Secret Whispers

Angela's Grey's Secret Whispers is a coming-of-age story that follows a young high school senior suffering from a serious mental health condition. Adria Jameson is a talented artist with a challenging life. Apart from an alcoholic mother, Adria also has to take care of herself and her younger siblings. Complicating matters more are the chronic schizophrenic episodes that render her unable to live a typical teenager's life. In comes seventeen-year-old Ben Abernathy, a somewhat privileged and shy young man who develops a crush on Adria. Soon, the two begin to fall in love. But Adria's hallucinations and deteriorating mental health threaten to drive a wedge between the young lovers. Meanwhile, a dangerous man from Adria's past may be back to shatter Adria's world into pieces again. Will Adria and Ben's relationship survive these tumultuous events?
Secret Whispers is a bittersweet tale about growing up and rising above life's unexpected hurdles. Full of heartbreak, romance, and drama, Angela Grey's absorbing novel focuses on mental health and its impact on young adults who already have to face numerous challenges of being a teenager. The primary protagonist, Adria, suffers from schizophrenic episodes, and Grey's narrative perfectly demonstrates how they affect her relationships with friends and family as well as her life. The book is very well-paced, and it makes for a smooth read. Adria and Ben's relationship feels genuinely sweet, and you can't help rooting for the two. There are also a couple of shocking reveals that I'm sure will take readers by surprise. All in all, this is a beautiful story that celebrates love and how it helps people in the face of adversity. Highly recommended.—Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite