This is a tricky one to review because the author is so brave to tell her story. And also because it’s not a book that you can enjoy – you can admire the narrator, try and empathise with her, certainly sympathise, and wish her well, but this is certainly not, as some reviewers call it, ‘a great read’.

But I knew that before I read it, and there’s no doubt at all that this is an important story that needs to be told. The author hopes that by sharing, she can pave the way for others to tell their own stories and for voices to be heard.

Along with Ann and Joe Cusack, she has told that story so well, clearly, honestly, and succinctly, without shying away from anything.

I think what is most staggering about Maureen’s story is that her mother joined in with her abuse by her stepfather. That is utterly sickening and unforgiveable. What is interesting though, is that Maureen stayed in contact with her mother for a long time – which goes to show how deep the manipulation and fear went.

What is also staggering are the missed opportunities to help her. Someone must have noticed – when she became pregnant so young, why weren’t more questions asked? Why didn’t a teacher, or a neighbour, or a friend’s parent step up? What is wrong with us that we turn a blind eye?

I’m so pleased that Maureen is now living a happy, fulfilled life with her children who love her, and that she has found peace. What an astoundingly brave woman she is. I hope she knows that, out of all the adults in her life, she has done right by that scared little girl she once was.

The book was very well written and flowed well. The plot was great. Everything I thought it would be from the description

What a harrowing read this was, but one I enjoyed also. Shows you can survive the worst of the worst and come out the other side, very upsetting in places but also made me smile too in others.

I had to mentally prepare myself for this book. I knew it was going to be heavy. I knew it was gonna take an emotional toll. This book was heavy. At times I felt so overwhelmed with what was going on with Tori aka Maureen.

From the age of 7 on…. Maureens life would be hell. Her childhood would be crushed by the people she trusted. It started with her brother then a short time later with her stepfather. Then after a time, her mother joined in. Maureen never had any peace. She was in a constant state of unease. She was so young!

It was all so hard to read. I just kept thinking…. How much more can a person take. It would be many years later when Maureen would have to face everything that happened to her. Her suppressing everything inside started to crack. At first it was spilling out then it started to pour out. She could not stop the flashbacks or the daily vivid nightmares of everything. It was like reliving it all over again.

This book was such a heartbreaking roller coaster. Maureen found her voice to help herself and others. She was able to open peoples eyes about not following through when people report to children services. Holding people accountable for their mistakes. I just wish she didn’t have to go through this. But I’m glad she’s at peace with her kids and grandkids.

This story was so moving I couldn't put it down. It was hard to read but also compelling. As with a lot of abuse stories there is a kind of escape in adult life but mentally there are scars forever. Being a mother myself I cannot comprehend how one could be so depraved with her own child.

A Family Secret:My Shocking True Story of Surviving a Childhood in Hell By Maureen Wood.
Rating 5/5
A shockingly disturbing true story of a young girl who survived horrific family abuse. Maureen Wood should have been protected by her family but had to endure years of continued abuse. Social Services were involved with her family but failed to help.
Somehow Maureen managed to escape her family and memories of that traumatic period but it came at a cost. Years later the memories start to surface and once again Maureen went through the horrendous abuse. The feelings of loss, hate, rejection and abuse erupted into her life.
No one reading Maureen’s story can fail to be moved by her bravery; thankfully supported by her sons and daughters and social workers who become friends. Not forgetting Christopher who played an important part in her life.
I will never forget Maureen’s bravery which enabled her to survive.
Thank you Maureen Wood, her social worker friends, Harper Collins and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. In return I have have given an honest and unbiased review.

What a horrifying story. The account of a child facing unimaginable abuse by the very people she should be able to trust and count on is heartbreaking.
I did find the story jumped around a bit and parts were repetitive. But overall it was a gut wrenching true story. It evoked emotion throughout

A Family Secret.

I don't usually read titles like this, as they are very sad and harrowing .
This is no different except for poor Maureen her abuse was first at the hands of her older brother Jock and then her stepfather and unbelievably her mother.
After reading this I can't say I enjoyed reading it , because of the nature of her abuse , but I was moved by her storytelling of it .
I hope you are living a good life now Maureen / Tori . Bless you.

What can I say except what a brave lady, such a tragic, heart wrenching story with a severely dysfunctional family at its core. It must have been so painful to keep re-living her childhood nightmares and the mother of all evil rearing it’s ugly head on a daily basis, yet Maureen was able to battle the inner demons and come out fighting to tell her story.

This is an emotional and harrowing true story about surviving child abuse.

Although the subject is hard to read about it shows how important it is to bear witness to the author's youthful and horrific experiences

It is a story of child abuse, rape, shame, guilt, family,love, survival and justice. It isn't a story that should be read for entertainment or to pass a couple of hours, it is an educational tool and Maureen has been very brave in sharing her story and bringing her attackers to justice.

‘A Family Secret’ -Maureen Wood
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Each time my mother laid a finger on me, it was another step into the jaws of hell.”

