The Secrets We Keep by Logan Meredith

The Secrets We Keep Reviews

• 
  Ky

  * 4.5 stars *
  
  Angsty book, has some hard scenes to read, but it really kept my interest.
  
  I believe there should have been a TW somewhere (either at the bottom of the blurb or at the beginning of the book) because some of Cade's thoughts are really dark and might even be triggering for some people. If trigger warnings were mentioned somewhere then I must have missed them so I'm sorry.
  
  It's mentioned in the blurb that Cade has an eating disorder but that doesn't cover in the slightest the impact being in his head during his darkest hours could have for some readers.
  
  Just keep that in mind.
  
  If that's not a trigger for you then I only have to say that the story sure packs a punch but it's worth reading.
• 
  Raven and Chris

  This book packs a punch. Adam and Cade do not have an easy or even remotely healthy relationship. They have been on and off again for several years, ever since Adam cheated on Cade, now there are multiple factors involved in this story so don’t let that fact alone from the summary turn you off this book. This story is all about how to break a bad cycle of revenge and get back to renewing what has the potential to be an amazing relationship. Both of these men make serious mistakes and the blame for their situation lies squarely on both sets of shoulders. The beauty and magic within these pages is all about how these two work it out.
  
  “I promised you that I won’t add to your burden anymore, but I’m not going to be your punching bag either. I want to help, but if you aren’t ready to accept it from me, then the only thing that’s going to happen is you saying a bunch of things you don’t mean and us fighting.”
  
  Cade had to learn to value himself and learn how to really and truly forgive and Adam had to learn how to stand up for himself. When they figure it out, it is beautiful to watch. This book has a lot of feels and serious moments and I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster, which is actually an analogy from the book itself. I loved this book so much. But it isn’t an easy read. I highly recommend it but keep your tissue handy!
  
  
• 
  meep

  I really disliked how they talked down to each other and seemed to play a game who’s issues were bigger. It was very dramatic and while I did finished the book as eating disorders in males in books are somewhat rare it’s not something I would reread
• 
  Kazza

  ARC review of The Secrets we Keep by Logan Meredith. More of a review on here after release date.
  
  
  
• 
  Juniper

  I love second-chance romances, and a part of the appeal is the initial suffering/angst/anger that leads to forgiveness and reconciliation. Fair warning that this book definitely spends quite a bit of time in the holding-a-grudge, not-moving-forward part of this formula. Which is its own special kind of narrative hell, as the characters are beautifully drawn, complex individuals and watching them suffer is hard. It’s easy to empathize with Adam’s ingrained sense of inferiority and to cheer for him trying to make better relationship decisions. It’s also easy to understand and empathize with Cade, who’s struggling with a lot: the anorexia he’s keeping a secret, his feelings about Adam’s cheating, his sister’s bipolar disorder, the unhealthy dynamics he and Adam have been cycling through for almost half a decade. That said, this can be a hard book to read at times, not least because the way that Cade deals with his own struggles is to take them out on Adam. I would go so far as to call his behavior emotionally abusive: he polices Adam’s emotions, gaslights him, and tears him down verbally pretty much constantly. He’s self-aware enough to realize why he’s doing it: “I wanted him to feel weak like me. To feel helpless and powerless.” He also knows that what he’s doing is wrong: “even when you’re suffering you don’t get to hurt people and walk away from all the responsibility” but it’s still incredibly difficult to see Cade lash out at Adam then reasonably deconstruct his own behavior afterwards when Adam’s gone. I hated every moment of it, for both their sakes, but I cannot describe how positively euphoric I was when things started to change for the better. I won’t spoil any significant plot details, but there’s a lot of healing and growth in the last third or so of this novel, and it makes all of the hard stuff leading up to it feel more than worthwhile. I’ve never been so happy to see two fictional people end up in a really good place: trust me, they earned it. An intense, emotional, and ultimately deeply satisfying read.
  
  *I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
• 
  Reed

  This story grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention till the last word. This on again, off again relationship between Cade and Adam is so emotional. Both guys are likable. Both want to be with each other but circumstance keeps getting in the way. I’ve known little about eating disorders. Just what I read now and then. This story is so enlightening. There is so much more to it than just wanting to not be fat. The mental issues just tore me apart. Aside from that Cade also has to face the challenges of helping his sister and niece. Cade as a teacher doesn’t roll in money and his helping with both money and support pulls him to the breaking point. Adam has his own issues to deal with. There is no perfect life. No matter how good it appears, your childhood and all the situations that happen to you, contribute to your daily actions and reactions. Adam’s relationships with his family brought this to the front. This story is emotional throughout. It gave me a feeling of both sides pov. I highly recommend this book.
• 
  SandyB

  Adam and Cade’s romance is on an unhealthy cycle - the story takes place during what they both much agree needs to be the last attempt to resuscitate it. As a second-chance romance, their story was rather refreshing - the idea that what breaks up a couple the first time will continually do so unless both parties are willing to do the work.
  
  Honestly, I don’t know if I liked either MC at the beginning, which made the story that much more compelling, as layers were peeled back that gave clues as to why they were the way they were and how much they both realized they needed to change (both on their own and how they related to each other) in order to get their HEA. All in all, it was a lovely, complex story that snuck up on me, going from deceptively simple to all the feels that made my eyes misty. My heart broke for both guys (and was put back together) and I really wasn’t prepared for that. Those layers that get peeled back? Heed the note in the blurb and look up the content warning.
  
