New Book – Friends with Secrets: Big Little Lies Meets Thelma and Louise in a Minivan

In a funny and suspenseful debut novel Christine Gunderson explores the myth of the perfect mother, the bonds of female friendship, and the haunting impact of secrets.

Poignant, thought provoking, and laugh out loud funny, Friend with Secrets explores the enduring bonds of female friendship, and the profound repercussions of secrets. A seemingly perfect mom threatened by a secret from her past must join forces with the most imperfect mom at school to expose an epic scandal before it destroys her life. It also proves that what we see isn’t always what we get.

Consider Ainsley: a stunning mother of two, living an idyllic life with her husband, Ben—an aspiring politician and heir to a candy fortune—in suburban Washington, DC. Yet, behind the picturesque exterior, Ainsley lives in constant fear that her true identity and past will be discovered.

Then there’s Nikki, a stay-at-home mother of four who struggles to stay afloat amid chicken nuggets and sleepless nights. Outwardly a mess, Nikki inwardly longs for the recognition—and paycheck—of the television news career she abandoned.

When a dangerous figure from Ainsley’s past surfaces as a coach at her children’s school, her worst fears are realized. Desperate, she confides in Nikki, revealing every detail of her former life. Together, they concoct a plan to expose the coach and protect their children. But as they navigate this treacherous path, they must also safeguard their own lives—and the newfound friendship that sustains them.

Friends with Secrets is available on Amazon and was chosen as an Amazon First Read book for July.

“Christine’s genius lies in the minutiae of the mundane, rendered through her hilarious lens. From Exersaucer toys to chipped mugs, you will feel seen.” —Camilla Monk, author of Spotless

Christine Gunderson wrote her debut novel, Friends with Secrets, in her minivan in the school pick-up line, at piano lessons, during drama rehearsals, at basketball practice, and in lots of other unglamorous and uncomfortable places where only a parent who writes would write.

About the Author

Christine is a former television anchor and reporter and former Capitol Hill aide.  She grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in rural North Dakota where she read Laura Ingalls Wilder books in her very own little house on the prairie. She currently lives in the Washington D.C. suburbs with her three children, Star the Wonder Dog, and a very patient husband. When not writing, she’s sailing Chesapeake Bay with her family, playing Star Wars monopoly, re-reading Jane Austen novels in the school pick up line or unloading the dishwasher.  You can learn more about her at www.ChristineGunderson.com.