This is an emotional rollercoaster for all the characters and will keep the reader guessing.

When Ellen and Robert wave goodbye to their second daughter at university, it’s time for them to enjoy some time alone. After reconnecting with old friend Lucy, the pair fly off on holiday to unwind. But is everything as it seems? Robert doesn’t seem to want to spend quality time with Ellen and everyone is behaving suspiciously. Just what secrets are being kept??

With lots of twists and turns you will think you have it all sorted, but as ever, this author throws in some curveballs! I definitely didn’t see the one twist coming but may have figured out some things.

I really liked how everything weaved together, how you get to know all the characters, how you may make a judgment about them, but you find that changes as you read on.

It’s lovely and descriptive as I’ve come to expect from this author, you can easily visualise all the characters and where they are.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t need as many tissues this time as previous books and didn’t feel quite as emotional at the end, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!

All in all a fast paced, quick read that will have you reading into the night, just finishing that one more chapter…….!

We Both Have Secrets- Emma Robinson

Ellen and Robert have entered the phase in their marriage where their children have left the family home, pursuing their own lives. Instead of relishing the peace and quiet and this new stage in life, Ellen finds that Robert is distancing himself from her and she doesn't know why.
A chance meeting with a mutual college friend and an invite to her lavish home in the sun could be just what they need to reignite the flame in their marriage. But when Ellen finds an unfinished note to her from Robert, their lives will be changed forever.

I came across Emma Robinson for the first time only this year when I read The Favourite Child. I was incredibly impressed and was thrilled to discover another of her books so soon on Netgalley.
While it was a good read and I couldn't figure out the plot twist, I think I liked the more thriller/darker plot of the other books I read. This was an enjoyable read but not one I would be recommending vehemently to all my bookish pals. A good solid read but not my favourite of what I have read from Robinson.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book centering on Ellen and Robert, a couple navigating the quiet after their children have flown the nest. With their newfound freedom comes unexpected tension—Ellen suspects Robert is hiding something, and her discovery of a cryptic note only deepens her unease. But Ellen isn’t innocent either; she’s harboring a secret that could unravel their decades-long marriage. The characters are deeply relatable—flawed, loving, and layered—making the emotional stakes feel authentic. Themes of trust, vulnerability, and the enduring strength of love are woven throughout in a warm, engaging style.

Heartfelt and grounded, We Both Have Secrets is a beautifully written exploration of marriage, midlife, and the hidden truths that shape us. It’s a moving story of second chances and rediscovering each other when it matters most.

oh wow. we are not ok. are emotions people are not ok. and ooomph this book sure does pack a emotionally punch. but in all the best ways. a delight of a book to completely get engrossed in. just wow.
i needed to know what was going to happen. i needed to know if our characters were going to be ok. i need i need to know right now. the pages couldnt be turned fast enough. my eyes simply couldnt read fast enough. this was more of an emotionally connected read than i thought possible going in.
there are secrets and long carried weights being carried around here. there is people you know will be hurt. and the outcome feel so tense. you are just waiting for each part to come.
i love how this felt just so real. if you suspect something you often then are given answers to everything you see them doing that fits that fear you have. and so then the stories and fear builds until you are so far past any point of return. so what then? what happens then? and what will be the fall out.
both our couple are keeping things. and its like the gorgeous author Jodi Picoult kind of plot point in this book, where you are left figuring out which side is right, or which side you are on. is there a moral right and wrong. is their more consequence than another or more pain to be had than another. and i loooooove this kind of book that almost hurts as you the reader cant think what is quite truth, right or wrong!
this book held me tight and didnt let go. it was so much better than i could have predicted and im in awe of talent authors like this. that can make us feel so much from their stories. just brilliant.

I found this to be a mildly diverting rather than a ‘must read’ book of emotional family secrets
The plot was quite slow paced and when the twist arrived, I wasn’t surprise by it. Whilst I certainly sympathised with the main characters I found neither particularly likeable.
This is a quite short, sub 300 page book which may have benefited from being more fleshed out. Overall I enjoyed ir and would rate it 3.5 ⭐ although due to the rating system here this was rounded down to 3 stars.

"We Both Have Secrets" is a book about secrets within the family and friendships. It keeps you guessing about the secret that is trying to be told in chapter one only for other secrets to come out along the way too! I honestly couldn't put this book down as it hooked me from the beginning with a need to know what the secret is and who's it is. The book is written with a lot of emotion and different perspectives of the situations.

Emma Robinson proves time and time again that she is the queen of contemporary women's fiction, the Jane Austen for the 2020s. We Both Have Secrets is a story with more twists than your average thriller and the author knows just when to throw in yet another heart-stopping revelation, keeping the reader on their toes or tied up in knots, whichever metaphor you prefer! Ellen is reuinted with an old university friend, Lucy, with whom she has lost touch for reasons neither quite understand, when Lucy invites her and her husband Robert to her holiday home in Malaga. From the start their relationship is spiky, unnatural and fraught with Ellen's insecurities. Ellen is so utterly miserable in such a relatable way, I wanted to reach into the book and give her a lo-ong hug. As the holiday unfolds, Ellen becomes aware that all is not as it seems, which further increases her paranoia and self-doubt. But all these incredibly human, flawed characters have secrets and all are hurting themselves while damaging their relationships by fracturing communication. Robinson shows so deftly how keeping things from those we love is a barrier to intimacy and it is only in bringing out into the light what is most painful to us that, ultimately, we become closer than ever before. She does this with a lightness of touch without ever shying away from how very difficult these conversations can be. All this while weaving the most gripping story - I had to set the alarm this morning so that I could finish it before work! I wonder if this is my favourite Robinson novel so far... until the next one, I guess.