  I received a free copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
• 
  Mandy

  To be honest, it took me a little while to get into this story, and I think that was because the author did such a good job of creating characters with such an unhealthy relationship at the beginning that my mind had already given up on them, but then things came to a head between Adam and Cade and I was hooked.
  I loved the characters of Adam and Cade. Their on-again, off-again, relationship has been unhealthy for both of them and Adam seems to be withdrawing from it due to the hurt of what he feels is rejection by Cade, who unknowns to him is struggling so much with a secret he is hiding from everyone as well as dealing with his family’s problems. It was sometimes excruciating to watch them hurt each other and so gratifying when they finally try to work through their issues. I became so invested in Cade working out his life and not losing Adam that I couldn’t put the book down at that point.
  This story was full of emotions, steam and angst and by the end I loved it.
  I was given an ARC of this book to review and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.
• 
  Briony

  Wow. I didn't have any particular expectations for this book, but damn, it surpassed all of them! This book covered some really important topics, and didn't shy away from the messy and damaging parts of Adam and Cade's relationship. I really appreciated the way that Logan Meredith didn't gloss over their issues, especially Cade's and his sister's, and actually showed all of the hard work that each character had to put in to make their life better. And THANK GOD it didn't go down the route where love solves everything - Cade and Adam both work on things alone, for themselves, before coming back stronger. I enjoyed the cameos from Josh and Brady and Sid! I really love Logan Meredith's writing style and realistic portrayal of difficult relationships - it's complex, messy, important, interesting, and refreshing to read. I wonder if there are going to be any more stories in this universe - perhaps Sid's story next, with Matt? Because I'd be totally here for that.
• 
  Ida Umphers

  This is a really emotional read because this is no fairytale romance. Adam and Cade are in a story about real people, dealing with things that are painful. Adam has been unfaithful, but has matured, gotten his life together and is ready to work on earning Cade's forgiveness. He knows it won't be easy and accepts that. Cade, wants to work with Adam, but he's having trouble with the past and seeks to control what he can which leads to an eating disorder that is completely, realistically portrayed, as is the fact that only Cade himself can work on that, Adam's love can help but cannot be a "cure". These two have to talk and dig deep and if you are up for such a story, this is a great one.
• 
  Mareike

  This book is amazing!
  
  Deep, raw and so real.
  
  I loved both characters. Both had some flaws, but that made them so real. Adam and Cade are in a not really healthy relationship. After Adam cheated on Cade, they get together and break up again and again. But both made mistakes that lead to Adam cheating. And I loved that the author described that beautifully.
  The whole relationship felt so real and both characters needed to work for their HEA. I loved it.
  Definitely a favorite!
  
  Trigger warning: cheating, eating disorder
  
  *I received this book as an ARC. I chose to leave an honest review.*
• 
  Sharon

  Cade and Adam are in probably the most unhealthy relationship that I have read in maybe forever. The one-upmanship is wearing. They are both likable guys and deep down want this relationship to work. Their own demons at times seem to be leading and they haven't quite figured out to work through them. The interesting part of this book is watching that happen. I don't know quite what I expected to happen but this wasn't it. However, it turned out to be an amazing book.
• 
  Lindsay Hardin

  This book takes you on quite a journey. The two main characters were introduced in the previous book of this series, and they didn’t have the healthiest relationship at that time. The two have a lot of history and a ton of baggage to unpack. Right or wrong the two decide to take one last chance on a real relationship. The result takes you on a long and winding road that will have you ready to bang the two guys’ heads together. This book will you make you soar and drop you to the depths of despair. The roller coaster you ride is so worth it when these two finally get it together and get a hard earned happy ever after. Caution for those that are/could be triggered by on page mention of suicide, eating disorders or other mental health disorders.
• 
  Janet Hunt

  This was fantastic!! Adam and Cade had been hot and cold with each other for years. Adam cheated on Cade years ago and ended their relationship. But in reality, they both to blame for mistakes they both made. The storyline was well executed, simply fantastic in my opinion. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
• 
  Sarah Mitcham

  MM, Contemporary Romance. Easy to read , although the story covers some really sensitive topics ( this is done well). A definite page-turner that I couldn't stop reading until I had finished. This book is a stand-alone read. The story features a long-term on/off couple over a period of eight years. Guaranteed HEA... eventually.
• 
  Suze

  3/3.5* but only because I am not really into pure character driven stories and this is one.
  The themes are very intense, with 2 men dealing with lots of mental and physical issues, especially Cade.
  Adam has his own insecurities and they generally resolve these through use of expert resources - yay!
• 
  Thalia

  This was so angst but so realistic, a true second chance love story with a real commitment to work through issues, not just naturally coming back together
• 
  Haylee Wireman

  Shew! This book was SUCH a rollercoaster. I feel like I’ve been smacked in the face with a chair. Adam and Cade’s relationship was beautiful and raw and so real that tears came to my eyes on numerous occasions. The way Cade’s condition was written from his point of view was so realistic. I loved everything about this book. It gave me all the feelings. This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!