Family secrets are a delicious source of complexity in fiction. They quickly introduce drama into a story, heightening tension and keeping the audience enthralled.
Just look at how much they’re used in classic stories. Plenty of gruesome fates could have been avoided if only certain characters fessed up before the point of no return.
Books about family secrets
Sometimes, families surprise everyone by not being who they seem, causing shock and betrayal. Other times, the family is burdened by something everyone knows but can’t escape, constantly causing harm. Here are a few books about family secrets that change how they see one another.
1. Banyan Moon by Thao Thai
When her grandmother Minh dies, she entrusts Ann with the Banyan House, a crumbling manor filled with memories. Ann and her estranged mother, Huong, spend months sorting through Minh’s hoarded things.
Things slowly come to light when Ann finds a locked trunk in the dusty attic. Within is a secret that could break her mother’s heart—who is hiding her own secret.
2. A Good Family By Matt Goldman
Katie Kuhlmann has an almost picture-perfect life—almost to the point that she can ignore her husband’s suspicious behavior. He constantly checks his phone, ignores work, and disappears without explanation.
Things only get worse when he invites Adam, a mutual friend, to live with them while he gets back on his feet. Katie knows the two have a secret, and she’ll do anything to protect her family and the life she’s built.
3. These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card
Stanford Solomon used to be Abel Paisley before he stole his best friend’s identity. But now, near death, his identities are about to collide. He’s about to meet his firstborn daughter, a home health aide who unwittingly shows up to take care of the father she thinks is dead.
4. The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
17-year-old Alice has spent most of her life running away from mysterious bad luck. And when her reclusive grandmother dies, Alice’s mom, Ella, finally thinks they’re free.
But bad luck can always turn to worse. Ella is kidnapped by a figure claiming to be from her grandmother’s stories. To save her mom, Alice must finally face what she’s been running away from her whole life.
5. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Little Dog is a young Vietnamese American with a love-hate relationship with his illiterate, abusive mother. He writes her letters she’ll never be able to read, putting down truths that will forever stay secret.
6. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Eleanor Bennett dies and leaves two things behind: a black cake made from a family recipe, and an eight-hour voice recording. Her children, estranged for years, suddenly find themselves thrown together to uncover their mother’s true history.
7. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
Nell Young loves cartography, a passion she inherited from her legendary father. However, an argument over a cheap gas station map has him firing her and ruining her reputation.
When Dr. Young is found dead in his office and the map hidden in a secret drawer, Nell can’t help but investigate. The map isn’t junk at all and there are forces out there clearly willing to kill to possess it.
8. Monogamy by Sue Miller
Graham and Annie were married for thirty years. To everyone, they’re the perfect couple, utterly devoted to one another. And when Graham suddenly dies, Annie is lost—especially when she discovers a secret that leaves her questioning whether she truly knew her husband.
9. If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook
Beloved patriarch Gerry Williams dies and the entire clan flock to his funeral. When his best friend reveals a surprising truth during the eulogy, everybody is left reeling and confused.
Throughout the week, his revelation becomes the catalyst for many conversations about each family member’s life.
10. A Nearly Normal Family by M. T. Edvardsson
Eighteen-year-old Stella Sandell is accused of murdering a man much older than she is. Her family’s morals and responsibilities are tested as they struggle to understand why she’s a suspect in the first place. But do parents truly know their children?
11. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Libby Jones has been searching for her family for years. Soon after her 25th birthday, she receives a letter that answers a lot of her questions.
Not only does she learn who her birth parents are but she also discovers she’s the sole inheritor of a mansion located in a fashionable neighborhood. What she doesn’t know is that others have been waiting too—and they’ve never forgotten the sins of the past.
12. The Unseen World by Liz Moore
Ada Sibelius’ world starts to collapse when her brilliant father, David’s undisclosed Alzheimer’s begins to wreck his mind. He has come to terms with his illness and plans for his daughter’s future without him.
It’s only years later, after a visit from a long-lost friend, does Ada investigates her father’s history. Relying on all he taught her, she begins to uncover the clues he has left her all those years ago.
What other books about family secrets do you like? Share them in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
