Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
I would like to thank #SusanLewis, #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for an ARC of #MyLiesYourLies in exchange for an honest review. Freda has for years blamed Marianne for her brother (David, the paedo teacher) committing suicide in prison. Ya know, because his 'affair' with his 15yr old student was discovered and he was rightly charged with rape and sent to goal, couldn't take how he was treated in there and ultimately topped himself. All this was Marianne's fault because she should have defended David and told the authorities that David 'never raped her', not actually, only in the 'technical sense'. Joely's isolated, very rarely able to get a phone or WiFi signal without walking onto the moors or into Lynton or Lynmouth and, after a devastating revelation from Freda, becomes scared for her life and her own family. 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.
Joely is a well-drawn character whose domestic life is in shambles. Her marriage is in serious trouble and her relationship with her fifteen year old daughter Holly is precarious. Joely is close to her mother Marianne and brother Jamie. She does not know quite how to take Freda, whose moods turn on a dime. She is also uncomfortable with some of the intimate details Freda wants in her memoir. Susan Lewis has a gift for telling warm family stories that also take you by surprise’ Jane Corry‘A gripping read’ Bella -
Featured Reviews
Rich, seamless and masterful storytelling with so many ‘oh my god’ twisty moments… Absolute genius. I was totally gripped.”— Rebecca Thornton, author of The Fallout The descriptions of the house and local landscape were brilliant. Very evocative and they gave a real sense of remoteness so you just know something unexpected and untoward will happen. One of the things this author does really well is create complex situations which are incredibly realistic and very easy to feel involved in. This book was no exception and I soon found myself drawn into all the drama and feeling a lot of sympathy with Joely. As a mum myself I can imagine how hard it must hit you to have your daughter want to move out. I do love how the author approached and introduced an illicit affair between a 15 year old schoolgirl and her music teacher. It broke all the rules and crossed many boundaries. But it gave us as readers, food for thought that there is more to the story than one might at first think. Firstly the difference between paedophilia and haebophilia, when all interest in anyone underage is simply considered to be the former. The case here is obviously haebophilia and while it is still a disturbing thought to most, it is quite often an accepted practice in many cultures. Including our own many centuries ago. But that is not the case here. It is a little disturbing and uncomfortable read in parts but does that make it wholly excusable? Told between 2 timelines - Freda's story in 1968 and present day. The memoire is of the actions and feelings of a 15yr-old schoolgirl, her all-encompassing crush on, and subsequent traumatic love affair with her 25yr-old music teacher. As Freda's story unfolds through her dictation and dialogue with Joely, Joely constantly tries to second-guess who the characters really are, especially after Freda opens up about her own family. But...…..how could she get it all so wrong?
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… MY LIES, YOUR LIES is an eccentric tale to say the least. It was mysterious, duplicitous and intriguing in a strange way. It did promise to be so much more but it really dissolved into a ridiculous caricature. Freda was meant to be a formidable woman but was more eccentric and aloof. Joely should have scarpered when she had the chance but she too went on to prove how idiotic she could be. Her big secret that she wallowed over the entire book, when she wasn't presuming what was to come in the memoir, wasn't that great after all...more a run of the mill kind of secret. Everyone else played so little part you couldn't really connect with them. Holly is a precocious 15 year old that should be taught a little more respect than the way she spoke to her parents, grandmother and even Freda. I think she was given a little too much free reign that would never have been allowed when I was her age. Times may change, but boys and hormones don't. And considering what the basis of this story is about, I would have thought she would have been reigned in a little more. Loved it and was totally gripped.Susan Lewis writes with the most brilliant sense of place that I was there imagining each location vividly”— Fionnuala Kearney, author of The Book of LoveIt’s been a long time since I read a Susan Lewis book, but reading My Lies, Your Lies reminded me of what a brilliant story teller she is. Joely is an ex journalist who now works as a ghost writer, whose latest assignment takes her to Devon. Famous, but reclusive author Freda Donahoe wants Joely to help writer her memoir, detailing a story never told before. Split between present day and 1968 secrets are revealed, taking Joely and Freda on a journey that will change both their lives. 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. 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. The story follows ghostwriter Joely who's been given the difficult task of telling famous author F.M Donahue memoir in the style that her fans will appreciate.
So is the relationship supposed to be acceptable or not? It's not so much the age thing, as there were only 10 years between them, it was the fact he was in a position of authority and trust. He has to take responsibility because he was the adult in the scenario. But we all know what 14 and 15 year olds are like. They can turn it on with the best of them. That doesn't make it right but it doesn't make her innocent or blameless either. She set out to seduce him. She wanted him. While in the eyes of the law she is still a child, there is so much about her that isn't. Both are equally to blame because it takes two. She knew what she was doing as did he. They were both complicit. They were both to blame. And there are always two sides to every story. Rich, seamless and masterful storytelling with so many ‘oh my god’ twisty moments… Absolute genius. I was totally gripped’ Rebecca Thornton - Nearly there and things have changed dramatically. I know a lot of people won’t like this but it appears that the love between David (Sir) and Marianne (Linda) was real. Even though she was only 15. I think maybe the fact that he was her teacher is what makes it indefensible. He had a duty to his pupils and he let his desire overcome that. However 10 years seems a long sentence ( from what I have read about sentencing Laws in the UK). I would definitely recommend this. I would go as far as to say this is the best book I’ve read this year and I did not want it to end, oh my what an ending. Will we be reading about Joely again? Sometimes life can change from how it is to something else in the blink of an eye. A second is all that it takes. Sophie Monroe is 14 years old when she goes missing one night. The first assumption is that the teen has run away, however, her phone and computer have disappeared and she’s taken clothes with her.My Lies, Your Lies has gone straight to the top of my favorite Susan Lewis reads.Full of drama, intrigue with so many twists and turns, I promise you'll be surprised and captivated right to the end. Carmel Harrington So is the relationship supposed to be acceptable or not? It's not so much the age thing, as there were only 10 years between them, it was the fact he was in a position of authority and trust. He has to take responsibility because he was the adult in the scenario. But we all know what 14 and 15 year olds are like. They can turn it on w This author was constantly brushing elbows with stars. She was neighbors with George Clooney and had even had Nicolas Cage over to her house. She saw Steve Martin while walking her dog. She had a number of romances, while some dreams ended up being destined to come true while still others ended up being hopelessly crushed. 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? Loved it and was totally gripped.Susan Lewis writes with the most brilliant sense of place that I was there imagining each location vividly Fionnuala Kearney
Great Deal 
New Comment