Family Secrets [Mass Market Paperback]

Norma Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 1987

Peter and Leslie's families have had beach houses near each other for years, so it seemed only natural when their friendship turned to romance. Their perfect summer romance is shattered when Leslie finds her mother's diary and discovers that her mother and Peter's father are having an affair and want to get married. Suddenly the two teens find themselves stepbrother and sister, and must learn to cope with their new lives and old friendship.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up Can Klein's fans read one more novel about a 17-year-old female anxiously anticipating her first sexual encounter? Just in case the answer is no, Klein has added a 17-year-old male also anxiously anticipating the same thing. Leslie and Peter, who have spent their summer vacations at the same beach since childhood, casually extend their friendship to become lovers. Then Leslie reads her mother's diary and discovers someone else in her family is having an affairher motherand with Peter's father. Almost immediately the two families are involved in dual divorces and a new (albeit brief) marriage which legally makes the young lovers stepbrother and stepsister. The two protagonists report the chain of events, narrating in strict rotating fashion chapter by chapter. Klein omits much of her usual wit, but she does not scrimp on modern teen issuesdivorce, obesity, feminism, drugs and sex (with little attention to birth control). However, few of these issues have any relevance to the plot. The text contains inconsistencies and awkward transitions. This author's reputation, the brief sexual encounters and the sprinkling of four-letter words will undoubtedly gain instant but evanescent popularity for this title, but it is far from one of Klein's best. Cynthia K. Leibold, Anderson High School, Cincinnatti, Ohio
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Peter and Leslie's families have had beach houses near each other for years, so it seemed only natural when their friendship turned to romance. Their perfect summer romance is shattered when Leslie finds her mother's diary and discovers that her mother and Peter's father are having an affair and want to get married. Suddenly the two teens find themselves stepbrother and sister, and must learn to cope with their new lives and old friendship.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Fawcett (January 12, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449701956
• ISBN-13: 978-0449701959
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,275,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars More like a guilty pleasure!, April 5, 2011

By 

S. R. Blackwell "divinesynder" (Gainesville, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Family Secrets (Dial Books for Young Readers) (Hardcover)

I read this book several years ago while I was in highschool. I remembered the characters names and the plot but couldn't remember the title or author. I posted on a message board and some beautiful soul came to my rescue.

I really enjoyed the story of Peter and Leslie's experiences with each other. I loved the fact that the first chapter opens with them having "just done it" because that's not something you usually open with. The alternating points of view were refreshing. I could tell which character's POV I was reading from.

I enjoyed the storyline. The way Peter and Leslie have to keep themselves a secret after their parents marry really made the story exciting. I loved their dialogue and even the way they fought felt real. Their insecurities about themselves and each other felt true and really resonated with me.

The sex scenes were hot but very tasteful. I enjoyed this book tremedously.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, January 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Secrets (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought this book was wonderful. The book teaches you how to deal with such situations, this book may be fiction but in reality a situation such as this could happen. I've read alot of books like this and this would probably be one of my favorites..