Can you Keep a Secret book age rating

this book has been on my wishlist for years (apparently it was earning rave reviews from readers online) and yet everytime i come across this at bookstores i'd tell myself to postpone buying it since it had many copies on shelf. i never even bothered leafing through it. but one day i just decided to actually read its back cover and see what all the hoopla's about.

and then i saw the line, " Secrets she wouldn't share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. " and honest to god, i just grinned like an idiot. i had to read it. i actually went to a nearby cafe right after buying this from the store just so that i could begin.

which turned out to be a bad idea cos it was literally difficult to keep a straight face once i read the first few chapters.

you ever had that experience when something is really really funny but you can't laugh outright or even smile cos people around you will start getting wary? this book is deadly. you have to read it on some secluded (preferably enclosed [okay make it enclosed and sound-proof]) place so you can laugh without being hampered.

this book may even be funnier than her shopaholic series. there's just something so natural and so human about the insecurities and then the delusions of Emma. and though this might be a comic story first, this was a very cheeky romantic romp for me. and is it just me or was Jack sexy?? i just wanted to skip on the next scene where he'll appear--i can't wait what next secret he'll be dangling for Emma to squirm over.

it's not even your run-of-the-mill chick-lit cos there were some parts that became serious they were heartbreaking. all in all, this is a highly recommended, feel good story. you'll never want to put it down (even when you know that someone soon will approach you and politely ask you to leave their premises cos you're scaring some people...)

Result: Read a stupid book that made me want to cut it into little pieces.

Overall Goal: Happiness.

Overall Result: A sh*tty headache.

All my friends gave Can You Keep A Secret? a high score, all of them loved it, all of them asked me to read it.

So I did.

Yep. And I ended up having a headache. Literally. Mrs. Kinsella you owe me a pack of meds and a nice foot massage.

So why did all my friends love this book and I didn’t? I have no idea, to tell you the truth. I just know this: Emma is an idiot. A shallow clownish stupid boring insecure clueless loser. She’s the reason why I hated the book.

”'Please promote me,' I say desperately. 'Please. I have to get a promotion to impress my family. It's the only thing I want in the whole world, and I'll work so hard, I promise, I'll come in at weekends, and I'll … I'll wear smart suits.”

3

2

1

And btw, wtf is this Panther Cola crap? Is it cola that panthers drink or cola made out of panthers?

Turns out, it's more fun than I was expecting. The book started out in such a way that I was expecting to give up before making it past a few chapters. I practically sighed with exasperation over the flighty, bumbling, office girl who embarrasses herself in front of her boss without knowing who he is. The thoughts in my head were practically burning a hole in the Nook. No, I don't care about what crappy fashion you're wearing to the office. No, I don't care that you're really a size 12 but tell people you're an 8. No, I don't care that you have a lame ass boyfriend who listens to jazz and likes bad movies.

Just as I was about to hit "delete" and ditch the book from my ereader, something happened. I started laughing. A LOT. Not the polite little giggly "oh that's cute" type of laughter. The snorting, choking, oh-my-god I'm dying laughter. My husband even looked up from his zombie like trance mid-video-game to give me a wtf? look.

It took several chapters for me to warm up to the book and truth be told, if I hadn't promised myself that I wanted to finish at least one chick lit book just to say that I had given the genre a shot, I would have quit out before getting to the part where it started to get good. Once I got past the mediocre parts revolving around the main character's office and family life, and got into the part where she was spending most of her time trying to figure out how to make a relationship with her boss work, I was along for the ride. It was quite the fun ride, too. I was pleasantly surprised.

Will I continue to read chick lit after this? Hmmm...I don't know. This book was fun and I'm completely glad that I read it, but I still am not fond of the office girl/modern day girl formula that seems to be pretty big in this genre. Even with as funny as this book was, I've browsed some reviews for the author's books and it looks like she tends to stick with a similar subject matter for most of her books.

Emma Corrigan is a young woman in London, England. She is in a stable, but dull, relationship with the "perfect" man, and is currently attempting to climb the corporate ladder at Panther Cola, a multi-national cola company headquartered in London.

Satisfied with life, she is thrown off-kilter when she mistakenly blurts out all of her inner secrets to a complete stranger on a plane when it hits turbulence and she believes she is going to die. Emma believes that she is in the clear when she leaves the plane, as she is confident that she will never see that stranger again. However, when he shows up at work, and turns out to be the company's founder, she is forced to come face-to-face with the man, her secrets, and the desire for her life to change. ...

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز شانزدهم ماه نوامبر سال2007میلادی؛

عنوان: رازم‌ را ن‍گ‍ه‌ دار؛ نویسنده: سوف‍ی‌ ک‍ی‍ن‍زلا (کینسلا)؛ م‍ت‍رج‍م‌: ن‍ف‍ی‍س‍ه‌ م‍ع‍ت‍ک‍ف‌؛ ت‍ه‍ران‌ ل‍ی‍وس‍ا‏‫، سال1385؛ در454ص؛ شابک ایکس-964563461؛ چاپ دوم سال1388؛ چاپ سوم سال1390؛ چاپ چهارم سال1392؛ چاپ پنجم سال1394؛ چاپ ششم سال1397؛ شابک9789645634610؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده21م

