Can You Keep a Secret?
Since I read “The Plan” I’ve been on a search for more like that (funny, but also the whole office romance thing), and not only did this book come up, those that had read it were adamant. I mean… “favorite book ever” kind of adamant. Re-read, adamant. MUST READ adamant. One of the most often recommended books in the last week!
Sandra: Can you keep a secret? That’s the name of the book!!! Such a great read and same humor as The Plan… She spills all her secrets to a stranger on a plane and he turns out to be the new CEO at her company… It was HILARIOUS
Maryse’s Book Blog: I can’t wait to read that, Sandra!!!
Kandace: Sandra, I’ve read Can Tou Keep A Secret more than 10 times. It was my go to book before I got caught up in all these ebooks. I loved all her confessions when she thought the plan was going down. Hilarious.
Claudia: I read Can you Keep a Secret and is so funny!!!!!
Ema: you definitely have to read Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella. this book is the one that started all the comedy romance books for me. it’s hilarious I even still love this book after all these years and after all so many books that I’ve read…
Reysel: You definitely would want to read Can You Keep A Secret. It’s a must! One of my favorite book ever. Would crack you up like crazy!
Rosemarie: I read Can You Keep A Secret awhile back, loved it!
Hildie: My favorite book ever is Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, it makes me laugh ever time I read it!
And I was soooooo happy to have jumped on it first (when I was having another book-choice dilemma). This pulled me out of a 3-day book slump (which really was cutting into my weekly reading), and had me giggling and grinning again. Who knew I loved comedy romance? I mean, of course I do, ’cause I love them in “movie-format”… so yay me! I now officially have a whole new genre of books to dig into!
This one had it all! A quirky, quick-witted heroine that has that “just like us” feel. She’s got her goals, her insecurities and her downfalls. But she has that great big heart that you just KNOW is going to pull her out of her life-slump. And it’s not really a life-slump, per se. I mean,
- she’s got a great “entry-level” job with great prospects (and the typical snarky coworkers that go with that).
- she’s got a great family (that, of course, comes with that underhanded family member that just seems to one-up her every chance she gets),
- she’s got a great best friend/roommate and a great little apartment that she gets to come home to every day (but of course, the *other* roommate is a bit of a devious handful) and…
- she’s got that Ken-like, successful, emotionally-available boyfriend (yep! I said available!! I bet he even loves to cuddle
)… but of course, he’s got his… distractingly irritating side, too.
You know… she’s normal, her life is normal. No overly melodramatic angst, no traumatic scars, no real “bad guys”… just the usual life/love issues that keeps everything level.
But one thing she does have, is a sort of airplane phobia, that in moments (in this case, LONG moments) of turbulence, has her spilling her entire repertoire of life secrets and regrets to the mostly indifferent stranger seated next to her.
What’s happened to me? Normally there’s a kind of filter that stops me from blurting out everything I’m thinking, but the filter’s stopped working. Everything’s piling out in a big, random stream, and I can’t stop it.
She can’t help herself. It’s as if she’s two people, the one that can’t stop talking (to keep her mind off of her terror) as the plane dips and bounces, and the one in her mind asking her… what the heck is she telling this guy?!! And whyyyyyy? But no matter. He’s a stranger after all. She’ll never see him again, and considering the terrifying circumstances, she’s allowed to lose her mind, right?
All’s well that ends well, when the plane lands, and her handsome stranger goes on his way with nary a word, and her handsome Ken-doll-like boyfriend is happily waiting for her. Life is back to normal.
That is, until she walks into work the next morning amidst an employee commotion as the rumor-mill indicates the CEO is “surprise-visiting”…
God, the air of excitement is infectious. With a spurt of adrenaline, I find myself reaching for my comb and checking my lip gloss. I mean, you never know. Maybe he’ll somehow spot my potential. Maybe he’ll pull me out of the crowd!
“OK, folks,” says Paul, striding into the department. “He’s on this floor. He’s going into Admin. first…”
“On with everyday tasks!” exclaims Cyril. “Now!”
F&@k. What’s my everyday task?
LOL!!! This was awesome!
But then…. she sees him again, as as he’s escorted around the building amongst a frenzy of underling worshippers. Because why HIM!? ‘Cause he’s the CEO of the very company she works for, that’s why. Tee hee!! And that was even more awesome.
