Empty-nesters, Richard and Ellen, find themselves on an emotional rollercoaster when they head to Spain to stay with Ellen's old friend, Lucy, and try to re-connect after years of focussing on raising their two daughters.

Both of them are keeping secrets from each other and it's not what I expected, especially in Richard's case; his cold and distant behaviour towards Ellen was giving me bad vibe and I was frustrated with him that he didn't seem to want to even try and work on their marriage. When Lucy's beautiful daughter arrived, the tension ramped up even more and my heart really went out to Ellen, even though she was also hiding something! So many emotional twists and turns, I was wrung out by the end - which took me completely by surprise! A brilliant read!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Emma Robinson and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.

This was a surprising story, it puts you on the wrong track several times, the secrets weren’t what I suspected at first.
Really enjoyed reading this.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I absolutely love Emma Robinsons books; they are always emotional rollercoasters that have me reaching for the tissues throughout and We Both Have Secrets was no exception. There were plenty of twists and turns, secrets and lies that all kept me guessing. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book starts off with a confession and you ask yourself- WHAT is really going on?
Ellen and Robert are empty nesters and take a trip to visit an old friend. They are both holding onto secrets that have the potential to change their lives.
Emma Robinson is the QUEEN of domestic dramas. She writes about sensitive topics with realistic characters. I can’t get enough of her books!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#WeBothHaveSecrets #EmmaRobinson #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInSpain #DomesticDrama

3.5 stars

Once I began reading I did not put this down until it was done. I definitely wanted there to be a happy ending for the characters.

The "secret" was a bit underwhelming for me which impacted my rating. So even though I enjoyed the story the buildup did not match the twist. And parts felt a bit contrived. However, overall the story was sweet and cute. The dialogue was very authentic and I found myself chuckling in parts because it felt very realistic.

This was my first book written by this author but I will definitely read more of her work.

You can always count on Emma Robinson for an emotional roller-coaster ride of a read! In We Both Have Secrets, we find that those secrets have consequences and long-ranging effects. Another great read from a great author!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

We Both Have Secrets by Emma Robinson
This was a quick read, mainly because it’s impossible to put down. I enjoyed this story. It is such a brilliantly written story that will leave you on the edge of your seat and also punch you in the heart.

This was my first experience with Emma, so I was unsure what to expect, but she did not disappoint. I loved the emotional elements of this story and how everything came together.

You will love the characters, flaws, and all, and find yourself glued to the pages. This was a beautiful story.

Publication date: June 18, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture

This was another brilliant read from this author and as always with their books they take the reader on an emotional rollercoaster while reading. The story was engaging from the first page and full of secrets and lies with plenty of twists along the way. Once I had started reading I couldn’t put it down and read it in practically one sitting.

Can’t wait for this authors next book.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. First book I've read by this author and it certainly won't be the last. Ellen and Robert have secrets. I was very curious to discover what they were. A great mix of likeable characters and a not so likeable one. A really good read

I’ve been in a reading slump for quite a while and just not been able to focus on reading for very long, but boy oh boy…..this book certainly brought me back out of my slump as it only took me 2 days to read!
I love Emma Robinson’s books and yet again, Emma has written a fabulous book with such relatable, likeable and believable characters!
Thoroughly enjoyed this story and I have loved, finally….not being able to put a book down again!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for my copy of We Both Have Secrets by Emma Robinson.
Ellen and Robert have been together for over twenty years, raised two daughters and are looking forward to the future.
Or are they, is someone keeping a secret?
I was so invested in this book, I couldn’t put it down. So enticing, brilliant read that keeps you glued to the page.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

Ellen and Robert are empty nesters and accept an offer from old friend Lucy and husband Joe to spend time with them in their holiday villa in Málaga, Spain. There are two daughters each, Grace and Abigail and Charlotte and Emily. While Ellen is looking forward to a few days in the sunshine, Robert seems oddly distracted. Some strange interactions happen and then Ellen finds an unfinished letter to her.

This is sold as a gripping family drama with two devastating secrets that the married couple are keeping from one another. The blurb is melodramatic and the snippets of Robert's letter to Ellen make you think the worst. When the first secret is then revealed, it's a major let-down. I was sitting and thinking, that was it? Why couldn't he tell her that?

The emotional upheaval and marital conflict that man creates just because he doesn't know how to communicate is kind of typical for some men. It meant though that we got half a book full of speculation about parentages and affairs. The second secret is more serious in my opinion, but also something that should have been discussed when it happened, and not decades later.