نقل از متن کتاب از کتاب «رازم را نگه دار»: (یک: البته من هم رازهایی دارم؛ همه ی آدمها رازهایی دارند؛ کاملاً طبیعی است؛ منظورم رازهای مهم و خانمان برانداز نیست؛ مثلاً اینکه رئیس جمهور خیال دارد ژاپن را بمباران کند، یا فقط ویل اسمیت میتواند دنیا را نجات دهد، بلکه رازهای عادی و پیش پا افتاده ی روزمره است؛ به عنوان مثال، چند نمونه از رازهای جورواجوری که به ذهنم رسیده، از این قرار است: 1 ـ مارک کیت اسپید کیف من قلابی است؛ 2 ـ من عاشق شراب اسپانیایی هستم، گندترین مشروب عالم؛ 3 ـ روحم ابدا خبر ندارد که ناتو به چه درد میخورد و اصولاً چه معنایی دارد؛ 4 ـ من58کیلو هستم و البته نامزدم کانر تصور میکند من53کیلو ام؛ بعد از این دروغی که به او گفتم، خیال داشتم رژیم بگیرم و وزن کم کنم؛ 5 ـ همیشه نظرم این بود که کانر شبیه کن است؛ 6 ـ گاهی من و کانر در بحبوبه ی عشقی آتشین هستیم که یکدفعه من از خنده ریسه میروم؛ 7 ـ پنهان از پدرم، شرابی را که گفته بود باید مدت بیست سال نگهداری شود، سر کشیدم؛ 8 ـ سامی، ماهی قرمز، همانی نیست که پدر و مادرم موقع سفر مصر به من دادند تا ازش مراقبت کنم؛ 9 ـ هر وقت همکارم آرتمس حسابی اعصابم را خرد میکند، من آب پرتقال پای گلدانش میریزم، که تقریبا کار هر روزم است؛ 10 ـ لباس زیرم از شدت تنگی کلافه ام میکند؛ 11 ـ همیشه به نوعی یقین داشتم که من با بقیه ی مردم فرق میکنم و زندگی تازه ی پر هیجان و شگفت آوری در انتظارم است؛ 12 ـ اصلاً یک کلمه هم از حرفهای آن آقایی که کت و شلوار خاکستری پوشیده بود، سر در نمیآوردم؛ 13 ـ تازه، اسمش هم یادم رفته بود؛ تازه ده دقیقه بود که با آن آقا آشنا شده بودم؛ او با صدای تو دماغی گفت: «ما به ائتلاف تکوینی مدیریتی چند جانبه ای اعتقاد داریم، که در راس اموره.»؛ من هم فوری جواب دادم: «البته، فرمایش شما صحیحه.» ائتلاف تکوینی مدیریتی چند جانبه؟ یعنی چه؟ من که نفهمیدم چه گفت؛ وای خدا جون، اگه از من سئوال کنه چی؟ «اِما»، احمق نباش؛ اونا یهو معنی ائتلاف تکوینی مدیریتی چند جانبه رو ازت نمیپرسن؛ من فقط دنباله رو حرفه ی بازاریابی هستم، مگه نه؟ معلومه که راجع به بازاریابی چیزهایی میدونم؛ به هرحال، اگه اونا در این مورد حرفی بزنن، من فوری بحث رو عوض میکنم؛ اصل مطلب این بود که بایستی خودم را با اعتماد به نفس و تاجرمآب نشان میدادم؛ میتوانستم این کار را بکنم؛ فرصتی عالی برایم پیش آمده بود و دلم نمیخواست آن را از دست بدهم؛ من در دفتر اداره ی مرکزی گلن اویل در گلاسکو نشسته بودم؛ با دیدن تصویر خودم در شیشه ی اتاق، متوجه شدم عین تاجرهای درست و حسابی هستم؛ پس از نیم ساعت ور رفتن با سشوار و استفاده از ژلهای جورواجور، موهایم را که بلندی آن تا سر شانه میرسید، صاف و خوش حالت کردم؛ گوشواره ی حلقه ی طلایم را انداختم و کت و دامن چهارخانه ی شیک جدیدی هم به تن کردم؛ «البته بگویم آن قدرها هم نو نبود، چون آن را از فروشگاه کنسر ریسرچ خریده بودم، یک دکمه اش هم افتاده بود که خودم آن را دوختم. البته اصلاً معلوم نبود.»؛ من به نمایندگی از شرکت پنتر، در آنجا حضور داشتم؛ هدف از برگزاری جلسه، تکمیل امور تبلیغاتی مربوط به نوشابه ی انرژی زای جدید پنتر پریم با طعم تمشک بین شرکتهای گلن اویل و پنتر بود؛ صبح همان روز، من مخصوصا برای همین کار از لندن پرواز کرده و به آنجا رفته بودم؛ وقتی رسیدم، دو بازاریاب شرکت گلن اویل راجع به اینکه چه کسی بیشتر به واشنگتن سفر کرده و کارت طول پرواز او امتیاز بیشتری دارد، با هم حرف میزدند و پز میدادند، البته من هم به آنها بلوف زدم و گفتم زیاد به سفر میروم، اما حقیقت این بود که این اولین ماموریت من بود؛ خوب، راستش این اولین جلسه ی تجاری من بود که بتنهایی در آن حضور پیدا میکردم؛ مدت یازده ماه بود که به عنوان دستیار بازاریاب که پایینترین رده ی شغلی در بخش ما بود، در شرکت پنتر کار میکردم؛ کار من در اوایل تایپ نامه، خرید ساندویچ و گرفتن لباسهای رئیسم، پل، از خشکشویی بود؛ بعد از چند ماه، به من اجازه ی تطبیق رونوشتها هم داده شد؛ از چند ماه پیش به بعد هم مسئولیت نوشتن آگهی تبلیغاتی برای پودر ماشین لباسشویی به من محول شد؛ خدایا، چقدر ذوق زده بودم! اول، کتاب راهنمای تبلیغات خلاقانه را خریدم و با استفاده از آن دو روز آخر هفته را صرف نوشتن تبلیغات کردم؛ هر چند پل نظری اجمالی به آن انداخت و طوری گفت «خوبه» که انگار منظورش این بود که راجع به آنچه نوشته بودم با کسی حرفی نزنم، خودم حسابی از نتیجه ی کارم راضی بودم؛ از آنموقع به بعد، چند تا آگهی تبلیغاتی دیگر نوشتم، و بابت آنها یکی دو جلسه ی مشورتی هم با پل داشتم. به هر حال خیال میکردم دارم از نردبان ترقی بالا میروم، و این احساس را داشتم، که از بسیاری جهات واقعا مدیرعامل بازاریابی هستم! با این تفاوت که مثل سابق، کلی کار تایپ انجام میدادم، ساندویچ میخریدم و از خشکشویی لباس میگرفتم؛ علاوه بر این کارها، یک سری کار دیگر هم انجام میدادم، مخصوصا از چند هفته پیش که منشی بخش ما، گلوریا، رفته و هنوز کسی جای او نیامده بود؛ به هر حال مطمئن بودم روزی همه چیز تغییر خواهد کرد؛ آن جلسه میتوانست باعث دگرگونی عظیمی برای من باشد؛ حالا اولین فرصت برایم پیش آمده بود تا به پل نشان بدهم چقدر