My Lies, Your Lies: The new most emotionally gripping novel of 2020 from the bestselling author

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In my opinion, MY LIES, YOUR LIES took a little too long for interest to take hold - at nearly 30% in, which is a bit too long in my opinion - but then it did admittedly get rather interesting. And then it didn't. The climatic twist came 20% too soon or rather the ending was dragged out a little too long. As a result, it did become slightly ridiculous. I'm not sure how the past and the present were supposed to entwine but didn't seem entirely real. I'm not entirely sure what the author was trying to say in bringing such a story to light.Society certainly wouldn't accept it, so what is she saying? Did I miss something? Is she romanticising it? Or is it a warning? As this is a psychological thriller type book this review may contain accidental spoilers, you have been warned! I would like to thank #SusanLewis, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #MyLiesYourLies in exchange for an honest review. Freda drip-feeds information while Joely begins to make assumptions. Is the girl in the story a young Freda? And is the music teacher the husband she lost three years ago? And why does she feel that Freda s watching her and listening in on her phone conversations? It is obvious that Freda is manipulating Joely to tell the story as she wants it perceived. So what was it Freda truly wants out of this? As I'm writing this I'm still beyond stunned that this is a published novel that seems to have no self awareness of how utterly wrong and offensive it is. Can you imagine an abuse survivor stumbling upon this book and reading it only to discover the whole thing serves as a defense of paedophilia? Sorry *hebephilia* as Freda calls it, attraction to girls between 11 and 15, which we are supposed to surmise, I think, is not 'as bad' as 'actual' paedophilia. After all, that little slut 15yr old Marianne knew what she was doing *side eye*. I can't even. There are even love letters at the end of the book, from David in prison to Marianne like this is the loviest love affair of all time. VOMIT.

Upon arriving, Joely discovers that Freda has already begin the memoir, having written the first two chapters already, and it is her firm wish that Joely continue in the vein with which she began. Their conversations about the memoir lead Joely to pondering many things but none of them would prepare her for where it would lead. Freda had her own agenda with this memoir. She wanted to right the wrongs that had taken place previously as a result of the outcome to the story Joely now transcribes.

During our meeting we discussed the book a little, but we mostly considered some of the discussion points that come from reading the book. We talked about how we felt about the relationship between the school girl and her teacher, whether we felt it was really love or something else. We wondered whether someone of that age could make the decisions necessary for it to be love? We all have examples of people who fell in love at that age and either are now happily married, or haven't seen the object of their teen affection for years. We came to the conclusion that it was probably all to do with the individuals involved, but that we do need laws and distinct ages for things to legal to protect those who would be taken advantage of.

Ghost-writer Joely Foster has been asked to write the memoir of an eccentric old lady with a troubling past. Relieved to have a break from her own marital difficulties, Joely escapes to the woman’s isolated house, where she gets to work writing about a pivotal event in Freda Donahoe’s life. On its surface, the story is of a fifteen-year-old girl being groomed at school by her teacher. But Freda is determined to set the record straight by showing that the girl was complicit in the seduction, and had only called the police when she was spurned. But that’s just half the story… Most of her recollection focusses on a 15 year old school girl who is besotted by her music teacher. This had all the promise of a great book. Great characters, a heartbroken Joely on a train ride to a virtually unknown ghostwriting assignment. A broken marriage and an absent daughter. The opening and a substantial portion of the book was of intrigue and kept you reading. The challenging working relationship between Freda and Joely was tense and fascinating, as were the musical references and hints at long gone family relationships.Overall, not a bad read but not the Author's best. Still, I give it 3 stars for being middle of the road. It's not a book I can decide whether I like it or not. We all agreed that though we enjoyed the book the ending felt a little rushed and also a little twee with things turning out the way they did. Given what happened during the book we weren't sure we would be such a happy family afterwards. Beautifully written, I love the way Susan Lewis explores her characters emotions, bringing them to life. Young Freda's love for David seem to be celebrated and left a bad taste, which meant that ultimately how the story unravelled didnt quite work for me.

The story is told primarily through Joely's eyes in the third person, as as occasionally Freda and Joely's mum, Marianne. Peppered throughout are the memoir entries written in the first person narrative, leaving the reader pondering who she may well be. Joely delves into her work, learning more about the events that happened all those years ago. She is soon surprised to discover that the truth lies much closer to home and is bizarrely connected to her. How can Freda’s past be linked to Joely? Could the teacher be someone near to her?

It’s the end now and I have to admit that I thoroughly loved reading this book. I love the characters, especially Joely, Marianne, Holly and Freda. Just the women – funny that. But it is bonkers in places and there will always be that questions of statutory rape and teacher-pupil relationships and is there ever any excuse. I’ve known this happen twice (only one was regarded as Statutory rape) and in both cases the couples ended up married. The first was in about 1968 or 69. The boy was 17 and she was 13 – in the US they call this the Romeo and Juliet Laws. Yes he went to prison for about two years (this is because he was under 18). I was told later that when he came out they waited and got married just after her 16th birthday. The second was a teacher who had an affair with his pupil but she was 18 so no rape in this case. It was a scandal at the time because he was her teacher, but they are still married today and have two children now in their thirties. For readers of Lisa Jewell, Diane Chamberlain, and Jodi Picoult comes another gripping novel from internationally bestselling author Susan Lewis, about an eccentric old woman, the ghost-writer helping write her memoirs, and the destructive secrets binding them together. This had me captivated from the beginning and kept me in its grasp long after finishing this amazing book. Even when I reluctantly put this down I was still thinking about the characters!! As the story of Freda’s past unravels, it spins Joely into a dangerous world of secrets and lies she could never have imagined, causing her to question everything she thought she knew about her family.