The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes

What makes a mother? Genes? Childbirth? Love? And once a mother bonds with her child, is there anything that can break that bond? Diane Chamberlain’s novel “The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes” gives us the story of a teenage mother and her child. But there’s a lot more to it than just that and one small review can’t possibly describe the incredible and fascinating twists and turns the story takes.

CeeCee’s mother died when she was just twelve. But she left her daughter a legacy of letters. Each letter intended for different days, some special some not, in CeeCee’s future life. And each chapter in this book that’s about CeeCee opens with quotes or paragraphs from one of those letters. An intelligent and gifted child, CeeCee show more completes her schooling early and is currently working towards getting into college and waiting tables when the book opens. But CeeCee is starving for love and naïve as only a 16 year old can be. Even when the reader sees the train wreck coming, you still wince and want to rail at CeeCee for her actions. Her love and longing for love results in her involvement in an unspeakable crime—at 16. Now, she’s on the run with a newborn and before she can figure a way out of this mess, she’s in love again…with the newborn she names Cory. Thus begins the live of Eve, formerly CeeCee.

Eve lives as a single mother and eventually loves and marries. But she can never stop looking over her shoulder. And 26 years later, the dead mother’s body is discovered. Now a man stands accused of murder and CeeCee/Eve is the only one who can prevent his death. To admit her involvement will destroy her family and their careers. To do nothing will destroy her.

As I read this story, I found myself trying to think of what I would have done if I were CeeCee. Lured into something she would never have considered…except for love. Forced into circumstances she could never have imagined…except for love. Then trying to build a life and find some happiness. And finally having to make decisions I couldn’t imagine in my worst nightmare. Does this make her strong? Or weak? Ms. Chamberlain’s ability to blur the absolute lines of right and wrong is incredible. Her portrayal of life in a southern college town is scarily bang on. Her characters become people you know or people you would like to know, to talk to, to ask questions of. But you’re still aware it’s fiction. And you quietly thank whatever deity you prefer that it is.

“the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes” is about motherhood and mothers. It’s about family and what makes a family. It’s about love and forgiveness and repentance. This is a book I’m glad I read. It made me think and made me reconsider absolutes. This is one I can’t recommend highly enough for those who are looking for more than a quick escape read…because this is surely not that. But it is a book that will draw out your emotions from one end of the scale to the other. And sometimes…that’s just what we need. show less

Although this book kept me engaged, it was too long. Still, the story was very engrossing, and I appreciated that the conclusion was thoroughly explored and taken to its very end with all loose ends wrapped up. So many books have a rushed ending that takes place within just a few pages, but this one was a pleasant surprise in that respect. Diane Chamberlain writes some very interesting and gratifying novels!

In 1977, pregnant Genevieve Russell disappeared. Twenty years later, her remains are discovered and Timothy Gleason is charged with murder. But there is no sign of the unborn child.

CeeCee Wilkes knows how Genevieve Russell died, because she was there. And she knows what happened to her missing infant, because two decades ago she made the devastating choice to raise the baby as her own. Now Timothy Gleason is facing the death penalty, and she has another choice to make. Tell the truth and destroy her family. Or let an innocent man die in order to protect a lifetime of lies.

One of the most enjoyable books I have had the pleasure of reading this year. It was literally a book on steroids.

It's 1977...sixteen year old CeeCee Wilkes was alone show more in the world. Her mother had died when she was twelve and she spent the next four years in foster homes...graduating from high school well ahead of her classmates and working in a diner. Then she meets Tim Gleason...personable...smooth talker and 6 years CeeCee senior. CeeCee is smitten and the course is set to lead her into a situation that will make her life and those of everyone she loves, a living Hell for the next 38 years. You know from the time she reluctantly agrees to Tim and his brother's plan to save their death row sister that it is a disaster just waiting to happen.

It wasn't my usual type of book but I couldn't stop reading. It's a story of issues of morality and choice that allows the reader to root for CeeCee despite her many wrong choices. I could not stop caring about the characters...flawed though they were. Highly, highly recommend this book. show less

For some reason, I thought that this book was going to be more of the snail's-pace, introspective type. Introspective, yes, but also gripping and highly readable, with a surprising number of layers to sort through.

I will say that this is probably the most tense reading experience I've ever had. At a lot of times it's not fun to be so absorbed in the main character, but it's a testament to the skill of Diane Chamberlain's storytelling that I savored every page.

Chamberlain is a master at writing those books that just kind of punch you in the gut. This one felt like it was going to start off like every other book but then it takes a turn that will really have you going WTF?

I didn't want to put it down because I had to know how this was all going to shake out. The only thing I didn't like was there didn't seem to be much real focus on how her daughter became so phobic unless you just chalk it up to the nurture vs nature argument and it's obvious nurture won.

It did make me think more about the responsibility our legal system places upon the number we assign to 'ages'. Like there's some magical transformation that occurs when you become 16, 17, 18, 21, etc. As if once that birthday hits then show more you're downloaded automatically with everything you should understand at that point.

I love Chamberlain though because she's never afraid of tackling those tough issues in her books and using great character development to flush them out, make them seem more real. show less

CeeCee Wilkes is a gullible 16-year-old who has been in foster homes for the past four years since her mother died of cancer. She is out of high school, on her own and working as a waitress when she meets Tim. He gets her involved in a kidnapping scheme to help release his sister from prison. Things escalate, CeeCee gets herself into a mess, and the rest of the book is about her living the next 30 years in fear of being caught under her new identity.

I had a difficult time feeling like any of the many decisions and reactions of the characters were all that believable. I didn't like CeeCee for what she did, I didn't think her daughter's reactions were believable as an adult, and I didn't think anyone's "change of heart" behaviors made show more much sense. Because I had such a negative reaction to CeeCee's initial behavior, I had a hard time liking much of what was happening. I was just upset with her for the entire book. It all felt too pat and stereotyped, life just doesn't wrap up the way the book did. I'll try another one of her books, in case it was just the topic of this one that rubbed me the wrong way. show less

What an emotional book! This was such an incredible story and I was totally immersed the whole time. This book was randomly suggested and I had no idea what to expect, but I'm so glad I read this. The story was different than any others I've read, it seemed realistic, and sad, even heart-wrenching at times but it was also heart-warming. Following complicated lives touched by crimes, love, lies and choices whose consequences spiraled out through family and other relationships. Families destroyed, families re-united, identities discovered, fears conquered but most of all, my heart touched. I actually cried and I would recommend this book to anyone in a heartbeat!