Review: The Secrets we Keep by Trisha Leaver

 
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Rating: 2.75 stars

Ella and Maddy Lawton are identical twins. Ella has spent her high school years living in popular Maddy's shadows, but she has never been envious of Maddy. In fact, she's chosen the quiet, safe confines of her sketchbook over the constant battle for attention that has defined Maddy's world.

When—after a heated argument—Maddy and Ella get into a tragic accident that leaves her sister dead, Ella wakes up in the hospital surrounded by loved ones who believe she is Maddy. Feeling responsible for Maddy's death and everyone's grief, Ella makes a split-second decision to pretend to be Maddy. Soon, Ella realizes that Maddy's life was full of secrets. Caught in a web of lies, Ella is faced with two options—confess her deception or live her sister's life.  (Goodreads)

When I picked up this book, the first thing I noticed was the cover. I thought it was AMAZING, even though I thought it would be about dancers, I think it was the buns. Anyway, the thought of one girl pretending to be her twin sister sounded pretty awesome. I have to say, this book was a little, blah. Maddy was the popular twin, and when she dies and her twin sister Ella wakes up, everyone thinks Ella is Maddy. Now, (small spoiler) in the beginning of the book Ella, didn’t actually know who she was, she had amnesia so when people told her she was Maddy she went with it. However three pages later when she got her memory back, and was afraid to tell everyone she was actually Ella, I could understand. All of Maddy’s friends were there, Maddy’s boyfriend was there, and she didn’t want her parents to have to re-grieve for another sister. Okay. Cool, I’ll buy that. What I refuse to purchase however, was the whole, Maddy deserves a life so I’ll give her mine business that Ella was sprouting. It made no sense at all, and I’m pretty forgiving when it comes to books. She felt like it was her fault that her sister died. Okay, but you can’t make up for that by poorly pretending to be your sister. I was so annoyed with Ella that I could hardly pay attention to the “mystery” of what Maddy “did” to one the girls on the field hockey team, but I guess that wasn’t a big deal because I cracked that mystery before the half way mark of the book.
 
I guess one could suggest this book to reluctant readers, but… to be honest, there are plenty of books I would suggest before this one.