“The Secret Life of Sonia Davey” by N.S. Scholl

The Secret Life of Sonia Davey

N.S. Scholl
Independently Published (2026)
ISBN: 979-8187373970
Reviewed by Ada Jenkins for Reader Views (08/2026)

As a middle-aged woman, it’s hard not to feel invisible sometimes, right? This is certainly a feeling I can relate to, and a subject explored in The Secret Life of Sonia Davey by N.S. Scholl. When accountant Michelle’s book is published online without her knowledge, her life takes an unexpected turn that leads her to rethink her marriage and reassess her true needs and desires.

First off, I loved the premise of this book. It’s structured in such a way that there’s a story within a story. As an outlet for her emotions about her failing marriage to her neglectful husband, Randal, budding author Michelle pens a romance story, giving the central character, Sonia Davey, the life that she’s always dreamed of. Unlike Michelle, Sonia is a confident businesswoman, living a lavish (childfree) lifestyle and experiencing an exciting romance with her colleague, Andres. I really enjoyed these parallel storylines.

The narrative switches between Michelle’s point of view and Sonia’s fictional romance, with Andres being loosely based on Michelle’s coworker, Andrew. Michelle feels taken for granted by Randal, who doesn’t appreciate her. Sonia provides a distraction from her dreary everyday life. This highlights the discrepancy between what Michelle wants in her life versus what she dreams of, which I feel is highly relatable for many middle-aged female readers. For example, in chapter two, the narrative switches to Sonia’s story: “For a moment, he stared at her, and Selena felt trapped in his gaze.”

I liked the three-dimensional characters in this book. Although not quite as seamlessly suave as the fictional male protagonist, Andres, Andrew won me over as Michelle’s love interest. Their slow-burn romance kept me hooked! I liked the way Andrew appreciated and valued Michelle’s efforts at work and genuinely cared for her well-being. This is in direct opposition to Randal, who is coldly critical and resentful of Michelle spending any extra time away from her duties at home. Whereas Randal minimizes Michelle’s personality, Andrew celebrates it, and I found it impossible not to root for their relationship.

What I liked most about The Secret Life of Sonia Davey is that it’s highly relatable, reaching out to readers on an emotional and intellectual level. The author also balances literary finesse with a down-to-earth writing style. The themes explored will, I think, resonate with those interested in women’s fiction or later-in-life contemporary romance. This sentence in chapter four, for instance, resonated with me, encapsulating the terrifying prospect of starting over after almost thirty years of marriage: “She was terrified that she was being pulled out of the hollow cave where she had secretly hidden her true self.” The feeling of losing track of one’s true self after decades of marriage was certainly something that I could understand.

For me, Scholl’s The Secret Life of Sonia Davey is about rediscovering yourself after a certain age, showing that it’s never too late to start again, instead of settling for a life that makes you feel less-than. Highly recommended!