How does one separate what is true from what is false? Given the subjective nature of reality, it can be very difficult for people to trust anyone, even those near and dear to them.
This famous theme has formed the basis of countless works of fiction and major motion pictures (just one example is the 1996 film “Secrets & Lies“). As the audience, we know that secrecy can create a compelling story filled with tension, drama, and suspense. In this tradition, Rebecca Drake’s “Just Between Us” (St. Martin’s Press, 2018) provides a fascinating examination of the limits of friendships, especially when close friends lose the trust that originally bonded them together.
This novel features four women who become entangled in a humongous web of lies after some horrific incidents (this review cannot divulge any more). Readers follow Alison, Julie, Sarah, and Heather, a group of friends who supposedly live ideal lives in suburbia. Really, their lives are anything but perfect because they all have to cope with terrifying secrets. Warning: The plot contains frightening moments and is definitely intended for mature audiences. Even with such graphic content, the writing itself is very elegant, eloquent, and easy to follow.
The novel explores the limitations of friendship, suspicion and betrayal of trust. The secrets that are supposed to bind these friends together could potentially destroy their relationships with each another and others in their lives. These stakes make the story an engaging page-turner, and you can count on “Just Between Us” to deliver the emotional catharsis that comes from reading a suspenseful narrative.
Since this novel is full of thrills, it’s easy to imagine a suspenseful film adaptation, in the classic style of Alfred Hitchcock, perhaps. Rebecca Drake actually references Hitchcock’s legendary film “Psycho” (1960), suggesting that this style was also on her mind while writing “Just Between Us.” (I couldn’t help but cast the characters as I read along, imaginging Jennifer Lawrence and Brie Larson in certain roles.) Indeed, this novel feels just as riveting as watching a black-and-white mystery film.
Truth and fiction might be two different concepts, but sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction. Sometimes the subjective nature of reality permits some fantastical stories to come to fruition both in the real world and the literary world.
Rebecca Drake masterfully blends secrets, lies, and the subjectivity of truth into a spellbinding reading experience. Readers who enjoy “Just Between Us” might also enjoy her other novels, such as “The Dead Place” and “Only Ever You.”
Good luck attempting to separate illusions from reality once “Just Between Us” draws you in!
Alex Andy Phuong graduated from California State University-Los Angeles with his Bachelor of Arts in English in 2015. He is a passionate writer who thoroughly enjoys classic literature and cinema. Alex is a very altruistic person who enjoys contributing writing and donating time for the sake of helping other people. Finally, he fully supports those who dare to pursue their dreams.
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