I appreciate writing a book takes a lot of effort, time and emotion but sadly this book left me feeling 'meh'. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and although I was interested in some of the medical parts (memory reliability, OCD, student practices, oncology) it wasn't enough to bind the story together.

3.5 stars from me. This was a good read but the twists didnt really surprise me or take my breath away. Was also slightly let down by the end. I would however look out for this author again and would read more of her books.

I enjoyed this book told from all angles of the family and their differing memories of past events that shaped their futures. An interesting insight in how memories can alter and change over time. Interesting, intriguing and thought provoking.

I really enjoyed this book. 2 families who have been great friends are torn apart by an affair between the husband of one and the wife of the other. Friendships are destroyed forever. The story is told from the viewpoint of each of the members of one of the families, who look back at what happened over the summer when everything changed. I recommend this book - thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

I feel like I know a whole lot more about OCD but not a lot more about the characters of this rather strange story.
I enjoyed the first half or more but then the book seemed to get lost and by the conclusion it seemed almost everyone was just showing personality traits that there had been no signs off earlier in the story.
I think it lacked a cohesive overhaul to bring it back on track.

The question isn't whether our memories are false - it's how false are our memories?

The Betrayals is an intriguing story about a fractured family and the fallibility of memory. When self-deluding Nick - an expert on memory formation, ironically - leaves his wife, cancer specialist Rosie, for her friend Lisa, the effect on daughter Daisy in particular is traumatic. Years later, a letter from Lisa triggers a relapse in Daisy's mental state. Brother Max, meanwhile, is haunted by guilt about his own hidden role in what happened.

The book does require careful reading to grasp what is going on, as everyone's accounts differ slightly (as Daisy quotes from Kazuo Ishiguro, acknowledging the unreliable nature of memory - "This was all a long time ago and I might have some of it wrong."). There were times when I was unsure I fully understood all the implications of what was happening. I'm still not sure I understand the point of one or two minor characters. However it all (mostly) 'comes together and delivers a genuinely surprising ending.

Where this book really shines though is in the portrayal of Daisy's OCD - a widely misunderstood condition- and the catastrophic effect of this on her and those around her, particularly brother Max who becomes reluctantly embroiled in her rituals. This really does represent the complex, insidious and horribly destructive nature of the condition, and as someone who has a close family member with OCD - albeit not quite the same as Daisy's - I appreciated this very much.

Lisa's rejection of conventional treatment for her cancer in favour of the - to put it nicely - mumbo-jumbo purveyed by the appalling Gregorio is also depicted very well.

All in all an interesting and valuable read which does repay close attention.

I enjoyed reading this book and i do think its very interesting how every one sees events so differently. Definitely buy his book if you want a relaxing holiday read.

Its funny how one event can change so many peoples lives. This book held me captive for hours. Read it! You won't want to put it down.

I've been a huge fan of Fiona Neill for a while so I was so eager to read this. It follows four members of the same family, and how they've dealt with a huge act of infidelity, when their father cheated on their mother with her best friend. It's full of emotion, twists and turns, and an amazing ending you won't expect. Thoroughly enjoyed

A great insight into racial prejudices in America. How people are perceived because of the colour of their skin and how if you're white and in a high profile role any misdeeds are overlooked. It was tense in parts but, at the same time showed how family can be united even if views held differ greatly. Really enjoyed.

Lisa and Rosie have been friends since their teenage years.
Both are married and have children and both families go on holiday together.
Then Nick Rosie's husband leaves her as he has been having an affair with Lisa and wants to live with her.
The story traces the effect it has on each of the family members each told from their perspective.
It would appear that in each family dimension there is betrayal hence the title of the book.

I’ve procrastinated writing my review of this book. Why? Because in one sense I absolutely loved it and I found it all-consuming (which I love when I’m reading a book). On the other hand it was utterly frustrating. Yet even though I finished this book over a week ago now, I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Hmmm, maybe that’s a sign of a good novel…

One thing’s for sure, I’m desperate for all of you to read The Betrayals and let me know what you think. So please do!

The Betrayals focuses on divorced couple Rosie and Nick and their two grown-up children Daisy and Max. When the book opens Nick is now in a relationship with Lisa who was once Rosie’s best friend. This in a sense is the ultimate betrayal that the book pivots on as it is Nick and Lisa’s affair that broke up his marriage. However as the themes of memory and guilt run throughout the novel, other acts of betrayal or perceived betrayal dramatically impact on all the lives of the characters. Daisy has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), Lisa has cancer, Rosie uses Tinder for sex and Max is infatuated by women who treat him badly.

