Past Secrets

by Cathy Kelly

Book Overview

They all hide secrets that won't go away.... From the outside, the welcoming, garden-adorned houses of Summer Street are the picture of Irish charm. But on the inside, unexpected and heartbreaking... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0007156359
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: HARPER COLLINS 0 PUB
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Feel Good Novel

The characters in this story were all so likable, it made the story that bit better to read. Each of the main characters has been keeping secrets that could change their lives. All women have secrets that are quite surprising giving their personalities. Christie, a kind women, who seems to have it all has been holding onto her secret for the past 25 years. Beautiful Maggie has her own surprising secret that really hits a nerve with readers has been holding on to it for over a decade and Faye who has spent 18 years lying to her daughter feels that by telling her the truth now could ruin there relationship which is already falling apart.

Typical Kelly...

I have read numerous Cathy Kelly novels, and this does not disappoint in following her typical recipe. That does not make it any less good or worth reading, but it is starting to indicate to me that it may be time for a change. All of her books center around a group of women with different issues (in Past Secrets everyone has some sort of secret) that are somehow either strongly connected at the beginning or will be by the end. This was an entertaining book, with good characters that were all more or less likeable, even if you wanted to kick some of them for their stupidity at times. It was, however, very predictable. I do want to stress that in spite of its predictability, it is still good book, and fun to read. It isn't Kelly's best effort in my opinion, but if you know what you are getting into, you will not be disappointed - it is a solid story.

Good Secrets

I love Cathy Kelly's books and I was so excited to see a new one. The four main characters all had something to hide from the ones they loved and had to overcome them in order to be happy and move on. As the story unfolds you learn of each secret and how it affects the lives of the four women. Although, none of the secrets are anything as horrible as you're led to believe. It's a really cute summer book with interesting characters and a good storyline. I can't wait for more!

Entertaining, intelligent and FUNNY!

I have read several reviews of Cathy Kelly's books. Most of them are positive but then there are those who say that this is not important/serious literature. Or that it is nice for a boring flight or when you are half asleep on a sunny beach. People in her books are too nice, problems are mostly solved in the end, it's relaxing reading - in other words, happy readers have a too good time for Kelly to be credited as an excellent author. Excellent authors are deep and brooding, they seem to say. Well, at least that is how I interpret it. Personally, I love opera, but I must say it would have been nice if an opera could at times have a happy ending. The music and the beautiful voices would not have been less entoxicating with a romantic story ending in a huge wedding and pure bliss. But back to Caty Kelly and her last "Secrets". A purely wonderful, intelligent and not the least FUNNY book. My partly miserable love life is usually not my favourite topic, but when Kelly says "in order to get over a man, you have to get under another", I just crack up. And whatever misery might have been, suddenly seems much less important. Humour is a fantastic healer. Also the following proclamation "We screwed up, but hey, we are still here club" adds attractive upwards wrinkles and a guaranteed longer life. It's great art to make people laugh. It's also great art to write about life. Life as it is for most people. Cathy Kelly writes beautifully. OK, most of her main characters are likeable with the jerks/bitches looming in the background. But even the nicest heroines/heroes are no saints. Like all of us, they have made their mistakes, have been - and may still be - unhappy. Tragedies are hidden in their lives and there are lessons still to be learnt and problems to be sorted out. Behind lace curtains and blue painted doors in idyllic Summer Street, life is real and varied and challenging. But in telling her story in that warm, funny way of hers, Cathy Kelly makes it entertaining and highly enjoyable. Summer Street and its residents come to life in front of me where I'm sitting at the café with a latte and seeing it all. Since I read her first book, I have read them all, and never once have I been disappointed. Cathy Kelly is right up there in the league with Maeve Binchy, Patricia Scanlan and Rosamunde Pilcher. Normally, I don't like to compare but this is where Kelly has placed herself in her short career. Especially if you are feeling a bit down, try an injection of Cathy Kelly's sunny sparkle. Irresistible!

THANK YOU, Cathy!

I have read several reviews of Cathy Kelly's books. Most of them are positive but then there are those who say this is not important/serious literature. Or that it's ok for a long flight or when you are half asleep on a sunny beach. People in her books are too nice, problems are too easily solved in the end, it's relaxing reading - in other words, happy readers have a too good time for Kelly to be credited as an excellent author. Excellent authors are deep and brooding, they seem to say. Well, at least that's how I interpret it. Personally I love opera, but I must say it would have been nice if once in a while an opera could have a happy ending. The music and the beautiful voices would not have been less entoxicating with a romantic story ending in a huge wedding and pure bliss. But back to Cathy Kelly and her last "secrets". A purely wonderful, intelligent and not the least very FUNNY book. My partly miserable love life is usually not my favourite topic, but when Kelly says "in order to get over a man, you have to get under another", I just crack up. Humour is a fantastic healer. Also the following proclamation "We screwed up, but hey, we are still here"-club adds attractive upwards wrinkles and a guaranteed longer life! It's great art to make people laugh. It's also great art to write about life. Life as it is for most people. Cathy Kelly writes beautifully. OK, most of her main characters are likeable with the jerks/[...] looming in the background. But even the nicest heroines/heroes are no saints. Like all of us, they have made their mistakes, have been - and may still be - unhappy. Tragedies are hidden in their lives and there are lessons still to be learnt and problems to be sorted out. Behind lace curtains and blue painted doors on idyllic Summer Street, life is real and varied and challenging. But in telling her story in that warm, funny way of hers, Cathy Kelly makes it entertaining and highly enjoyable. Summer Street and its residents come to life in front of me where I'm sitting at the street's café with a latte, seeing it all. Since I read her first book, and I have read them all, I have never once been disappointed. Cathy Kelly is right there in the league with Maeve Binchy and Patricia Scanlan. That's where she has placed herself in her relatively short career. I'm right now awaiting her new book "Lessons in heartbreak", due to be released any day. I look enormously forward to it. If there is anyone who can lighten up "an autumn going on winter-mood", it's this author. I simply love her books! VERY much recommended!