Secrets have always intrigued me when they are the theme of a novel. We Both Have Secrets is a serious, twisty novel about two women's lives, from their early friendship in college to their settled lives as women with grown children. Ellen is the unreliable narrator of this twisty story about feelings of the self and what happens when they are projected onto ones we love, admire, and sometimes, envy. I loved sitting down with this wonderful new novel. It tells a great story and teaches a lesson about doubting oneself.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This was an easy enough read. I didn’t know of the author before, but I can see why her books are recommended for fans of Jodi Picoult.

No spoilers but I found the first twist (or secret) a little bit of a letdown. After that, some of the other scenes were either quite predictable or trying a bit too hard to be unpredictable, in my opinion.

The book did keep me wanting to know what would happen next and I think this would be a good holiday read. I just generally prefer stories where the characters have more depth to them.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC.

While I always look forward to a new Emma Robinson book, and We Both Have Secrets kept me turning pages, this one landed a bit shy of her usual four or five-star reads for me. As my sixth book by her, I've come to expect a certain level of gripping suspense and intricate plotting, and while the story was engaging, it didn't quite hit the same intensity as some of her previous works. The premise was intriguing, and the characters were well-developed, but I found myself anticipating twists that either didn't materialize with the same impact or felt a little less surprising than I'm used to from her. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published June 2025.

This was a great read, a real heart wrenching family drama that constantly keeps you guessing. I loved how the author was always one step ahead of me! Emma’s novels are always fantastic and this was another brilliant read.

This was a really lovely book, and I honestly couldn’t put it down. If you like continuous secrets that keep you guessing and don’t come to light until the very last few pages, this book is for you.

Every time I thought I had it all figured out, I was wrong. The writing was beautiful and engaging. The only thing I felt was that the last few chapters(no spoilers here) could have been drawn out a bit more for a more satisfying conclusion. Everything just happened too fast for my liking, or maybe I just wanted to savor the justice. But overall this book was fantastic and I definitely had all the emotions. 🥲

Also can I just mention how brilliant the characters are?! I love them and all of their individual character arcs! This book truly highlights how very complex friendships and family dynamics are, and I’m here for it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely brilliant family drama this is which I loved from the beginning until the brilliant ending.

I always enjoy books from this author and I think this has to be her best yet, extremely well written. So many lies, deceit and shocks are written into this storyline which made me want to keep on reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this great ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. Robinson's books are always engaging family dramas, and this was no exception. The cast of characters was well-written and interesting, and I was invested in the storyline throughout. It was delightfully unpredictable and kept me guessing what revelations would come out, and I loved Charlotte and Grace's response to events. An enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley.co.uk and Bookouture for the chance to review this book.

Secrets carried throughout their lives. Family and lost friends are reunited in this story about consequences and the effects of long-held misunderstandings.

Ellen and Lucy are the main protagonists, hiding the truth in plain sight. Robert, unwittingly, is the anchor that holds friendships and family together.

All through this story, I found myself wishing it would turn out OK. (No Spoilers!)
It isn't a gripping or exciting read, but once invested, it is hard not to finish and find out the ending.
The characters are pleasant enough to make them likeable, and the story rubs along nicely.
It's an enjoyable, easy read suitable for escaping the daily grind. I read this whilst on holiday, with lots of time to waste.

Such an emotional story about the damage secrets can cause even in the most secure and happiest of relationships and Emma Robinson always writes the type of book that makes the reader cry one minute and then smile, this is why I enjoy her books.. This is another 5 star read

Secrets. We all have them. Robert and Ellen have their share. Will it tear them apart or bring them closer together? They say confession is good for the soul but is it?

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline. It was a complete shock when the secrets came out, I never saw those coming!! Loved all the characters and the writing flowed really well which made the story very believable. The author managed to create such an atmosphere that I was beginning to wonder what it would feel like to be in the character’s shoes myself. I had never read anything by this author before but will definitely look for more.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

In this novel we meet Ellen and Robert, a couple of empty nesters whose youngest daughter has left to go to university. They have the time and money now to have the adventures they didn't have when they were younger but Ellen feels Robert is keeping something from her and when she finds a note from him her suspicions go into overdrive. But she can hardly complain because she also has kept a secret from Robert one that could completely ruin their marriage.
Emma Robinson has written yet another fabulous book. She takes every day real life dilemmas and creates relatable characters to deal with the outcomes.
It's a heartwarming read with love and friendship throughout the pages.

Emma Robinson has done it again with her latest novel, We Both Have Secrets. Rife with emotional drama and fraught with complicated family dynamics, this one is a page-turner.

Ellen and Robert are empty nesters, and Ellen is excited to reconnect with her husband, though she has the distinct impression that he is keeping something from her. For her part, Ellen is guarding a secret of her own, one that could very well blow her closely knit family apart if it is ever revealed. One marriage, two secrets, and emotions are running high. Just how far would you be willing to go to protect the ones you love?

Emma Robinson's novels can always be relied upon to delve into the very heart of a family, and to tug at your heartstrings as you become fully invested in the lives of characters who, very quickly, begin to feel like friends.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.