I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Dark, thrilling, slightly scandalous and full of glamour, this is a great read and kept me hooked. I can't wait to read more from the author based on this. If you like your reads with more than a hint of a bonkbuster, this is for you.

‘Secrets In The Dark’ is Ceril Campbell’s debut novel.

Innocent Phoebe has only known a life of privilege. Street-smart Paula has had to make her own way in the world. When the two girls meet as teenagers, they form a deep sisterly bond, recognising in one another a yearning for love and for lives that are different from the ones they were born into. But when they each suffer a personal trauma, they are torn apart and set out on very different paths. So begins a rollercoaster journey throughout the 1970s of extreme highs and lows for Phoebe and Paula, as they travel from the epicentre of cool on the Kings Road, Chelsea, to the glamour of Paris, LA and the South of France.

If you’re a fan ofJackie Collins and need a book filled with deceit, scandal and sex, then look no further as ‘Secrets In The Dark’ ticks all those boxes.

The story is seen through the narrative of best friends Phoebe and Paula, who met in secondary school in 1970 and became unlikely friends. Upper class Phoebe is uncomfortable and awkward whilst Paula is a stunning girl who is Phoebe’s complete opposite. Together they make an unlikely pair but they form a close bond until one day Paula disappears leaving Phoebe to wonder what became of her best friend. Leaving them both to find their places in the world, unaware that they in each other’s vicinity without the other knowing.

The story is seen through the narrative of both women and flows through the years. Both becoming successful in their careers, falling in love, marriage as well as teenage pregnancy, sexual assault and drug addiction.

This book makes for racy yet gritty reading that I found myself unable to put down as Phoebe becomes a successful clothes stylist working with great pop stars of the 70’s and gives an insight into the pop circuit. An industry rife with drugs, alcohol and sexual exploits.We also see Phoebe struggle with substance addiction as well as an eating disorder as it helps deal with a sexual assault and gives her back control. These scenes are upsetting reading as Phoebe battles with emotions and blames herself for the attack. Whilst Paula has made a career for herself as a working girl and is fortunate to be paired with only successful men.

The era for the setting of the book made for gripping reading, when drugs are heavily on the scene and being gay is still taboo and has to be celebrated in secret. Cecril’s descriptions are wonderfully vivid and she paints a fabulous picture of the heady days of the music and film industry.

I loved ‘Secrets In The Dark’, it’s sexy, scandalous, thrilling but at the heart of it all, it’s a wonderful story of friendship and though lives may have moved on, best friends are forever.

You buy ‘Secrets In The Dark’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

If you love Taylor Jenkins Reid and Jackie Collins then this is right up your street! This was full of glitz, glamour and everything in between. Packed full of drama and celebrity too!
Best friends Phoebe and Paula meet at school where they connect over feeling like misfits and outsiders. However, events lead to them being separated and living their own lives until fate intervyenes.

I really enjoyed this book. I love books that are full of drama and old school glamour and this didn’t disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat throughout and could never have guessed what was coming. Completely jaw dropping and such clever writing. The character development was brilliant for me too. Definitely a recommended read from me! 💎

I was so happy when I seen this blurb for this book that I was able to read this book for my review and it didn’t disappoint.
It’s based in the 70’s where two friends one from wealth the other just making it by meet and form a friendship. Then life and drama gets in the way and they drift apart. These women go through some ups and downs but the author writes this so you are wanting to find out about what happens to each girl. This story has Sex, Drugs, wealth And lots of Drama. And they want it ALL

An easy book to indulge and read for pure escapism. A slightly less risqué Jackie Collins but with a hint of naughtiness. Loved it thanks!

I gave this story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We follow so many people throughout this story. Just when I thought I knew what was gonna happen it all changed, the direction of their lives changed.
The story was absolutely amazing. The plot? One of the best I've ever read! The characters were amazing!

