My Lies, Your Lies is a book of two halves for me. The first part was great the second part was not so great.
Joely is a ghostwriter, when we meet her she has just found out her husband is leaving her for her best friend. She takes up an assignment in a remote place without even a phone signal, for a person named Freda. Freda is a strange type and prefers her own company to anybody else’s. When they start the story that is set in 1968 and follows the tale of a teenage schoolgirl falling in love with her music teacher. As the story moves on things start to click into place and Joely starts to realise why she has been selected to ghost write this story.
The first half of this book I really enjoyed, the writing flowed well and the build up to a good book was there and then unfortunately the second half was a bit ridiculous and seemed to go on far longer than it should have. If it had ended when I think it should have it would have made the ending far better but as it didn’t it felt like I’d ran a marathon to get there with no real reward. I have enjoyed all previous books by Susan Lewis but this is my least favourite.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a few Susan Lewus books over the years. I always love the style of writing so was happy when I was selected for this tour.

Following a copywriter with marital problems who happily takes on a job to help write a memoir for a reclusive author, it was a premise I hadn't seen before. It flowed well, the relationships between characters, even when strained and awkward, were brilliantly written and in no way was I expecting the twist that came.

I'd been second guessing myself every other chapter, it's one of those type of books. You just can't help yourself as the story unravelled further.

This is gripping, exciting and definitely worthy of the brilliant climax.

Having read several books by Susan Lewis previously and enjoying them I knew I had to request this one ago when I saw that it was available to request on NetGalley.

In My Lies, Your Lies, we follow Joely who takes on an assignments after her husband leaves her for her best friend. The assignment is to be a ghost writer for an author named Freda .M Donahue, who wants to tell her story. It’s up to Joely to try and write something that Ms Donahue’s fans will love and are eagerly waiting for.

The story is told over 2 timelines. The first is based on events that happened in 1968. This is where we are introduced to a fifteen year old schoolgirl who falls in love for her music teacher, she’s not the only one but she is the one who the teacher choose pursue an affair that must be kept secret.

The book is definitely well written and easy to follow however, I felt there was a little inconsistency in the pace. It started off slow and then picked up and slowed again. There were also some interesting characters and I liked a majority of them. I liked how Lewis brings to life the characters emotions you can really feel them through the writing.

The book does seem to end in a cliff-hanger way that suggests there may be a sequel, I hope there is as I would like to know how it all ends.

Overall, even though this book has it’s ups and downs and it is my least favourite out the previous books I’ve read, I still enjoyed it enough to give it a solid 3 out of 5.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my eARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Joely is a ghost writer and is commissioned by a mysterious writer to pen her memoirs. She has to keep it secret but has no idea why. This comes at an ideal time for Joely to get away just as her husband leaves her for her best friend and her daughter chooses to go with him. I fell into the same trap as Joely and kept trying to guess ahead where the story was going. I did not see it coming at all. When we found out where the memoir was going, that could have been the end of it, but I loved that we saw how it all panned out. I really don't want to give spoilers so am restricted in what I say, but you are in for a great read - ditch your expectations!! #netgalley #MyLiesYourLies

In 1968, we meet a schoolgirl falling in love with her music teacher, persuading her parents to let her have piano lessons so that she can be alone with him and this is when this passionate and forbidden affair begins - and ends with disastrous consequences.
Fast forward, and Joely can't come to terms with her husband Callum leaving her for her best friend Martha, and so she's really glad to be given a writing assignment as a ghost-writer. She leaves London to travel to Devon, not informing her family where she travels to - Callum, their daughter Holly and Joely's mother Marianne only know that she's got this job.
Freda Donahue is an established writer, so why did she ask for Joely to help her write her new book? Her memoirs start to feature a very inappropriate relationship between young student and her teacher - the more she tells, the more unsure Joely starts to feel. Is there something more to the memoirs?

Let me mention this right at beginning of my review - the author can beautifully write, almost lyrically. The descriptions of the house and the landscapes were vivid, colourful and very evocative, and I liked them very much. However, the biggest strength lied in the way Ms Lewis has captured the working relationship between Joely and Freda, I think - it was full of challenges, tense and sparkling.

The characters are absolutely not straight - forward, telling lies and half - truths and really, it's hard to tell who's telling the truth. But at the end I was absolutely certain who's lying and who's not, it was my gut - feeling telling me that. And even though I couldn't warm to the characters, I think that Susan Lewis has developed them in a great way, bringing them all to life, exploring their emotions.
Freda was such a complicated character, blowing hot and cold, and I truly couldn't get into her head, and not only when Joely was her guest but also when the other things happened - she sometimes seemed so confused and I was wondering, why? There was so much more to Freda and she really was not telling us half of the facts, leaving us trying to guess what else she's hiding and why.
However, the best character must have been Holly - I truly loved her and her life approach. She was smart, sharp and opinionated but I had a feeling that she is a character that grew most in this story. I loved her one - liners and how down - to - earth she was, and how she came to terms with all that was happening.

Of course I was invested in the story of the young girl falling so hard for her teacher, and in comparison Joely's problems felt a little lukewarm. What was also brilliant is the fact that we were reading a book within a book, I found it a great idea and I was impatiently waiting for a new chapter with the young student's memories. The story featuring this young love itself is complex, heavy and thought - provoking but it's also not as white and black as you can think. You will feel uncertain and start asking questions, that's for sure.

However, I had a feeling that I am reading two different books, to be honest. The first half was rather on the slow side and hard going, and let's be honest, the characters acted a bit weird, and then suddenly I started to feel as if I'm sitting on a roller - coaster, the story was so fast and full of curves. And then it slowed down again. I am a bit conflicted about this book, I can't gather my thoughts together to be honest. I know that many readers love the end of this story. I, however, am not sure - if this happy end is this what I was expecting? There were so many beautiful and optimistic resolutions wrapped up that, however, didn't feel too realistic and I really had to suspend my belief over the whole end.

