The Truth About Us by Dalene Flannigan

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Publication Date: 11/5/2011
Publisher: Dalene Flannigan
Genre: Women's Fiction

What happens when the past catches up to the present and the truth surfaces? Three women, roommates back in college, find their lives forever altered when one of them feels compelled to confess the secret sin of their past. 
And whose truth is it?
'The Truth About Us' weaves the past and the present in a page-turner that explores the shifting quality of truth, and the cost of secrets.

**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**


First off, I'd like to start by apologizing to the author. Because of prior obligations I didn't have a chance to read The Truth About Us until just this past week (she sent me the review request in November!). I wish I would have been able to read it sooner, because I really enjoyed this book!


There are three main characters: Grace, Erica, and Jude. They were all friends in school, but now they aren't even in contact. Throughout the book we slowly find out the dark secrets of the past. It was interesting to find out how each of them had changed since they knew each other in college: Grace, who had always been the shy, reserved girl in the group became an outspoken documentary filmmaker speaking out about violence against women; Erica, the one who always took charge and was in control of her life, was now struggling to keep her marriage together;  Jude, the outspoken girl whose life centered around sex and drugs, had now found religion. Jude's new-found love for Jesus also threatened to reveal a secret that the three had sworn never to divulge to anyone. This secret, it seems, had basically shaped each woman's life into something it wouldn't have been otherwise.


 The book is written in third person and I loved how it was set up. Each chapter focused on one of the three women. Periodic flashbacks slowly revealed what happened so many years ago. Revelations occur right up to the very end; even when I thought I had learned all of the secrets, the last chapter brought one more. I liked that it kept me guessing to the last page.


I definitely appreciated the author's writing style. The story flowed so smoothly, that I once I started reading I couldn't stop. Some self-published books are plagued by spelling and grammar errors, which can seriously affect opinions about an otherwise great read. This book did not suffer from that at all. The Truth About Us was mercifully free of any blaring mistakes, which certainly aided to the smooth reading experience. 


The story was intriguing and the characters were very well written. As I said, once I started reading it was impossible to stop until I reached the very last page. Even then I wanted there to be more so I could keep reading. I'm glad I got the chance to review The Truth About Us and I can't wait to read more from this author!

If you would like to learn more about the author, Dalene Flannigan, please visit her webpage and Twitter.