باعرضه هستم؛ آن قدر به پل التماس کرده بودم تا بالاخره اجازه ی رفتن به جلسه را به من داده بود؛ بگذریم، سابقا، شرکتهای گلن اویل و پنتر یک سری معاملات تجاری با هم انجام میدادند، پس همکاری آنها اصلاً تعجب آور نبود؛ البته خودم میدانستم من به نمایندگی از شرکت پنتر در آنجا هستم صرفا چون من در دفتر پل بودم که او متوجه شد همزمان با تشکیل این جلسه، یک قرار مهم ناهار توام با اعطای جوایز که بیشتر کارمندان بخش هم در آن حضور داشتند، دارد؛ و از آنجا که نمیتوانست آن را لغو کند، مرا به آن جلسه فرستاد. از صمیم قلب امیدوار بودم جلسه ی آن روز خوب از آب در بیاید و من ارتقای مقام بگیرم؛ در آگهی استخدامی نوشته شده بود: «احتمالاً پس از یک سال ترفیع مقام...» تقریبا یک سال شده بود و روز دوشنبه جلسه ی ارزیابی شغلی داشتم؛ در دفترچه ی استخدامی کارمندان در مورد عبارت «ارزیابی شغلی» توضیح داده شده بود: «فرصتی مناسب برای بحث در مورد امکانات ارتقای مقام.»؛ ترفیع مقام؛ چقدر دلم برای این کلمه غنج میزد؛ میتوانستم به پدرم بگویم که دیگر من بازنده ی تمام عیار نیستم، و همین طور به مادر و کری؛ چه میشد به خانه میرفتم و میگفتم: «راستی، من ارتقای مقام پیدا کردم و مدیر عامل بازاریابی شدم.» «اِما کریگن»، مدیرعامل بازاریابی؛ «اِما کریگن»، معاون ارشد بازاریابی؛ تا حالا همه چیز بخوبی پیش رفته و طبق گفته ی پل بخش مهم معامله انجام شده بود و تنها کاری که لازم بود من انجام بدهم، در حقیقت مطرح کردن زمان تبلیغات بود و بایستی از عهده ی این کار برمیآمدم؛ حدس میزدم همه چیز به خیر و خوشی تمام خواهد شد؛ آره، درست بود، من از چند اصطلاح رایج اصلاً سر درنمیآوردم؛ اما سابق بر این هم با اینکه یک سری اصطلاحات زبان فرانسوی را بلد نبودم، به هرحال نمره ی ب را میگرفتم. «اسم گذاری مجدد کالا، تجزیه و تحلیل...؛ سودآوری...»؛ آقایی که کت و شلوار خاکستری به تن داشت، هنوز هم وراجی میکرد و...؛ دستم را دراز کردم و کارت ویزیت او را کمی جلوتر آوردم تا بتوانم اسم روی آن را بخوانم؛ دگ همیلتن؛ بسیار خوب، یادم میماند؛ دوگ؛ دگ؛ آسان بود؛ در ذهنم یک بیل را تصور کردم با یک تکه گوشت خوک؛ ای بابا، ول کن؛ همین حالا اسمش رو یادداشت میکنم؛ توی دفترم یادداشت کردم «دگ همیلتن» و «اسم گذاری مجدد»؛ چی شده انقدر وول میخورم؛ خداوندا، زیر شلواریم کلافه ام کرده بود؛ هیچ وقت لباسهای زیرم تا این حد مرا اذیت نکرده بود؛ دلیلش هم این بود که دو سایز کوچکتر بود؛ وقتی کانر آنها را برایم میخرید، به فروشنده گفته بود من53کیلو هستم: و فروشنده هم حدس زده بود حتما سایزم چهار است؛ سایز چهار! شب کریسمس بود؛ من و کانر هدایا را رد و بدل کردیم؛ او به من یک دست لباس زیر ابریشمی صورتی هدیه داد؛ سایز چهار! به طور کلی دو راه داشتم: الف ـ اعتراف به حقیقت: «میدونی چیه؟ این واسه ی من خیلی تنگه؛ آخه سایز من هشته؛ راستش وزنم53کیلو نیست؛ ب: به هر بدبختی خودم را توی لباس زیر میچپاندم؛ به هرحال چه میشد کرد؛ کسی که متوجه خطوط قرمز روی پوستم نمیشد؛ بایستی سریع تمام برچسبهای لباسهایم را که روی آنها سایز هشت نوشته شده بود، میکندم تا کانر متوجه نشود؛ از آن موقع به بعد، کمتر از آن لباس زیر استفاده میکردم؛ گهگاهی در کشو چشمم به آن میافتاد که با وجود قشنگی و گرانقیمت بودنش در گوشه ای خاک میخورد؛ حتی تصمیم گرفتم که برای خاطر آن هم شده، رژیم بگیرم و وزن کم کنم. عجب آدم خنگی بودم؛ «متاسفانه، از موقع اسم گذاری مجدد کالا، و تجدیدنظر اساسی، لازمه راههای موجود اشتراک مساعی رو مد نظر...»؛ تا آن لحظه من فقط نشسته بودم و سرم را تکان میدادم و در این فکر بودم که آن جلسه ی تجاری چقدر بی دردسر است؛ اما یکدفعه صدای دگ همیلتن مانند چکشی به ذهنم ضربه زد، چه میگفت؟ ای بابا؛ «دگرگونی دو محصول تولیدی...؛ حالتهای متناقض...»؛ چه چیزی متناقض بود؟ منظورش از تجدید نظر اساسی چه بود؟ احساس کردم ضربه ای روحی به من وارد شده است؛ دگ همیلتن میگفت: «ما از اشتراک مساعی مفید شرکتهای پنتر و گلن اویل که در گذشته باعث رضایت خاطرمون بوده، قدردانی میکنیم؛ حالا شما باید متوجه این نکته ی مهم باشین که هر دو شرکت خط مشیهای مختلفی در پیش گرفته ن.»؛ خط مشی مختلف؟ احساس کردم دل آشوبه دارم؛ او نمیتوانست...؛ آیا او میخواست با این حرف معامله را فسخ کند؟ با لحنی بسیار آرام گفتم: «معذرت میخوام، دگ، تا اینجا متوجه تمام مطالبی که گفتین، شدم.»؛ لبخندی بسیار حرفه ای و دوستانه به او زدم؛ «اما اگه شما صرفا بتونین...؛ به اختصار وضعیت...» ولی حرفهای دلم را سر زبان نیاوردم؛ دگ همیلتن و آن مرد دیگر نگاههایی با هم رد و بدل کردند؛ دگ همیلتن گفت: «مرغوبیت جنس مارک دار شما کمی ناراحتمون کرده.»؛ من هاج و واج گفتم: «مرغوبیت جنس مارکدار من؟»، او نگاهی عجیب و غریب به من کرد و گفت: «منظورم مرغوبیت محصوله؛ همونطور که توضیح دادم، ما در شرکت گلن اویل سعی میکنیم روند اسم گذاری مجدد محصول رو دنبال کنیم و تصور ما از این اسم گذاری بیشتر به جنبه ی مواد نفتی مربوط میشه، که دقیقا علامت گل نرگس شرکتمون چنین چیزی رو اثبات میکنه؛ ما احساس میکنیم نوشابه ی پنتر پریم با تاکیدش بر روی ورزش و رقابت، صرفا حالت تحمیلی داره.»؛ ...)؛ پایان نقل