Once the secrets are out the book becomes a lot more harmonious, and I really liked the happy ending and the renewed friendship between the two couples and their children. It isn't enough to save the book though and it also ends at 86%, which is one of my pet peeves. I do not want pages and pages of marketing and excerpts from the author's other books, I just want to read this one, if you don't mind.

Boy, did I stink at guessing the secrets!! I smugly thought I the big secret figured out by the second chapter. Wrong!
Then I bounced from assumption to assumption just like Ellen did, more mistakes!
When the secrets were revealed I was relieved because I was tired of striking out.
Secrets can gnaw away our security and peace so all of these needed to be flushed and there some serious secrets.

Good book! There weren’t too many characters to keep track of and the character development was well done. My favorite character was Robert. I can’t really give my reasons why I liked him because I don’t want to give spoilers. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Ellen and Robert have been together since university days, twenty five years later they have two daughters, Grace and Abigail who have both flown the nest with Abigail recently going to university and Ellen and Robert now have the time to rekindle their own dreams of travelling, so when old uni friend Lucy invites them to her villa in Malaga for a long weekend with her husband Joe, they decide to take her up on it, even though they lost touch in their final year, but Ellen thinks it will be a chance to spend some time with Robert who has been a bit distant recently. Sadly, it's not the romantic getaway she hoped for as he distances himself even more over the coming days and, when she discovers a note from him she believes the worst, but he's not the only one with a secret and hers could potentially blow their world apart.

We Both Have Secrets is the the latest domestic drama by Robinson, set between Malaga in Spain and the UK and told across multiple timelines throughout. This is a fast paced rollercoaster read which, in true Robinson style, deals with some very complex subjects sympathetically and with dignity. Both Ellen and Robert are hiding major secrets which could change their lives, for different reasons, once they are finally revealed, and it was clear that they were both trying to protect their family by keeping quiet. This author has created a story with realistic, relatable characters which will tug at your heartstrings, leaving me in tears time and again, its a tale of friendships and deep rooted love that had me gripped throughout and Robinson, one of my go to authors, has smashed it out of the park AGAIN!

I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval. I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

I got engage in between pages, but in earlier chapters, somehow i feel its too long and dragged too far. Little predictable at the ending, but good mystery build

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We Both Have Secrets is one of those books where you think you know what you’re getting maybe some drama, a bit of tension but then it slowly unpacks itself and you’re like .oh. This is deeper. Heavier. And you can’t put it down.

The story follows two people, both hiding something, and the way those secrets slowly unravel is honestly gripping. Emma Robinson has this way of writing characters that feel so real flawed, layered, vulnerable. You’re not just watching the story unfold; you’re feeling it with them.

It’s not a thriller, but the suspense is definitely there more emotional than plot twist which I actually loved. It’s about trust, love, grief, and how much of ourselves we really show the people closest to us. Super introspective, but not in a preachy way.

Only reason it’s not a full 5 stars for me is that it took a little while to really hook me the first few chapters are a slow build. But once it got going? I was in.

If you’re into emotional reads with secrets, depth, and characters that’ll stay with you after the last page… this is it. Definitely recommend pairing with a blanket, tea, and maybe a box of tissues just in case.💔


✨Thankyou bookouture for the arc copy ❤️


❤️shaye.readss

We both have secrets- Cancel all plans while reading - I inhaled this amazing book over one weekend and resented everything that kept me away from it! The writing was top notch and the characters were very real.

This book felt quite different to Emma Robinsons usual story, but I can easily say that I still loved it. It had parts that had me guessing so much. I thought i figured it all out from the beginning but nope not even close.

This book has the Emma Robinsons signature of making my eyes leak, naturally. I think I've cried at most of her books now. They are the perfect palette cleanser in-between fantasy books.

The friendships Emma write about just make me crave that in my own life. Women supporting women and family dynamics that are just lovely to read.

Another fab book as always Emma, but didn't expect anything less.

Richard and Ellen have accepted an invitation from Ellens friend, to join her in Malaga for a much needed break.

Their children have left home and they are to embark on a new chapter in their lives.

BUT..... secrets and lies threaten to destroy everything.

This is an exciting read and I loved how the author made me think I knew exactly what would happen next only to leave me guessing once more..

A brilliant read and perfect for the beach..