Coco’s Secret

By: Niamh Greene

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin Books

Coco Swan has always been embarrassed by her name.

With a name like Coco, she thinks people expect her to be as exotic and glamorous as the famous designer, not an ordinary-looking small-town antiques dealer who could win an award for living cautiously.

But when a vintage Chanel handbag turns up in a box of worthless bric-a-brac, Coco’s quiet world is turned upside down. Where did it come from? And is it just coincidence that it’s the same bag Coco’s late mother always wanted for her?

When Coco discovers a mysterious, decades-old letter hidden in the bag’s lining, she sets off on a quest to piece together the story behind it, stumbling across secrets that span three generations as she goes.

Could the beautiful Chanel bag be about to teach Coco more than she wants to learn? Or will it show her just where her heart can take her if she lets it lead the way?

Coco’s Secret is a gripping and thoroughly satisfying story about a young women finally finding courage to become the kind of woman she always had it in her to be. It will go straight to readers’ hearts just like her previous bestselling novels, including the bestselling and award-nominated Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife. Her other novels are Confessions of a Demented Housewife, Lessons from a Love Rat, Rules for a Perfect Life and A Message to Your Heart.

Review:  Coco, named after Coco Chanel, lives with her grandmother who owns an antique shop. She always felt a bit out of place and as if she could never live up to her name.  At an auction she attends for the store, she receives a box, which happens to contain a real, authentic Chanel handbag. Upon finding the bag, she finds a love letter. Which she then tries to track down the owner. As she digs a bit deeper to find more about the owner, she discovers a whole other story than what she thought she would discover. Filled with charm, a bit of sadness, and a warm feel, this book was absolutely lovely.

This book was an easy read. It is the kind of book that you bring to the beach or curl up in bed to read. Charming and delightful, the writer instantly connects you with the characters. Coco is beautifully characterized. She is believable, relatable, and actually feels like a real person.  Although predictable, I must admit I could not put the book down.

Rating: 4/5