt real and human.
Are you ready for “Her Little Secret”?
aliciasplendeur's review
4.0
Working on review
Update 9/19/2021:
This started out a little slow for me as the author set up the beginning of Cristina and Leon's relationship. But once we get into their romantic relationship the pacing does pick up. I also wondered why she put up with his questionable behavior. Every time he did something I found questionable I'd say RED FLAGgirl run! Lol...
And I did not expect that twist. So good.
Cristina is a therapist who recently lost a parent and is getting back into seeing clients. Part of her job is to keep a professional distance. New client Leon is handsome, charming, and he's there to work through his grief. His lover Michelle recently passed away and what he doesn't tell Cristina right away is that Michelle was also her client at some point.
Despite her growing attraction to him, she commits to helping him work through his grief. But Leon is slowly breaking down her professional boundaries and charming her into a relationship. But there are things she notices that bother her. A subtle criticism here, showering with lots of attention to then turn cold.
And when she learns that he's lied to her about a few things to begins to put a little distance between them. And she's left to wondering what else he might be hiding.
Update 9/19/2021:
This started out a little slow for me as the author set up the beginning of Cristina and Leon's relationship. But once we get into their romantic relationship the pacing does pick up. I also wondered why she put up with his questionable behavior. Every time he did something I found questionable I'd say RED FLAGgirl run! Lol...
And I did not expect that twist. So good.
Cristina is a therapist who recently lost a parent and is getting back into seeing clients. Part of her job is to keep a professional distance. New client Leon is handsome, charming, and he's there to work through his grief. His lover Michelle recently passed away and what he doesn't tell Cristina right away is that Michelle was also her client at some point.
Despite her growing attraction to him, she commits to helping him work through his grief. But Leon is slowly breaking down her professional boundaries and charming her into a relationship. But there are things she notices that bother her. A subtle criticism here, showering with lots of attention to then turn cold.
And when she learns that he's lied to her about a few things to begins to put a little distance between them. And she's left to wondering what else he might be hiding.
beckys_book_blog's review
4.0
Her Little Secret by Julia Stone
After a few slightly disappointing reads this month it was great to pick this book up and become totally absorbed in the story straight away.
Cristina is a therapist and recognises it is vital at all times to keep her clients at a professional distance.
When newly bereaved Leon books sessions with her (following the death of his married lover, Michelle) Cristina finds herself more and more drawn to him and boundaries begin to break. Christina learns that Leon chose her as a therapist because Michelle was also one of her clients too but is he hiding something more sinister? Does Leon really want a relationship with her? Why is she suddenly having to lie to her friends all the time?
The plot is so well written and I couldn't put this down. The characters felt very real. I loved the main character Christina and I was totally engrossed in watching her relationship develop with Leon both in and out of the therapy sessions. The situation of slowly crossing boundaries was very believable but there was an underlying feeling that Leon couldnt be trusted and that he was hiding something but what was it??
I loved the slow build up of tension and although I guessed part of the ending I still found this a very entertaining read.
I'll be looking out for more books by this great debut author.
After a few slightly disappointing reads this month it was great to pick this book up and become totally absorbed in the story straight away.
Cristina is a therapist and recognises it is vital at all times to keep her clients at a professional distance.
When newly bereaved Leon books sessions with her (following the death of his married lover, Michelle) Cristina finds herself more and more drawn to him and boundaries begin to break. Christina learns that Leon chose her as a therapist because Michelle was also one of her clients too but is he hiding something more sinister? Does Leon really want a relationship with her? Why is she suddenly having to lie to her friends all the time?
The plot is so well written and I couldn't put this down. The characters felt very real. I loved the main character Christina and I was totally engrossed in watching her relationship develop with Leon both in and out of the therapy sessions. The situation of slowly crossing boundaries was very believable but there was an underlying feeling that Leon couldnt be trusted and that he was hiding something but what was it??
I loved the slow build up of tension and although I guessed part of the ending I still found this a very entertaining read.
I'll be looking out for more books by this great debut author.
lipsticktoliterature's review
3.0
This was one of the first books in my Netgalley shelf and I'm not sure why I didn't start it sooner. It was a very easy read with not a lot of depth. It was kind of predictable. But, I do feel there is a place in my reading for books like this one. After a heavier or longer book I do enjoy a nice easy read with a bit of predictably.
The MFC is a psychologist which was a psych major back in college I really liked. The idea of a psychologist falling for her patient intrigued me as well.
I felt it was a bit choppy. It was mentioned a few times that her father died but there wasn't much detail. I think a bit more of an explanation or detail into their relationship would have helped me understand the dynamics and why it effected the MFC.
Read this book if
The MFC is a psychologist which was a psych major back in college I really liked. The idea of a psychologist falling for her patient intrigued me as well.
I felt it was a bit choppy. It was mentioned a few times that her father died but there wasn't much detail. I think a bit more of an explanation or detail into their relationship would have helped me understand the dynamics and why it effected the MFC.
Read this book if
shelleyann01's review
2.0
2.5 Stars
A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.
I loved the premise for this book, a therapist having an affair with a patient that happens to be the lover of a former patient...who is dead!? Yes please!
This is a slow burn of a psychological drama and even though there isn't a heck of a lot going on (There is A LOT of internal dialogue) I was sucked in by the writing style. I figured out the big reveal about halfway through but was intrigued enough to keep on reading and the writing style was enjoyable.
I was disappointed that Cristina miss a lot of red flags, I mean she is a therapist so you'd think she has a good take on the human condition. I didn't like that she thought leaving a message would take too long but flying there the next day was okay? The ending fell a little flat and it left me wanting more as there were many unanswered questions. I am wondering if that was done intentionally to lead up to a second installment?
All in all not a bad read and I would check out more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley, Julia Stone and Orion Dash for the ARC.
A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.
I loved the premise for this book, a therapist having an affair with a patient that happens to be the lover of a former patient...who is dead!? Yes please!
This is a slow burn of a psychological drama and even though there isn't a heck of a lot going on (There is A LOT of internal dialogue) I was sucked in by the writing style. I figured out the big reveal about halfway through but was intrigued enough to keep on reading and the writing style was enjoyable.
I was disappointed that Cristina miss a lot of red flags, I mean she is a therapist so you'd think she has a good take on the human condition. I didn't like that she thought leaving a message would take too long but flying there the next day was okay? The ending fell a little flat and it left me wanting more as there were many unanswered questions. I am wondering if that was done intentionally to lead up to a second installment?
All in all not a bad read and I would check out more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley, Julia Stone and Orion Dash for the ARC.
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