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 15/03/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ 22/01/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

Emma is in an airplane which is being tossed about in heavy turbulence, and when pure panic seizes her, she bursts out to the stranger sitting beside her ...

”...We’re not going to make it. I know we’re not. This is it. I’m twenty-five years old. I’m not ready. I haven’t achieved anything. I’ve never had children, I’ve never saved a life ... I haven’t gotten a tattoo. I don’t even know if I have a G spot ...

”I’m sorry?” says the man, sounding taken aback.

”My career’s a complete joke. I’m not a top businesswoman at all. I haven’t got a team. I’m just a crappy assistant and I just had my first ever big meeting and it was a complete disaster. Half the time I haven’t a clue what people are talking about, I don’t know what logistical means, I’m never going to get promoted, and I owe my dad four thousand quid, and I’ve never really been in love...”

The above quotes are only a sampling of the litany of hilarious confessions and secrets she spills, but unbeknownst to Emma, she had a meltdown in front of Jack Harper, who happens to be the co-founder of the marketing company she works for in London.

Jack had just flown in from America to visit with his employees. Three days later when they meet face to face once again, this time in her office, Emma is mortified and hopes upon hope he doesn’t remember her from the plane flight, but no such luck. He not only remembers her but also every intimate thought and personal secret she uttered.

Let the embarrassment begin ;))

This is my second Sophie Kinsella audiobook, and I am having the best time. The British narrator’s snappy and crisp voice made this rom-com even more FUN-tastic!!

Once again Sophie Kinsella delivers a heroine that we want to cheer for and chastise at the same time! Emma is a lovable neurotic dreamer that I feel protective of. Spilling your deepest secrets, only to have them resurface at a very inopportune and public moment is a shame beyond measure. Yet she endures -- and triumphs. Kinsella builds these characters that we want to see succeed, although we hope they do learn a lesson or two along the way.

The story is a big mouthful of pink cotton candy -- a light and fluffy romance. Fearing a plane crash, The heroine spills all her deepest secrets to a total stranger. Fortunately, their plane didn’t crash. Unfortunately, the total stranger turned out to be the CEO of her company. (view spoiler)[ Worse, he manages to spill all her secrets on national television. Of course he didn't use her name, but she gave it away by her behavior. (hide spoiler)] This is a delicious book!

There were some very hilarious moments in this story. Emma is absolutely engaging – she’s an adorable mess! It would be a delight to be around such a woman, although she has the morals of an alley cat. She's a "self-made career girl" and a future marketing executive. All in her head of course. So it's no wonder she gets herself into such tangles. She lives in her head! I think everyone knows people like this and can't help laughing at them when they get into trouble. I love the fact that she gets herself into constant binds, but good things invariably end up happening to her in the end. I think we all like a lovable loser, don't we?

Not much I can say about the hero, just another closed-mouth guy, but he did come through in the end. He eventually learns that communicating with someone you are interested in is the key to trust and a lasting relationship. A couple of snarky characters, and an imbecile ex-boyfriend made for good story telling. Only wish the ending was longer. Lots of buildup and ends in a few pages, and epilogue was not informative enough. Nevertheless, I was completely hooked on this book, and was immensely entertained.

This story was so funny and so far-fetched that I could actually imagine it happening to me. I will never ever spill my guts to a perfect stranger on an airplane no matter where I am going or under what circumstances. Was it Maurice Switzer who said “It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it?” Wise man. Very wise....

Quirky, hilarious read about a 25 year old clumsy, silly, awkward Emma who is always caught in the most embarrassing situations and thinking she’s probably not yet embarrassed enough, spewed out every single one of her deepest, darkest most embarrassing secrets to a stranger on a plane when she thought they were going to die during a violent turbulence. The horrific result: strange man isn’t a stranger after all. LMAO!

While I wasn’t a fan of Emma (and of any other character in the story for that matter) and thought she was awful and ridiculous with every single decision she made (She says it’s good when it’s bad, okay when it’s not, yes when she means no, in short she lies all the time), the hilarity of her story and predictability of the more than slightly rubbish plot are entertaining.

It’s my first Sophie Kinsella read and although it wasn’t completely successful, I have a feeling I’ll enjoy her YA novel, Finding Audrey more. Here’s my lovely friend’s, Alice’s review of said YA book.^^

Happy birthday, my Dear Alice. Despite the few stars, I enjoyed the read so it’s all good. I’ll certainly give Ms. Kinsella another chance. I hope you’re having the time of your life on your very special day. Love you, girl! <3

No, seriously. True story.

Anyway. I've been on the hunt for really funny fluff this past month and finally decided to pull the trigger on my first Sophia Kinsella book. Supposedly, this was a HI-LARIOUS rom-com, and I was in the market for exactly that.
However.
Sometimes what makes me smile doesn't match up with everyone else in the room...

So was it funny?
Yes. No. Kinda?

I mean, it wasn't the sort of humor that had me doubled over, gasping for breath, but there were cute moments. It was the kind of jokey stuff that would have done well with a laugh track or something. <--if that makes sense?

