[Portia’s Review]: Twisted Circles (Secret Society #2) by Claire Contreras

When someone tells you who you are, do you believe them?

The first question the cops asked me was if anything out of the ordinary happened to me lately.

When I woke up this morning in the room of a mental institution I couldn't remember a thing - not my name nor how I got there. Not how I left or how I ended up in that interrogation room.

The only thing I knew came from the contents inside my bag. A wallet, a student ID, a key that opened an unknown door, and two notebooks.

They tell me my name. It matches my IDs.

They tell me my story. I shut my eyes and try to piece it together, but can't.

They tell me why they picked me up in the first place. They thought I was my sister.
My brain stays stuck there. I try to rewind and fast-forward, as if my memories were on a videotape, but it's no use. I can't recall having a sister.

They put me back in the car and drop me off in front of a mansion they call The Manor and I discover what the mysterious key in my backpack opens the front door, and just as quickly wish I'd never unlocked it at all.

Note: This is a 100% standalone in the world as Half Truths. Twisted Circles is book 2 of Claire Contreras' secret society series, based in the fictitious Ellis University. It takes place in the same world as Half Truths, but can be read as a standalone.

I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Again, actual footage of me when Claire announced a 2nd book with Secret Societies (this is a throwback to my original review of the first book in the series, Half Truths <- click to read) :

I could start this post off by raving about how amazing and wonderful and talented and pretty Claire Contreras is but…. too late I already have so lets move on to the book!

After all, when someone tells you who you are constantly, it’s only a matter of time before you start to believe them.

So this book takes place at the same school (the fictional Ellis University) featuring a different society than the first book in the series. FYI these can be read as standalones, so no worries if you haven’t read, however I highly suggest the first simply because it introduces us to the school and the vibe and some characters that we see in the 2nd book. This time around we meet Eva Guerra, who wakes missing memories from the past few days and gets wrapped up in things she never imagined. She meets Adam, and this meeting sends them down a path of uncovering secrets long buried in history. I wont talk too much about them together in terms of romance, because like the first book, the romance is super low-key, not the main attraction, takes a backseat in these books. These books focus on secrets, suspense, my anxiety, and the like.

He was exactly what I never knew I needed and I wouldn’t push him away.

So while I thought Half Truths had a detailed plot, this one dug even deeper. Eva has more to uncover about her life than I was expecting! Once we start getting to the nitty gritty and trying to connect all the crazy things happening, it felt like 2 separate story line twists but they actually all connected together. The depth of the issues and the intricacy of the plot details was surprising. Also, I was on the edge of my seat during the “big moment” of the book, I was so excited about how it turned out! Corruption, suspense, blood, romance…. all of it. Give it to me, I love it.

More real life footage of me trying to figure out all the secret before they are revealed and connected:

Okay so basically this book was a GREAT time and I had no idea I would love it even more than the first. I don’t know what I was expecting but this exceeded that. I want everyone to read this if suspense or secret societies are your thing, but keep in mind this is not romance heavy! While I think their romance is slow and very sweet, it is not the main focus!! But don’t let that deter you, you should still read it anyway.

Portia

Hi, I’m Portia! I’ve been an obsessive reader and pop culture addict my entire life, with a particular passion for horror and thrillers. I love being a part of the book community and can regularly be found working various book events. I’m an admin here at Ideally Inspired Reviews!

When I am not binge reading or obsessing over true crime podcasts and shows, I am a bar manager by night and a mom and wife by day. If I find any time after that, I love to travel, spend time outdoors, and fit as much live music into my life as possible. You can find me on Instagram @Ideally.Portia or TikTok @itsportiabitch.