I really love chick lit type novels, and after googling to find out what the best ones would be, this came up in the search a few times - I really love historical novels as well, and while this isn't that long ago I find the 50's to be quite an interesting period, and it doesn't really seem to be covered as much as other periods, for example the 60's.

The lost art of keeping secrets is a tale of life in the 50's living in a crumbling mansion, it is a coming of age tale of its inhabitant Penelope. Penelope's life takes a turn one day when she is waiting at the bus stop, and she meets Charlotte who persuades her to get in a taxi and come and meet her aunt for tea. Charlotte is elegant, worldly, and seemingly everything that Penelope wants to be - she loves being with her. There's also Penelope's cousin Harry, pining over his lost love - which is where the secrets come in when Penelope pretends to be his girlfriend in order to make Harry's ex jealous. Will it work though? And with Penelope's home crumbling around her, who will rescue them?

It was an enjoyable book, I felt like I was transported back to the 50's - there was certainly many cultural references such as the afternoon tea and more. I really liked the author's writing style, she described everything in such vivid detail that I could really imagine it, it painted a lovely picture of the time. It was slightly predictable but I suppose a lot of chick lit it, it was still good to read! It can be purchased on amazon for £5.48 new, or around £1.20 used with postage.