BUT.
Even though this wasn't exactly what I was initially looking for, I still had a reallyreallyreally good time reading it! It was just a super cute romance-y little story about a young woman in the middle of getting serious about her career path, finding a man she loves, and simultaneously growing a set of balls.

I've noticed that I never really find the resolutions to the assy family and/or assy friend drama in Chick-lit to me sufficiently, um...resolved, I guess? And this one was no different.
The ending felt sort of rushed as everything gets kinda built up to this crazy-dramatic showdown, then everyone whistle-farts away into a Happily Ever After. <--I've come to expect that, it's not even a deal breaker anymore.

There was quite a bit of the ridiculous in this as far as nonsensical plot stuff goes, but I don't read this genre to get a glimpse of realism. So, a lot of the nuttier aspects of the story, (view spoiler)[like the way her co-workers figured out he was talking about her on television (hide spoiler)], get a pass from me.
If you're looking for something fluffy to get you through the week, I would say Can You Keep a Secret? is a great choice.

Although the "plot" may excuse the improbable co-incidences, there is no justification for the ludicrously artificial dialogue. I find all the "poor fluffy little me struggling to bluff it in the big bad grown up world" nauseating. Not as funny as it thinks because the humour, such as it is, is entirely reliant on very cliched stereotypes.

If it were written by a man, people would be outraged at how sexist it is.

Even if Kinsella was once ahead of the game by writing in this way, its startling unoriginality is just another annoyance.

I expected a juice bar/coffee shop rather than Heston Blumenthal's molecular gastronomy, but I ended up with soggy fluorescent candyfloss (cotton candy to USicans).

Emma Corrigan is a typical girl, just like us or me at least. She is awkward, inappropriate and just trying to prove herself. Emma is flying back from a business trip, that of course went horribly bad. During the flight, there is some extreme turbulence and she thinks she is going to die. During her freak out she precedes to unload all her secrets on everyone around her.

Monday morning comes with a big surprise, one of the passengers is the owner of Emma’s company and he remember everything. All her secrets are out, some as small as hating g-strings and the coffee at work, to her insecurities with her family and lesbian dream she had about her best friend.

This story is so freaking perfect. It’s so funny, it's freaking cute as shit and the love stories is so sweet. This is my first book by Sophie Kinsella, but it will not be my last. The audiobook is absolutely fantastic and made me believe the narrator was Emma.

Teaser created by me with stock images purchased from depositphotos.

Often times when I’m told a book is funny, I usually find that it turns out being more painful to read than anything. But damn, is Sophie Kinsella hilarious!

Can You Keep a Secret follows the charismatic tale of Emma Corrigan. This woman is a hoot, let me tell you. She’s hilariously paranoid and completely outrageous. She is the “ordinary, nothing-special sort of girl” but oh, does she have her secrets.

Secrets that she probably shouldn’t have blurted out while clutching onto the arm of a strange during a rocky flight. But, oh well, can’t do anything about that now, can we?

“Oh God. I'm losing it. Everyone knows this is how criminals get caught. They add too many details and trip themselves up.”

^^That’s basically Emma’s entire existence.

So this book was adorable and sweet and really really charming in a lot of ways. It was such an easy read and really brought on that little bits of glee that usually accompany a great book.

Oh, and I really love Jack!! What a little darling.

But there were parts of the book that I found excessive. For example the fact that Emma seemed to face problem after problem after problem. It’s not a HUGE deal but I just found it tiring because here we are, smiling and happy for a single sentence and then BAM, another problem takes place.

Kinda excessive if ya ask me. :p

Anywho. . .

I was never a huge fan of chick-lit but after reading this one, I’m definitely not done with this genre or this author!

“I've always had this deep-down conviction that I'm not like everybody else, and there's an amazingly exciting new life waiting for me just around the corner.”

3.5 stars!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Need cute and fluffy and I need to binge read Sophie Kinsella, so, here I gooooooooooo!!!

The average is 3.5 stars, but since enjoyment is my number one reason for reading in the first place, I'll round it up to 4 stars.

This book is, hands-down, the funniest book I've ever read. I laughed so hard, I had tears in my eyes and cramps in my tummy throughout. This book should come with a warning label, something like, Can You Keep a Secret?... AKA The Sole Cause of Death by Laughter World-Wide! It's nearly impossible to hate a book after it makes you feel so warm and fuzzy inside.

Most of this book is solid 5-star material. There's humor, romance,

The ending left me entirely unsatisfied and highly doubtful about the future of Emma and Jack, as a couple and otherwise. Basically, it didn't feel like an ending. It was rushed and anti-climactic, in addition to being slightly unrealistic. It would have been the perfect ending had this been a series, but since it's a stand-alone novel, I got the distinct impression that there were still several chapters left, and they were simply missing from the version of the book I read. Not the greatest feeling to have after finishing a book, to be sure.

Emma is a lot better at confrontations and standing up for herself than the other two heroines of Kinsella's I've read, namely Poppy from I've Got Your Number: A Novel and Lexi from Remember Me? I'm sure most female readers can relate to her in one aspect or the other. I really loved Jack too, until he (view spoiler)[betrayed Emma (hide spoiler)]. I never truly accepted his excuse, nor did I entirely forgive him for it.

After everything that happened between Emma and Jack, especially the whole deal with their respective secrets, I would have really liked to see more of them as a couple, to genuinely believe they had anything lasting going on. These are two individuals from vastly different backgrounds, and let's face it: the man's a multimillionaire, and the girl's his employee. In real life, these kind of relationships hardly ever work out, and I would have liked Kinsella to prove me wrong by actually showing Emma and Jack in a stable relationship, one where they both learn to talk their problems out instead of jumping to conclusions. We never really get to know Jack as someone besides "Jack Harper, the man who founded the Panther Corporation", and the trust between Emma and him seems too delicate and fragile for anything but a temporary affair.

I guess I was simply expecting more from this book, and while it was one of the best light reads I've read in a while, that annoying feeling I got, the one where I really don't feel the ending did justice to the story, sort of ruined it for me.

That aside, this is truly a fantastic book, one of the rare ones I'll certainly be re-reading in the years to come.

THANK YOU to everyone who urged me to read this book ASAP! I am forever indebted to you. ♥♥♥

For more reviews, visit my blog.