I honestly am so glad I got to read this story and I will definitely be picking up a hardcopy! I just want you all to pick up this story and go through it all too!!

As always please check trigger warnings before reading this story incase there is something you cannot read

4.5 Stars

Full of glitz, glam and sizzle, Ceril Campbell’s explosive debut novel is an escapist saga of sex, sin and seduction readers will lap up.

Phoebe and Paula are two girls who couldn’t be more different. While Phoebe was born to great wealth and privilege, Paula has had to make her own way in the world. Everything had come easily to Phoebe, while Paula had to fight for every single thing she ever had. When their paths cross unexpectedly as teenagers, they immediately form a deep sisterly bond as they realise that, despite their differences in social status, they are united by a desperate yearning to be loved. Phoebe and Paula want more from life and, more importantly, they want to unshackle themselves from the straitened circumstances they had been born into and make their own way in the world.

Phoebe and Paula have big dreams and even bigger ambitions, however, their path to happiness is not going to be without its problems. Phoebe and Paula will experience exhilarating highs and crushing lows. They will play hard and lose even harder as their quest for fulfillment will take them from Chelsea to Paris, Los Angeles and the South of France.

Wealth, fame, power and privilege, will Phoebe and Paula find everything they have always wanted? Or will happiness continue to be out of both their reach?

Written in the glorious tradition of Shirley Conran and Jackie Collins, the glamorous blockbuster is alive and well thanks to Ceril Campbell’s delicious, daring and decadent debut, Secrets in the Dark. A juicy and addictive page-turner, Secrets in the Dark is a fast-paced, action-packed and wholly engrossing tale full of larger than life characters, high stakes, red-hot passion, ruthless ambition and jaw-dropping twists and turns.

Secrets in the Dark heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in women’s fiction: Ceril Campbell. I cannot wait to read what she writes next.

Cover: Unusual. Yellow is not really my thing, but here it works like a charm.

Wow. Secrets in the Dark is the kind of addictive book every reader wishes to find. It’s the Seventies, we’re in London, and Phoebe and Paula have struck up a friendship. Their upbringings couldn’t have been any more different, and yet they’re drawn to each other until the day Paula disappears from Phoebe’s life.

What happens next is told by the two main characters, and we’re able to follow them during their darkest—and brightest—moments. Later on, they find each other again, while their circle of friends expands to Simon, Jake, and Caroline.

The idea behind Secrets in the Dark is captivating, and from a technical standpoint, I like the way Campbell structured it. It gives me the feeling of an experimental novel without really being experimental, you know? A fresh take on the life of celebrities, full of glamor, despair, and sex.

Despite the many cameos and minor characters, the actual supporting cast is small, a detail I always appreciate. The characterization itself is spot-on too, as everyone has a clear, distinctive voice. What I like best about Secrets in the Dark, however, is how realistic it reads. Paula’s decisions, Simon’s, Phoebe’s – it’s easy to slip in their figurative shoes and walk a mile in them.

Campbell’s writing style is fast-paced, and it makes it easy to dive deep into the pages. She goes for an omniscient POV too, which is my nemesis 99,9% of the time: still, Secrets in the Dark belongs to that 0.01%, because this is how you handle omniscient. The switching is there, but it’s—for lack of a better word—quick, even unobtrusive, not as ponderous as it often happens with this POV. I guess this is the only omniscient book I ever enjoyed to the fullest – well done!

There are a couple of details I’m not fond of, namely some loose ties that should have been tied up and the editing – a stronger editing would have raised Secrets in the Dark to perfection.

As it is, it’s 4,5 stars on GR, rounded up to 5.