Narrated through Daisy, Max, Rosie and Nick in turn, we hear first hand their very different points of view on the family events that have shaped them all. This gives each of the central characters their own distinctive voice. From Daisy, we see how her OCD controls her; from Max we find out about the guilt he has been carrying around since childhood; from Nick we discover how he uses life to justify his weaknesses; and from Rosie we see that she is unable to make new romantic attachments following being betrayed by the two people she trusted most.

I particularly loved the sibling interaction between Daisy and Max in this book, and how both try to cope with her OCD. Also how the author Fiona Neill portrays the OCD throughout the book is sensitive and insightful; so much so I genuinely did wonder if she had close hand experience of the disorder.

This is the first time I have ever read a novel written by Fiona Neill and essentially I loved her writing style; I found it so real and absorbing. She presents a thought-provoking and raw portrayal of modern life through characters that you can really empathise with. It is not a happy read (so I wouldn’t recommend this if you are looking for something lighthearted); but it has true depth. It also has snapshots of humour, mainly portrayed through Nick’s view of Lisa’s ‘healer’ Gregorio, which I often found myself laughing out loud at. As well as being funny, this further gives the novel a sense of realness as I think many people will relate to Nick’s view of Gregorio.

So why was The Betrayals a frustrating read for me? Well in parts I found it a tad disjointed with things left unclear. For me it was ambiguous in parts, especially the ending which really frustrated me. However on reflection I suppose this adds to the ‘realness’ of this novel as modern life is often disjointed and ambiguous.

It is a hard-hitting read also covering topics of alcoholism and bullying. It is a book that drew me in and captivated me. Yet I suppose I felt let down by its ambiguity, especially at the end. However as I mention above, since finishing the book over a week ago I have thought and thought about it, especially the ending. Hence why I’m desperate for you to read The Betrayals too to see if we come to the same conclusion…

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for sending me an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I did find it rather hard to initially get in to the novel and found the different voices rather confusing. Daisy's voice was the most interesting and compelling. A story of families and friendship.

I found this book hard to read at the times the author went on too long about OCD., it detracted from the story for me. I enjoyed the entwined storyline throughout and the twists it revealed.

Two families, best friends, shared holidays, all seems perfect. But of course it never is. One marriage is close to collapse, there are tensions between the teenage children, nothing seems quite the same as previous fun, shared idyllic summers together. Seen from a point eight years on, and looking back, memories can play tricks. If you like a great story of family and friends and interactions and relationships, you will enjoy this book. The betrayals, yes, there's certainly quite a few of those!

Excellently written story and really showed how different perspectives can be told around the same story and did a great job telling this story. I really enjoyed this book--five stars!

I read the book but skimmed a lot as found parts very lengthy and lost interest. Especially the chapters by Nick

The Betrayals was a great book which I enjoyed reading.
There are four sides to this story, Lisa, who stole Rosie's husband Nick , daughter Daisy, son Max and Nick himself. Whose story is the right version. I won't spoil it for everyone have a read for yourself.
My first book by Fiona Neill but certainly will not be my last.

This is the story of two families in turmoil. The story starts on the Norfolk coast and a holiday no-one will forget. Rosie and Lisa are lifelong friends sharing everything - and Lisa then has an affair with Rosie's husband Nick. Her own marriage to Barney is over mainly due to his drinking. The impact that this has on their children is catastrophic. Then Lisa is diagnosed with breast cancer and writes to Lisa. The story unfolds with detailed, tender and knowledgeable writing of all the illnesses involves and their impact on all. Betrayal comes in many forms and this book covers many of them. It has a completely unexpected ending which I hadn't seen coming.
This is a must read.

This is the first book by this author that I read, and I enjoyed it.

It is a story of two families, whose lives overlap, with each person's actions affecting the lives of the others. The story is written from the point of view of Rosie, her husband Nick (who leaves her for her best friend Lisa), and their two children Daisy and Max.
The characters, likeable or not, are very well written and even though some parts are quite dark and the issues tackled are serious (alcoholism, mental illness, cancer, infidelity), there is also humour. The parts written by Nick are quite funny and entertaining.
I found the end and a little anticlimactic, but overall I enjoyed the book very much and read over half of it in one setting. I would definitely recommend it.