1st secret: Guys.. this clumsy lady, Emma Corrigan is so damn lucky! She not that have much money, but she met an sweet-angel air-hostess so this sweetie air-hostess invite Emma to sit on the plane in Business class!!! She cheat!!! Without anyone else know! so she pretends to be businesswoman. See what she did!

BUT HAHAHAHAAAAAAA….

2rd secret: The plane got turbulence so she thinks she gonna die!!! There is guy sit next to her.. She hold his hand tightly Oops and spill all her secrets blah blah blah.. to that guy like a naked girl. O.O

It became she not die! OKay her life is go on..
One day, she go to work..
Someone BIG visit her work place..

OMG Is that guy??? Yess the guy she unintentionally spill all her ( top ) secrets to is her CEO.
……………………………………………………..

This book is funny! This Emma Corrigan kinda reminds me of Meg Cabot’s heroine, Idk. Hahaha She is clumsy, whinny, and funny that made me laugh so hard until having face palms for her. Whatever, this like a modern fairy-tale! An ordinary girl is interested by a handsome wealthy dreamy man. That’s why Kinsella’ story kinda my cuppa tea, I think. Nahh… I just want something like this happen real to my life! Why it has to be only in fiction? *sobs*

Not just it’s funny, there is drama, too. Sometimes secrets are shameful, right? That’s why we all have secrets to keep. Anytime Emma’s secrets reveal, I laugh so hard! ( My dad even say "Pang gone crazy!" *damn* ) But sometimes the situation made me hurt, too. I can feel how hurt and embarrassed she is. Like.. I don’t want it happen to me, too.

Not just Emma, but also Jack ( our hero ) who is so mysterious with something he not gonna tell anyone..

I will let you know by yourself! Xoxo Pang.

SO DAMN FRUSTRATED

The ending seemed so...lacking? Disappointing? Hell !

Fr the first time,in my history of reading books.I actually ended up hating the hero Jack,(view spoiler)[(who spilled all her secrets on NATIONAL TELEVISION ), (hide spoiler)] instead of the heroine,along with her cousin Kerry (who basically STOLE THE HEROINE'S ENTIRE CHILDHOOD) and her fashion/mommy obsessed roommate Jemima (who basically spent the whole book determined to expose jack's supposedly BIG SECRET )...

I'm mean seriously you guys,

I wish I could say I loved this as much as I enjoyed this author's I've Got Your Number but sadly this didn't even score half of it's rating...

What should I say about this book? It was hilarious. Yes. It made me laugh. Yes. But the problem is... the plot itself made absolutely no sense to me. It made no sense since Emma (the protagonist of the book) told all her secrets to a complete stranger. Err.. Who’s gonna do that in real life? Even if someone is in the same situation as her, I don’t think he/she will do that, right? OK. It must be my fault that I thought I would enjoy this one despite nonsensical things in the book because I trust Sophie Kinsella’s writing. But oh, I was so wrong. Sophie Kinsella’s writing didn’t help me with this one and I did not like it. A lot of things in the book frustrated me. Like, didn’t you think there were too many problems occurring in Emma’s life? The first problem passed, the second problem came. The second problem passed, The third problem came. The third problem passed, the fourth problem came. It was like a cycle and it gave me big big headaches.🤦🏻‍♀️

(There were much more than this but I’m afraid it would be a spoiler, so Iet’s leave at that.)

Anyway, I need to take a break from this kind of story for a while.

Cautions:
-The whole thing revolves around an entry level employee and the CEO of her company knowing inappropriate things about her. I didn't feel like this story used a power imbalance to manipulate a relationship or employment status, but if boss/employee relationships are a dealbreaker for you, heads up.
-A few chapters make a big hubbub about the MC having a romantic dream about her female friend and all the side characters start making lesbian jokes to her. This was published in 2003 and this type of 'humor' was unfortunately part of that time. Full disclosure - I'm straight so don't take only my word on if this is truly harmful, but it did make me want to facepalm and I think I would have rated this higher without it.

This was kind of fun but also kind of awful, as expected the heroine was an utter idiot and the plot was beyond silly, but I have to admit that there were some funny moments and the story despite being nonsensical was easy to get through and somewhat entertaining.

-Who the hell would reveal ALL their secrets to a total stranger? The heroine (Emma) blurted out every little detail of her life to some random guy sitting next to her just because the plane she was on was going through some turbulence. Naturally, the random guy turned out to be her sexy, bazillionaire boss who used her secrets against her the first chance he got (never mind professionalism and good work ethic).

-All the female characters were men obsessed idiots, their only goal in life was getting married and having babies. Nothing else was important, career and family didn't matter, it was all about landing a man. That was the ultimate achievement. Ugh.

-Why did Emma keep banging on about getting a promotion at work when she hadn't been there long enough or proved herself or done anything worthy? She was seriously deluded.

-Why did Emma keep saying Jack was in love with her? Not once did he tell her he loved her and there was nothing in his actions that suggested he was. They'd had two dates and one night of sex and that somehow made Emma think Jack was in love with her. What a stupid cow.

-Why didn't Emma ever stick up for herself? Why are all of Kinsella's heroines such doormats? Emma was on a whole other level of doormat, she just smiled and kept her mouth shut whenever her family or someone else bitched at her. It was beyond infuriating to read the POV of someone who was so unable to stand up for themselves.

-Emma's parents were such dicks, they treated her like crap and never showed her any love or support. They saved all that for their niece (Kerry), and treated her better than their own daughter. Emma was the one who needed love and emotional support, not Kerry. When her jerk parents finally realised how they'd been favouring Kerry over their only child for years, all they did was give a lame apology and act mildly remorseful. And silly cow Emma immediately accepted their apology and was over the top grateful for them finally acting like half decent parents. Yea, as fucking if. A halfhearted apology doesn't erase years of rubbish parenting, Emma's reaction was so unrealistic. In reality she would have still been hurt and bitter about how unloved she'd felt growing up, I didn't expect her to rant and rage at them but some real emotions would have been appreciated. Instead she went on like they were the best parents in the world, and magically forgot their douchey behaviour after a sentence or two of mild remorse. Yea right.

