Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
At age twelve, Cassandra Madden fell in love with Jefferson Ames, a young man she met at one of her mother’s business conferences. For years, Cassandra held on to this unrequited love in order to cope with her loneliness and the pain of her mother’s coldness; even after meeting a man she thought she might marry, her heart still yearned for Jeff. In a decisive moment, Cassandra calls off her pending engagement and travels to Williamsburg, Virginia, to become the nanny to the now-widowed Jeff’s young daughter. But the object of her desire barely notices her. That is, until the day she hears shots coming from the mansion of an eccentric neighbor, a world-renowned actress. Stepping into a world of deception, where no one is who they claim to be, Cassandra must unravel the secrets all around her — before she and Jeff can ever find happiness together.
Tags
Is Secrets appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This contemporary romance features mystery elements including gunshots and deception, though violence is not graphic. Romance is mild and likely fade-to-black. Themes include long-held unrequited love and personal courage.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, mild sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death of spouse, grief, and deception (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will connect with Cassandra's journey of holding onto a childhood crush and finally taking bold action to pursue her dreams and find love.