The Story For The Hopeless Romantic: Gracie Abrams – ‘The Secret Of Us (Deluxe)’ Review

Words: Rosie Russell

I felt great about sharing how amazing Gracie Abrams’ new album was, and she exceeded my expectations by releasing a deluxe version of an already amazing album. The additional tracks and bonus content in the deluxe version added even more depth and emotion to an already fantastic album. 

This is an album for hopeless romantics, for people who sometimes just need to imagine love before diving headfirst into a connection, and for people who love love. 

With incredible songs like ‘I Love You, I’m Sorry’ mirroring her previous song ‘I Miss You, I’m Sorry’ this album beautifully captures the bittersweet essence of love and heartache, making it a must-listen for anyone who has ever experienced the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with being a hopeless romantic. Gracie Abrams’ raw and soulful voice paired with poignant lyrics, such as ‘If history’s clear someone always ends up in ruins’ (‘Us’ featuring Taylor Swift), creates a deeply moving listening experience that resonates with the depths of the heart. The Secret of Us is not just an album – it’s a journey through the intricacies of love, loss, and longing.

My personal standouts on the album include ‘Risk’, a story about falling in love too quickly for your own good. ‘Us’, featuring Taylor Swift, resonated with me as a huge fan of Taylor Swift. Hearing this live at Wembley changed something in me. The lyrics and melodies remind me of a previous situationship and make me feel okay about moving on from it. Finally, my overall favourite on the album is ‘Free Now’. Listening to this song makes me feel like I could run a marathon during the bridge. It evokes indescribable and vulnerable feelings all at the same time. The idea that someone might be waiting for you to love them, or even waiting for them to love you, really sums up the album’s overarching theme in my eyes – a story for hopeless romantics, about making yourself better for someone or leaving to find better things.

It’s a pain that I caught you at a bad time

It’s a shame that I memorized your outline

You were straight up with me, you were so kind

But I knew what you knew. “Honey great minds”

It was harsh ’cause I lost what I wanted

I was brave when I kissed you in London

We’re collateral here, man, and we got it

Hope you find somewhere safe for your baggage

Every page that I wrote, you were on it

Feel you deep in my bones, you’re the current

And I showed no restraint, it was something

I was scared up ’til you made me love it

The deluxe additions to this album help grow the strength of the album’s storytelling, with highly anticipated previously teased tracks ‘That’s So True’ and ‘Cool’ These really sum up the feeling of seeing your ex’s new partner which adds a funny and light-hearted vibe to the album. As well as three live performances of songs on the original album (‘I Love You, I’m Sorry’, ‘I Knew It, I Know You’ and ‘Free Now’) somehow making them that much more heart-breaking. 

Gracie Abrams’ deluxe album, ‘The Secret of Us,’ is a heartfelt and evocative journey through the complexities of love and relationships. With its raw, soulful vocals and poignant lyrics, the album resonates deeply with the experiences of hopeless romantics and those who have encountered the bittersweet nature of love.