-There was more passion and emotion from Jack and his dead friend than Jack/Emma. The way Jack talked about him, it was like they had an epic love affair or something. I ended up wanting to read about them instead of Jack/Emma's relationship.

-Jack spilling all of Emma's secrets on TV was a dick move. And then him acting like it was unintentional was beyond ridiculous, he revealed every little thing about her and then he was all 'duh, it was an accident. I'm sowwy.' The whole thing was ridiculous, and Emma was bonkers to let him off the hook. They were both such idiots.

-Really liked Emma's friendships with Liss and Jemima, it was the highlight of the book.

A ridiculous read, but it was still quite funny and entertaining in a cheesy, predictable, cliched, silly sort of way.

That was such a fun quirky entertaining book!

Emma ,who is kinda scared of flying, was on an airplane when a turbulence occur. Thinking she’s going to die, she started to panic and spilled all of her secrets to the guy setting next to her. Everything turns out to be okay. Emma goes home. Days later, the boss/owner of the company where she works comes to visit, and he’s none other than the stranger who she was supposed to never see again, but now he’s here and he knows all of her embarrassing secrets.

This was one of those “ridiculously good” books, you can’t help but enjoy and you don’t even know why. This was my first book by Sophie Kinsella and I decided to read it after reading the review of my dear friend KAS, so thank you. This book made me grin, a lot. And I really felt embarrassed for Emma. This girl is a mess. Overall, it was entertaining.

Song recommendation:
Do you want to know a secret by The Beatles

Emma is 25 and has been through many jobs. She has had a job in marketing for over a year now, and although she does okay, she's not exactly moving up the corporate ladder. She lives with her bff Lissy and has a boyfriend that she thinks is almost too cute and perfect. One day on a terrifying plane crash she turns to the man next to her and starts blabbering every random secret she has to the stranger next to her. She tells him everything including several things that could get her in trouble at work. A few days later when this stranger walks in her workplace and she's made aware that he is the founder of her company she is mortified. Can he keep her secrets?

I've gotten to the point where I feel like if you have reviewed one Sophie Kinsella book you have reviewed them all. The same things always apply. Laugh out loud humor, a loveable but usually quite clueless heroine, some barely there romance, and a picture perfect ending. They also usually include a subtle message from which the character learns something important about life. The fact that you know what you're getting when you go into one of her books can be a good thing or a bad thing. For me I like it. I know what to expect and she never lets me down. Note: I have read a few of her singles, but still haven't gotten to the Shopaholic series, so don't hold me to that.

My only complaint and reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the predictability. See how I said it could go both ways? I like knowing what to expect, but I would also like a bit of surprise with the ending. This one had a formula that seemed so similar to "I've got Your Number" in regards to the boyfriend factor. Why bother giving the heroines a boyfriend at the start of the book? We always know how that's going to end. I know Sophie Kinsella has it in her to write something more original and unique for the chick-lit genre and when she does that's when I will give her my 5 stars.

Fans of Kinsella will not be disappointed with this one, and I agree with Jasprit. This is her best that I've read so far.

Beware spoilers ahead!

I have been a fan of Kinsella's since Finding Audrey. Naturally I went through all of her books and tried to decide which one to read. Can You Keep a Secret? stood out the most. I am happy to say that I loved it!

Emma has gone to represent her company Panther Cooperation in a meeting. As per Kinsella books the meeting turns into a disaster whilst Emma spilling a product on one of the other company's worker. Emma goes back in a bad mood and has quite a bit to drink.

The plane she is on experiences turbulence. Out of panic (and she's drunk) Emma tells all her secrets to another passenger. All's fine until Emma goes to work on Monday to find out that the passenger is the CEO of Panther Cooperation.

Can You Keep a Secret? was so funny and relatable! The writing tense is in first person all from Emma's point of view. There are numbers for the chapters. As well as emails and notes.

I related to a lot of Emma's work woes. It's really hard to prove yourself in a workplace that doesn't appreciate you. Emma's co-workers like Artemis reminded me off some of my co-workers. There's always that one person that's just fake. On the bright side Katie was fun to read about! She was actually really sweet and a good friend to Emma.

Emma lived in an apartment with two flatmates. Lissy and Jemima. Lissy has been Emma's best friend since they were 7. Lissy and Emma constantly support each other throughout Can You Keep a Secret? There friendship was absolutely adorable! I'm a bit conflicted about Jemima. She definitely thought she was helping. But Jemima's suggestions were terrible. And didn't really make sense. I do have to give Jemima props for trying to help.

Emma's family play a huge part in Can You Keep a Secret? Emma feels that she's disappointed her parents. Her cousin Kerry always tries (and succeeds) to one up Emma. Nev (Kerry's husband) also pokes at Emma about her career changes. Emma is able to sort everything out with her family.

Prior to Can You Keep a Secret? Emma begins dating a co-worker named Connor. Connor works in another division at Panther Cooperation. During the plane ride Emma realizes that she doesn't really have feelings for Connor anymore. Emma is in denial about this. She breaks up with him much later on.

I personally found Connor to be annoying! Emma asks Connor to keep their break-up to himself for the time being. Seeing as they work together. Instead at a party (while drunk) announces their break-up. Their office blames the whole situation on Emma as she is the one to dump him. And he doesn't even apologize! It didn't help that the co-workers didn't bother to see it from Emma' point of view.

Connor also tries multiple times to confront Emma about who she is dating. He acts like a martyr and always has a way of patronizing Emma. I also found him to be totally inconsiderate. To try and look professional during a staff meeting Connor shuts down Emma's point. Just because Jack Harper was present. I honestly don't understand why Emma blamed herself for everything. Connor has a brain too. He can realize himself that not all women keep secrets.

As far as Emma's secrets go I didn't find them that bad. Some of them were really dumb while the others hilarious! What was troubling is how easy it was for Emma to lie. And she did so constantly. Emma did develop and started actually admitting the truth. She even started to stand up for herself! Emma stood up to Kerry and Paul (her boss). I especially liked how she handled Paul. And in the end it paid off as she got promoted.

I really liked Emma and Jack's relationship! When Jack appears in at the Panther Cooperation, he spends quite a bit of time poking fun at Emma's secrets. It was honestly so assuming! Through their relationship they grew. Jack learned to become more open. And Emma learned to stand up for herself and be honest. They made a really good couple. Also Jack's actually American. Can You Keep a Secret? takes place in London.