I have been asked to take part in a blog tour about this book and will admit it would not usually be the genre of fiction that I would reach for first .Having said that I found the book thoroughly enjoyable and would recommend it
The book reminds me somewhat of the song Where do you go to my lovely by Perter Sarsted .As a teen we wanted to sing the song at a school event but were advised it’s content would not be suitable .,we had no idea what it was about in our naivety! The book follows 2 school friends as their lives join ,separate and come back together throughout their lives .One becomes a celebrity stylist the other a high class prostitute
The characters are well described and believable despite their far from standard career paths .I was quickly invested in discovering their outcomes.
The prose style is fluent and enjoyable to read
There are some great sex scenes with the author managing to ensure that the call girls scenes show both her sexual degradation in early stages in her career and her growing sense of power as she progresses her unique career path .I did find early sex scenes difficult to read .
I loved the peripheral characters who were all as complex and nuanced as the 2 leads
I liked the introduction of real people and celebrities to the story ,it added to the reality of the story and grounded it well in celebrity circles of the time
The end was exciting ,I had nearly forgotten the prologue so it was great to reintroduce it
In general I’d say this would be a great book to pick up at the airport and read on your sun lounger or wherever you spend your holidays

This book takes you around the world through the highs and lows of this lives the loves the losses with an edge of your seat ending .

Aww this was just the perfect lazy read for me. It won't take too much brain power and probably won't stick in your mind but it's just a nice, light, refreshing read. It's just.... fun! Definitely one for the beach where you're not wanting anything to spoil your good mood with stories of staplers and murder lol

Secrets in the Dark spans over many years - telling the tales of Phoebe and Paula. Both girls meet when Paula joins Phoebe's class.
Phoebe has lived a privileged if not sheltered life whereas Paula has been raised by her single father.

With Paula, Phoebe blossoms, she gains confidence but as the tale unfolds, she spirals out of control.
Paula on the other hand, her life takes a dramatic turn quite early in the book.

This is a perfect book to escape into, reminiscent of Jackie Collins, and would be a perfect holiday read.

I look forward to reading more of Cerils work.

Ceril Campbell’s debut, ‘Secrets in the Dark’, is a glamorous, escapist story following two young girls, innocent Phoebe and street smart Paula and their personal journey through the seventies, think fashion, celebrity, danger, drugs and rock ‘n roll and through the heart of it friendship
It’s an easy read, cliche’d at times however, it’s evident that the author has been a celebrity stylist because there are enough facts that are woven through the book to make it more than the usual bonkbuster.

Unfortunately I didn’t much like this book. I found it to be quite badly written and a little childish, and time and again I found myself putting this book aside and reading something with a little more depth. It was off-putting how the author felt the need to name drop restaurants, stores and ‘things’ (cappuccinos didn’t exist in 1970) and I just could not feel anything for the characters. Not one for me.

I really enjoyed this story and would describe it as the perfect escapism. It's a sort of lens into another world In another time. Brilliant xx

Sheer Escapism....
Fun and frolics, shocks and surprises, turbulence and turmoil in this entertaining page turner as the reader is taken on a glorious ride through a well depicted 1970’s era. Sheer escapism.

A fantastic gripping read hyped as the new Jackie Collins which didn’t disappoint.... Phoebe and Paula come from completely different backgrounds Phoebe from an affluent family and Paula the complete opposite despite this the two bond at school when Paula arrives on scholarship and a never to be broken bond is formed. This book takes you around the world through the highs and lows of this lives the loves the losses with an edge of your seat ending .... please say Ceril Campbell is already writing her next book !!

Ooh I liked this. It is a bit of long one so strap yourselves in, you are in for one ride!
Focus is on Phoebe and Paula who meet at school age. Due to various events in their lives, they keep in and out of touch and support/champion each other throughout.
Lots of dramatic events occur which forces the paths of their lives to alter in very unexpected ways. Although set in 1970s I did feel that it could be timeless as the issues the women face are no different to now. Some really great minor characters too.
Its hard hitting at times, honest, glamourous, sinister and mysterious all wrapped into one.

As an avid reader of anything by Jackie Collins and Shirley Conran, this novel felt like candy to me! A wonderful tale of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, or thereabouts... The characters were inspiring and absolutely delicious to read about!