The Secrets We Conceal by S.R. Fabrico {Book Review}

The Secrets We Conceal gives hope to others that have similar – or even different – trauma that they can heal from.

Disclosure: I received this book to review through iRead Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

A riveting coming of age story, that will make you laugh, cry and root for Laura to find happiness.

Laura Shirk is a normal, happy, go-lucky, little girl playing with Cabbage Patch dolls and Legos.

Until she isn’t.

Set in the late 1980s-early 90s, a visit to her aunt and uncle’s house changes everything.

What follows is a nerve-racking story shedding light on child sexual abuse.

As the tragedy unfolds, Laura mutters through life concealing her secret from everyone. Feeling alone and isolated, she struggles to navigate her younger years wondering if she can or will ever find happiness.

Then, Laura meets ‘the perfect man’ for her. Can he heal her heart and break down her steel walls?

The Secrets We Conceal, S.R. Fabrico’s debut novel is a riveting coming of age story that beautifully conveys how love and strength can heal all wounds. 

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I judge books based on their covers – it’s how I choose what I read. I don’t typically read what a book is about. Imagine my surprise…

Let me start out by saying; this book is definitely a trigger. Likely, not for all people, but for some. Let me also say, the story itself is centered around a very sensitive, but all too real, topic.

I didn’t feel the few scenarios we were shared were detailed or shared too much. I think it gave an accurate account of what occurred without being “too much”. (I hope that makes sense!)

As difficult as some parts of the story were to read, I didn’t want to stop reading. I wanted to see how everything would unfold.

Would Laura keep the secret? Would anything happen to the “bad person”? How would she move forward? How would this impact the rest of her life? How could she ever be in a situation like that again? So many questions.

I don’t want to give anything away, but following Laura on this journey really made me stop and think. With not having been a sexual assault victim, it’s hard knowing what one goes through and The Secrets We Concealed gave us an inside look into their thought process, their emotions, and their journey to healing.

The emotions and feelings that Laura felt – some rightfully so and some so wrong – to the personality changes to the healing that she slowly started going through… it all provided insight into things one doesn’t stop and really think about.

This book may not be for everyone, but it really was a book that shared someone’s trauma, as well as their journey towards healing. Frankly, if Laura can heal from that traumatic experience, it gives hope to others that have similar – or even different – trauma that they can heal from. And hope is something we all need.

About the Author

Born and raised a Yankee who loves NY style pizza and Philly cheesesteaks. I was introduced to the amazing world of Southern BBQ after moving to Tennessee where I live with my husband and two children.

My family is my main priority, everything I do is for them.

I attended college in the 90’s and received a degree in mathematics with a minor in secondary education, I went on to coach cheerleading and dance for 20 years and won a Hip Hop Dance World Championship.

Anything and everything creative are my absolute favorite, so writing has always been a hobby. When I’m not writing, I like to wife hard, mom hard, paint, read good books and watch good movies.

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