… my mind is frantically spooling back, trying to remember, trying to piece together what I said. I mean, I told this man everything about myself. Everything.
And then… things start coming back to her from their previous one-sided “conversation”. How she spilled about:
- her “sibling” rivalry
- her boringish boyfriend
- her “cheating” on her resume to get the job at the company she works for,
- her irritating co-workers
- her co-worker friends and their “work-codes” that equal playing hookie in the middle of work, for coffee & gossip
- her sex-life (from the loss of her virginity to her boyfriend’s failure to find her… uhhhh… okay, let’s leave it at that, shall we. )
- and so much more…
Oh yes… the WHOLE airplane conversation will have you chuckling, giggling… maybe even cackling.
That is, of course… until he recognizes her. 
Ruh roh. FUN TIMES!!!!!
I’m gonna leave you there. This is a VERY fun-worthy read. And it’s not just funny. There’s that whole love-angle coming into play. And of course, what’s love without angst, right? Pining, guessing, misunderstanding… and secrets. Oh sure, she’s spilled a few too many, but what if there are still a few to uncover?
Loved it!! I read it with gusto, and while it’s not my absolute-favorite book in the world, it sure as heck is one that I will never forget, and one that I appreciate with all of my heart. It provided mostly everything I was craving. And while I think that I could have 5-starred this if it had more of that crazy deep intensity… that intimacy… there was still enough of everything to easily 4-star it.
4 stars!!
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I wanted this book too but it was a little pricey. Guess I need to download it! But I did want a funny read so I went with Willing Captive….Omg Maryse, you HAVE to read this one! I just finished and I am glowing! So, so funny….laugh out loud funny and what an amazing love story! No insta love either…. and the build up of their relationship was perfect!!!!!! LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!
I loved it too. One of my favorite parts is when her coworker asks him about her plant and he asks Emma about it. I crack up just thinking about it.
I agree with you about the intimacy. I’ve read several of her books. They’re all funny and sweet. They just lack that oomph that really makes you fall in love. But they are great for getting you out of as slump.
So glad you loved it Maryse! Thinking about this book gives me giggles! Emma is kind of ditzy but she’s so funny too!
If you like this, you have to read Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella. I have never giggled so much reading a book. Loved it!
I LOVE this book. It’s one of those books you are more than happy to re-read. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read this, and it makes me laugh out loud every time! It’s always on my recommended list.
I read this book a long long time ago, i loved it but it would only have given it about 3.5/4 stars, and it was mainly because it lacked intensity in the romance dept. I LOVED the premise…if she had just added a little extra alpha in the H’s character, it would have easily been 5 stars.
If you liked this book, you should read her other books. I love Sophie Kinsella’s books. I’ve read them all. They are so funny. You would probably like “I’ve Got Your Number.” That was a good one. “The “Undomestic Goddess” was another good one.
I’ve Got Your Number was so much fun!
You must try The Shopaholic series. they are hilarious. I even loved ‘Remember me’
This book was hilarious! It was just what I needed. A little different from the books I typically read but so worth it……laugh out loud funny! Thank you for the recommendation
I’m read the plan and laughed myself silly. If you enjoyed the plan then I’m going to recommend Katie Macalister. I love her earlier works and she writes several different styles. Modern humor/ romance like this but she also writes some great paranormal romance and then she mixes them together to give us hot, funny paranormal romances series and then she writes some YA. I bet you’ve read her. I have everything in print I love them all so much and I’ve bought them as gifts several times. The woman is just too funny. Aisling Grey series is my fav but the contempory Hard Days Knight or Men it Kilts are my favs and stand alones…or maybe The Corset Diaries. Anywho, I’ve always read you recommendations so it’s nice to give you one. Junst fun, silly and great books to read for a fun laugh. Dark ones series is great too but not humorous like the others. Just paranormal romance. I’m repeating myself now. Off to read…
Maryse, I think you should start a British chick lit. list. There a so many fun, sexy books by British authors. I don’t know why, but (in general) they seem to write witty banter a little better than American authors.
Luanne
I had a great time reading this book!!! Sweet, funny, light… I could just picture it so perfectly in my head, it should be a movie!!!
Loved it!