Review: Secrets of Southern Girls by Haley Harrigan

Secrets of Southern Girls

by Haley Harrigan

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Pages: 320

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Ten years ago, Julie Portland accidentally killed her best friend, Reba. What's worse is she got away with it. Consumed by guilt, she left the small town of Lawrence Mill, Mississippi, and swore nothing would ever drag her back. Now, raising her daughter and struggling to make ends meet in Manhattan, Julie still can't forget the ghost of a girl with golden hair and a dangerous secret.

When August, Reba's first love, begs Julie to come home to find the diary that Reba kept all those years ago, Julie's past comes creeping back to haunt her. That diary could expose the shameful memories Julie has been running from, but it could also unearth the hidden truths that Reba left buried…and reveal that Julie isn't the only one who feels responsible for Reba's death.


Kritters Thoughts:  Julie may have physically moved from her hometown of Mississippi, but her mind and thoughts are still in her hometown and after someone comes to find her in New York, she travels back to confront the things of the past and maybe finally put them to rest.

Let me start by saying that I loved the premise of the book and how it was laid out.  Without spoiling too much, Julie thinks she killed her best friend and come to find out there is a diary that has been floating around from this best friend that may have some answers in it.  So while you are reading the adventures of Julie and August as they travel back to Mississippi, the reader is also getting tid bits from Reba's diary to set up the events before her death.  I love getting this information and I loved the moment it intersected with the story - it was just at the right moment.  

I say all of the above to also say this book moved so slow for me.  At times it was painfully slow and when books aren't moving at a good enough - not quick, just a good pace - then I can set a book down easily.  It took me awhile from beginning to end for this one and not because it is chunky.  

So I liked it, but I would hesitate before reading another by the author.  I would want to make sure I was in love with the synopsis before I started reading it.  Has anyone else read this one?  Was it just me or was it a very slow burn?


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 15 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Sourcebooks.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.