I really, REALLY loved Dark and Shallow Lies (the author’s debut novel) so I went into this book with high expectations. Unfortunately, such expectations fell flat for me personally. Perhaps it was the fact that I adored Dark and Shallow Lies so much, but Secrets So Deep seemed to pale in comparison to its predecessor. It’s premise is intricate and fascinating, but the detail and atmosphere put into DaSL was notably absent from this story. Instead, the majority of this novel is dedicated to inner, confusing dialogue of the MC as she unravels the messy mystery behind her mother’s death. Though I initially thought Avril was an interesting character when she arrived to camp, I quickly realized that interest lied in her history (or the history of the people connected to her, really). The actual character fell quite flat, more a force of reaction than a being of action. The romance shared between her and Cole was another flat aspect of the story for me, somewhat empty and unnecessarily pushed. Though not love-at-first-sight, the instant-connection/fated vibes of the couple held them back from being properly developed in my opinion. Their invisible (almost magical) tie to each other was so emphasized that any realistic connection or valid reason for them to be together just sort fell through the cracks. It was a moody romance, shaping the MC into a moody character that robbed her of the slight characterization we saw from her elsewhere. I have no real problem with this (I mean, I’m a shameless Twilight fan for crying out loud) save for the fact that such romance and preoccupation with said romance began to steal from the main storyline. In fact, I would say about 80% of the story is dedicated to the couple’s connection, which really dragged out the main plot line for me. Instead of being a story about Avril, it became a story about Avril and Cole, which wasn’t necessarily what I signed up for.
Overall, while I do think the story has an interesting premise, Secrets So Deep failed to wow me the way Dark and Shallow Lies did. That being said, if you’re a fan of Sain’s previous work or are looking for an interesting mystery with a large focus on romance, check this one out to see if it’s for you!
Overall, while I do think the story has an interesting premise, Secrets So Deep failed to wow me the way Dark and Shallow Lies did. That being said, if you’re a fan of Sain’s previous work or are looking for an interesting mystery with a large focus on romance, check this one out to see if it’s for you!