A luminous story of friendship and family, sex and secrets, growing up and growing apart ... This enthralling novel spans fifteen years in the lives of friends Leigh, Sarah and Chandler, beginning one fateful day in high school that will forever connect them. While Leigh remains stuck in dead-end jobs in their Arkansas hometown, the more privileged Sarah and Chandler move to Manhattan, where Sarah seeks acting fame and Chandler struggles to make sense of her failed relationships, only to be sent reeling by an unexpected tragedy. A Secret Word seductively weaves each girl's distinctive voice into a seamless narrative that questions how well you can ever really know another person and explores the secrets we keep from our friends, our families and, most importantly, ourselves.