READ & REVIEWED: The Singapore Secret by Clare Willis + Giveaway

In The Singapore Secret, a trip to Singapore has Annabel uncovering her grandmother’s past, one marked by hardship and heartbreak during World War II.

When Annabel’s grandmother, Dotty, passes away in England at the age of one hundred, Annabel stumbles upon letters and photographs that reveal a secret life Dotty once lived as a young woman in Singapore. Up until then, Annabel and her family had believed Dotty had spent her entire life in England. The discovery sends Annabel to Singapore, where she uncovers her grandmother’s past, one marked by hardship and heartbreak during World War II.

Told in a dual timeline, the story follows Annabel’s search for the truth alongside Dotty’s life in Singapore. I found the pacing a little slow at first, with Annabel’s chapters sounding more like a travelogue. But about a third of the way in, the story picks up, and I became invested in uncovering why Dotty chose to keep her past hidden.

Dotty’s timeline was the highlight for me with the historical details and the portrayal of wartime struggles. There is a satisfying closure at the end, and I genuinely felt for Dotty and the impact her secrets would have on her family. On a lighter note, the romance in Annabel’s timeline was quite enjoyable. Her interactions with her university friend James were sweet, and at times, even funny.

Thank you @pickab00kasia for sending me this newly-released adult fiction! The Singapore Secret by Clare Willis is available at the Lazada and Shopee stores of Pick A Book Asia at https://s.shopee.sg/60RSNzDR6n . Thanks to Pick A Book Asia, we also have a copy of The Singapore Secret to give away. Head over to my Instagram post for a chance to win!

Disclaimer: The book was provided by Pick A Book Asia for our review. As always, all opinions are ours.

©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.