Books of these nature are seldom easy to read, however what remains prevalent is championing the voice of those abused, I commend the author on her strength to share her harrowing story.

Maureen details her story of loss, abuse and betrayal in this heartbreaking memoir. She eloquently describes her tumultuous childhood and the gradual descent into a horrifying myriad of unrelenting abuse at the hands of those who should’ve unconditionally loved and protected her at all costs.

Although reading of Maureen’s tragedy broke my heart into infinitesimal pieces (more than once). It shines a light on this incredible women, who fought fiercely to overcome such severe adversity, discovering an indiminishable inner strength that is beyond admirable and inspirational.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Maureen Wood and HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction for the ARC of A Family Secret. This is my personal review.
This book was exceedingly difficult for me to read but to put myself in the authors shoes and have lived through this horrendous abuse and write about it is heartbreaking. The bravery for her to write this book and let others know what she endured is amazing.
Thank you, Maureen Wood, for bringing this subject out in the open and to tell your story. Family is who we go to when bad things happen not who we have to run from.

Fantastic true story but very sad and harrowing at times, however these circumstances really do happen and avoiding reading about them because they make you uncomfortable dosnt mean they go away.

This book was a fantastic reading
It was about Maureen Wood and it was about abuse and neglect
She was only a child
And it went on for ages and ages
I had an ARC

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction for the arc of A Family Secret by Maureen Wood.

5 STARS- This is a very gripping but sad and emotional book, which actually tell the true story of her OWN what!! it goes back to her childhood and what happened to her as a child, Her parents split when she was young then she went to her grandparents then to a children's home then back to her mum, then meets her new stepfather... whats heartbreaking of all is that her mother knew what was happening but just let things happen to Maureen... and what else is shocking and down right evil and disturbing that her mother actually partakes too!!!! Poor Poor Maureen, this is so traumatic and sad! Made me speechless and shocked of what she had to go through as a child is so so awful and down right wrong! But im so glad she had the courage to speak out and write this haunting true story!

So emotional but such a interesting read, i was sinked in as i want to know if she got justice for her abuse..

HIGHLY RECOMMEND
5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Deep deep breath... I just finished reading A Family Secret and I am feeling so emotional and drained. I need to start by saying that I am so incredibly proud of Maureen for sharing her story and life with all of us. For her to recount what she went through was so brave and must have been achingly painful for her, but as she shared in her memoir, “...I wanted the world to know my story. I had a message to share, too... hiding it and burying it was never the right thing to do.” I do hope that stories like hers will help others have the courage to also speak up and speak out, to get help, and to be able to move forward a little more easier. Abuse is such a horrible and horrendous act, and my heart aches for anyone who has to endure it and live it.

I flew through this book in one day. It was hard to read some parts, immensely hard, and I did question myself why I was putting myself through reading it, but I am glad I did. I, did it for Maureen and all of the other victims out there. I am sharing my review not only to commend Maureen’s work (the writing demonstrated great talent), but also to help reach out to other victims and encourage them to come forward as well.

The author’s dedication says it all:“Dedication: This book is dedicated to my angel baby Christopher and to all the silent victims of abuse. I hope it helps them find their voice.”

I highly recommend this, but please do note that there are some explicit and disturbing scenes.

What a great book thoroughly enjoyed throughout read it super quick didnt want to put it down....would definitely recommend this book to others

It always shocks me just how evil human beings can be towards one another, worse still when it’s your own family, the people of which should make you feel loved and safe.

The above was not so for Maureen, suffering years of abhorrent abuse at the hands of family members, she has gone through some of the most harrowing events I can’t even begin to imagine and not only is this one very brave lady, but one you just want to reach out and hug, be her friend and high five her for telling her story and seeing it through to the end.

These type of books are never easy to read, but this one was truly heartbreaking and will stay with me for a very long time.
To have not only your brother abusing you, and then your stepfather too is absolutely horrendous, but to then have your mother doing it to you too - there just are no words at all 💔
It feels wrong to even describe this book as good, but Maureen's courage and bravery, and how she eventually stood up to her family 25 years later, makes the book feel heartwarming too rather than just heartbreaking.
Flew through this book very quickly - I just couldn't put it down .

Excellent, gripping read.

My goodness, what a beginning to this book. What on earth had happened? Very intriguing. Then the book goes back 25 years, to Maureen's childhood-and what a sad and tragic story she has to tell.

Her mum and biological father had separated when she was just a toddler, and she goes from pillar to post; lives with grandparents for a bit, then in a children's home, then back with her mother, and meets one new step father after another.

I just ripped through this. The worst thing was her mother knew what was going on, and even more shocking, was actually partaking. Unspeakable. I just had to read on, to know if things would turn out OK for her, hoping these people would be brought to justice.

Such a powerful tale that will leave you breathless. How can people be so bad? And how can they do such terrible things to their own family? The people they should love the most. I read it in less than 2 days. Once I started it, I just couldn't stop. A powerful, shocking, and moving story.