I was pleasantly delighted to enjoy The Truth About Us as much as I did. The synopsis is pretty minimal, but definitely intriguing, and the book absolutely went above and beyond my expectations based on the blurb.

Grace, Jude, and Erica were friends in college, but have since moved on with their lives in very different ways. Except that they all carry a potentially devastating secret from their time as roommates. Erica has formed a life and a family, that is currently on a very rocky road. Grace has embraced activism as a result of her past experiences. And Jude has moved from the extremes of drug addiction to the extremes of the fanatically religious.

In fact, Jude is bound and determined to tell the three women’s secrets to the world, in the name of honesty and purity.

But at this point, who’s secret is it really? And what is the benefit of sharing the truth? Is it possible that the truth is more harmful than the lies that others have constructed?

The Truth About Us explores these concepts in alternating perspectives, as each of the three women handle Jude’s intention to tell in different ways. The bonds of old and true friendships are tested, as the women handle this new challenge. This book is a fantastic page turner, in part because you want to know so badly what the secret is, and then you desperately want things to work out right. I identified most strongly with Grace and Erica – both of whom have had experiences and circumstances that inspire massive amounts of empathy. Grace in particular has embraced a unique perspective that is alternately appealing and frightening. Jude on the other hand…. I wanted to smack.

All in all, I couldn’t put this one down, and I highly recommend to fans of contemporary fiction. It’s a much weightier story than it sounds like, but it’s very well worth it.