I didn't have any problems. Expect for Connor but I think it was well handled. And blissfully she broke up with him early enough.

Overall I loved Can You Keep a Secret?! I highly recommend it.

"it was ok" is seriously such an accurate description of this book. good job, description-that-hovers-over-the-2-star-rating!

emma, our main character, is monumentally irritating. she compulsively lies about things that she shouldn't have to lie about, and is so horrendously unprofessional in her workplace, it's a wonder that she's maintained her job for as long as she has. and yet, somehow, she's an interesting and genuine person in the eyes of a multimillionaire. ok.

i think there's a marked improvement in the book's storytelling and humor past the halfway mark, which is quite a commitment tbh. but there are a few lines where i laughed out loud. it takes a while for the humor to be funny, but when it gets there, it's great.

It follows the story of Emma, an ordinary, slightly ditzy girl (think Anna from Anna and the French Kiss) who accidentally spills all her secrets to a stranger on the plane. And that stranger later turns out to be her boss.

In honor of this book—and because I absolutely suck at writing reviews for books I love, I am going to spill to you, strangers of the Internet, all of my secrets. Okay, not all, but five.

1. I used to be majorly obsessed with Seventeen magazine. Back then, I begged my parents numerous times over the dinner table to buy me a subscription (all the savings!), but they always refused. In hindsight, that was probably a good thing because I soon got tired of all the high-definition pages of clothes, shoes, and make-up. The real sustenance was located in the back and only covered 4-5 pages. I'm proud to say that nowadays I blow my money on more worthy things, like badly-written YA novels that induce headaches.

2.

3. I'm a huge fan of Taylor Swift, even though liking her is an extremely uncool thing these days. Her lyrics are prose spun into music, that's all the reason I need.

4. I sometimes think The Book Thief is better than the Harry Potter series. Then I make a pro-vs-con list in my head and all is right in the world once more.

5. I love Kinsella's work. A lot of people hate them and I get it. Her heroines are essentially recycled book to book. The love interest is usually American and a logical businessman compared to the scatterbrained MC. They're filled with first-world problems and limited character growth. The problems work themselves out most of the time and the MC and Mr. Businessman go home happy and schmooze.

But at the same time, they're also fun, compulsively readable, and keep me up reading til 2am on a school night because I can't stop flipping the pages. They remind me that reading is indeed a hobby and something I look forward to after a long day, unlike some books I could mention *cough*The Death Cure*cough*

So the next time someone asks me who my favorite authors are, I'll say: "Stephen King, J. K Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Julie Kagawa, Markus Zusak, Meg Cabot, Sophie Kinsella—Yes, Sophie Kinsella."

I found this read and most of the characters absolutely shallow. The only character I did like was the Hero and we never really get to know him. The rest of the characters are vain, arrogant and egocentric. Book's most discussed topics: Shoes, bags and celebrities. OMG, I just can't believe there are so many books discussing these things. And I can't understand how someone can enjoy this type of reads. Seriously, if what you are looking for are funny, quick and entreating reads, you must search for contemporary romance. Just don't read more books in this genre... they can't be good for people's IQ.

I just know there must be better books on this genre because those 2 I mentioned at the beginning of this review were great and I enjoyed them big time... I was expecting much more of everything form this book. I can't think of a thing I liked about it. I'll try another book of this author because I just can't believe everybody likes her so much and I enjoyed this book so little, maybe it was just the topic.

Emma works for an intolerably stupid company (Panther Cola) and reports to tiny men with big egos that speak to her as though she is the biggest inconvenience in their day (my favourite lines are "Emma, please get your arse in gear" and "Emma, please get the fuck out of my office").

Instead of handing in her notice as any self-respecting woman would and going to work in a more positive environment, Emma desperately seeks to move up the ladder so she can impress her intolerably stupid family who make fun of her because she isn't a CEO yet (she's only 25) by doing what's expected of her in her marketing assistant role and then pleading with her boss to promote her after one year even though she hasn't a clue in hell what she's doing.

I've just reached the part where the CEO presses the emergency button in the elevator, thus trapping them inside together, and proceeds to tell her what kind of man she needs.

No. Fucking. Thank you.

Sophie Kinsella first hit the UK bestseller lists in September 2000 with her first novel in the Shopaholic series – The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (also published as Confessions of a Shopaholic). The book’s heroine, Becky Bloomwood – a fun and feisty financial journalist who loves shopping but is hopeless with money – captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Becky has since featured in seven further bestselling books, Shopaholic Abroad (also published as Shopaholic Takes Manhattan), Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister, Shopaholic & Baby, Mini Shopaholic, Shopaholic to the Stars and Shopaholic to the Rescue. Becky Bloomwood came to the big screen in 2009 with the hit Disney movie Confessions of a Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy.

Sophie has also written seven standalone novels which have all been bestsellers in the UK, USA and other countries around the world: Can You Keep A Secret?, The Undomestic Goddess, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl, I’ve Got Your Number, Wedding Night, and My Not So Perfect Life, which was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist for Best Fiction in 2017.

In 2014 she published a Young Adult novel Finding Audrey about a teenage girl with social anxiety and her madcap family, and in January 2018, Sophie published her first illustrated book for young readers about the charming adventures of a mother-daughter fairy duo, Mummy Fairy and Me (also published as Fairy Mom and Me).

Sophie’s latest novel, Surprise Me, published in February 2018, presents a humorous yet moving portrait of a marriage—its intricacies, comforts, and complications. Surprise Me reveals that hidden layers in a close relationship are often yet to be discovered.

Sophie wrote her first novel under her real name, Madeleine Wickham, at the tender age of 24, whilst she was working as a financial journalist. The Tennis Party was immediately hailed as a success by critics and the public alike and became a top ten bestseller. She went on to publish six more novels as Madeleine Wickham: A Desirable Residence, Swimming Pool Sunday, The Gatecrasher, The Wedding Girl, Cocktails for Three and Sleeping Arrangements.

Sophie was born in London. She studied music at New College, Oxford, but after a year switched to Politics, Philosophy and Economics. She now lives in London, UK, with her husband and family.

Visit Sophie's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SophieKinsell...

Series:
* Shopaholic