As we head into a new year there is an air of seriousness in the air as people judge their last year’s performance and aim to up their game in the upcoming one. And I find as much as I try to ignore the urging to better myself, I too get caught up in the wish to be a ‘better’ or perhaps ‘different’ person but having done this a few times before comfort myself that life will return to normal probably before the month is out. While I wait for normality to return I seek comfort and Jane Fallon is one of those authors who knows how to weave a good story, a story absolutely made for curling up by the much needed fire to immerse yourself in another person’s life.
Tell Me A Secret is about Holly, a woman in her forties, with a grown-up daughter, a best friend and a promotion! Ok the setting of the workplace might be as script editors on a TV soap but to all intents and purposes this is an office, not so different to the one that many of us sit in day in and day out and deliciously full of the open and hidden alliances that have been present in every one I’ve worked in.
For those of you who have read previous books by this author you will be prepared for a tale of deceit heaped upon deceit served up in a number of different dishes but all with a lightness that by the time the book comes to a close you are left with a feeling that you’ve been entertained rather than put through the wringer.
Holly is promoted and assumes that her workplace best friend Roz will be keen to celebrate her success, and she is, isn’t she? But someone in the office is out to make mischief and it isn’t long before Holly is wondering whether she will manage to hang onto her job. The thing about Jane Fallon’s writing is that you will laugh, you will gasp and you may well cry at the scenes portrayed and the conversations had but because they are sufficiently grounded in true life. Those short-hand conversations that many authors seem to struggle with are captured with a wicked sense of humour as Jane Fallon makes an acute life observation, there were times when I was sure she has taken a peek into those unspoken thoughts I have whenever the occasion calls for people watching.
The story is a cracker full of twists and turns to keep those pages turning and fortunately Holly has friends outside work, Dee who works for the NHS and has a whole host of medical related stories to entertain us whenever it all gets a bit serious. Dee also as a sounding board, often a wise one but with a wild side all in the name of searching for the truth but when they are proposed I’m sure I won’t be the only reader to sit back thinking ‘oh dear, time to hang onto your hats folks!’
So if you need cheering up with a bit of a feel-good story with a hefty dose of the realities of working life then you really can’t go too far wrong with Tell Me A Secret. I was hugely grateful to receive an arc of this book from the publishers Penguin ahead of publication on Thursday 10 January 2019.
If January is proving to be a bit on the serious side for you too, this could be the perfect antidote.
First Published UK: 10 January 2019
Publisher: Penguin
No of Pages: 404
Genre: General Fiction
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Oh I want this book. Fab review
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words Shalini – I hope you enjoy this one if you get it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got rejected 😂 now when it releases on amazon 🤣🤣
LikeLike
Oh rats! Not long to wait now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This does sound fun! I keep meaning to give Jane Fallon a try. Something like this in grey January is just what’s needed!
LikeLike
Absolutely perfect for lifting the spirits this is an author who has a keen observational eye that never fails to make me smile – I also like that her characters are ‘real’ women not glamorous twenty year olds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely review.
LikeLike
Fantastic review I love the sound of this one!
LikeLike
It was perfect for something a little bit more light hearted and the author has a real eye for how people behave.
LikeLike
Great review! I was also struck by the comments in your first paragraph. The time of year does seem to bring with it feelings of needing to set goals to stretch yourself or whatever but a lot of pressure can be self-imposed I find. In the book blogging world it’s easy to get fixated on what great books others are receiving, how brilliant their blogs look, how many more followers they have, etc. However, unless we came to book blogging to make our living, enjoyment and sharing our love of books should be enough shouldn’t it? At least, that’s what I tell myself whilst at the same time browsing reading challenge posts and wondering if I should sign up 😁
LikeLike
This does sound like fun, Cleo. And you’re right; sometimes life does get serious. When that happens, it’s nice to lighten up one’s reading. The office setting, with all of its intrigue, etc., is an effective context for a story.
LikeLike
I think we can all get a bit introspective at the start of the new year and that’s got good aspects of course.
I did like the office setting, we don’t get enough of this in books in my opinion which is odd because lots of us spend the vast proportion of our lives there…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my, I need this book now! Except for the work life aspect (I’m done with that!), I think I would still relate to those issues. And I definitely could use some cheering up…since I live in the US and the chaos right now is brutal. LOL
Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
It is fun Laurel although as you say you can safely consign the work aspect to the bin – this is fun whilst being a very good portrayal of how people behave.
Life is chaotic this side of the water too – it can easily become overwhelming.
LikeLike
Great review. Thanks for the new to me author introduction.
sherry @ fundinmental
LikeLike
I do like setting resolutions – they make me feel like a better person for a couple of days even though I know I’ll never stick to them…;) This does sound like fun – those office alliances and conspiracies are ripe for humour! So long as they’re happening to someone else, that is… 😀
LikeLike
Sometimes the only fun I get out of working is watching those co-conspirators at work! Obviously watching is better than being involved and so I was less anxious reading about it rather than living it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a really great read, Cleo! Wonderful review.
LikeLike
Such a wonderful review! I’ve been reading a lot of dark thrillers. This would be a nice change of pace.
LikeLike
Sounds like fun! I’ve never heard of this writer but no doubt she’s popular in the UK…
LikeLike
She is popular in the UK but I think her books travel quite well too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful review. This one sounds good, but I am still glad that I am retired.
LikeLike