Nevertheless, I was hooked by this story and no, I didn't guess the outcome - I tell you, me and my detective skills, they don't exist. It was a book full of mysteries, twists and turns and you really couldn't be sure what's going to come and what another great twist is going to hit you hard in your face. It was full of questions and secrets to be revealed. It was full of layers and unpeeling them revealed a complex and complicated story, giving us much more that I was expecting - the unveiled facts were surprising, shocking and sad.
"My Lies, Your Lies" is filled with mind games and the author really plays with your mind. It's a story about unconditional love, about forgiveness and family dynamics, but also it touches upon deceptions, betrayal, forbidden love and hate. It's a haunting and heart - breaking story with complex and clever plot that will make you think and wonder who's telling the truth.

4.5 stars
I’m a huge fan of this author so you can imagine how excited I was to learn she had a new book out. This was another fantastic, captivating read which pulled me in from the first page and found it very difficult to put down as I wanted the mystery to be resolved.

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.

The mystery part of the story was very intriguing and I enjoyed watching it all unfold. It read a bit like an autobiography at times but I liked getting to know the character and their background more. There was lots of suspense and twists to keep me thoroughly intrigued. I found myself completely unsure about what was going to happen next and the author managed to keep me in suspense until the end which I thought was very clever. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are looking for a gripping read to distract you from everything then I thoroughly recommend this one!

Joely is hired by the mysterious and rather eccentric Freda to ghostwrite her latest book, her memoirs, explaining that she wants to set the record straight, to tell the whole story. A story filled with lies and betrayal. Never knowing who can be trusted.

Having read several books written by this author I jumped at the chance to read this, her latest. Sadly, I have mixed feelings. The first half I found to be beautifully written and atmospheric, I was drawn right into the story and its characters. But the second half felt totally different and at times far fetched and unbelievable. Susan Lewis is a fantastic author but this one wasn't really for me I'm afraid.

Wow this book was amazing! I absolutely love Susan Lewis books and when I got the chance to review this one I got very excited. I was not expecting the twist that happened in this book and I was extremely gripped by the storyline.

A brilliant and poignant story that kept me hooked till the last page.
I loved the style of writing, the well developed characters and the great plot that flows.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I've read a few of Susan Lewis novels now and the characterisation she puts into these novels are lovely. It's like you know them and can feel them. This story is very emotive and I did shed a tear, I'm not afraid to admit. Young love and its pitfalls exposed. Heartache and pain along with a few twists to boot. I really enjoyed this book, thank you Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was a real page turner.

Joely is a ghost writer who gets an assignment from a mysterious new client. Seeing as her husband has moved out to live with her best friend, it could not have come at a better time for her. Freda is an aging writer who has shut herself away from almost everyone, but she has a story to tell to right a wrong that happened a long time ago. A wrong that starts with a 15-year-old girl and her music teacher. A wrong that ends in tragedy.

As time passes though, Joely feels a connection to Freda’s story. Little does she know that this story comes closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

This is a great book from Lewis. filled with some great characters. Although it gets incredibly dark, I never stop liking pretty much all of the characters. If I was going to be picky – and I mean really picky! – then I would say that Joely’s own secret is a little anti-climactic when it finally comes to light. Other than that, this is a brilliant book with some fantastic characters from the mad old aunt to the teen who sees more and has more insight that people give her credit for. I loved it and would recommend this to people looking for a story to get lost in.

Joely is going through a rough time after finding her husband has cheated. To get away she agrees to help ghost write a novel for a reclusive author. It seems perfect but it's anything but. The author is writing quite the story and Joely is about to learn she's more involved than she realized.

Wow what a thrill ride that was. I wasnt expecting the drama that went with this but it was so good. I worried when the drama kicked in half way through but the rest was slower yet perfect for the story. This is told from Joely and the girl from the story she is writing. I loved the eventual connections between them all and though I figured out some of the truth, others took me by surprise. The ending was very interesting and brought the story to a clever and touching finish. A great thrill ride.

Joley is a ghostwriter and, after suffering a harsh breakup involving husband and best friend, jumps at the chance to assist with writing a memoir. Despite her confusion as the lady in question is an author herself but, it's a job. It's a live in job and she starts off solo, reading the opening that the lady had already penned. It appears to be the story of a young girl being groomed by her teacher. But is that the real story, the whole story that the lady wants known? Or is there another side to things, there usually is...
This book, for me, started off very strong. It also finished likewise. But it did lose its way a little in the middle section sadly. There were a few things that didn't quite gel for me, some of which I just couldn't let go. Don't get me wrong, it was nothing that would have made me even consider putting the book down, it just distracted me from the rest of what I was reading.
Characterisation was good, I did gel with Joley from the off which helped my reading experience. I felt for her predicament and can understand some of what she did with that in mind. Other characters were also well drawn but I can't really go into too much detail here for fear of spoilers.
Pacing was also good and consistent with the action, again it lost its way in that middle section a bit and things did drag a tad for me, but again, nothing too drastic.
And the story when all was finally revealed was definitely worth the journey it took me to get there. So many secrets and lies and all sorts of duplicitous shenanigans!
All in all, a solid enough read that did satisfy at the end although it did take a while to get there. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I've never read anything by Susan Lewis before but I could immediately tell that she is a talented writer. From the beginning, she asks questions and plants little clues in the text that piqued my interest and encouraged me to read on.

The first half of My Lies Your Lies is a dual timeline set partly in the 1960s and partly in the present day. I was keen to know more about the connection between the past and the present and I had many different theories - all of which turned out to be wrong!

There are several characters in My Lies Your Lies and I really enjoyed getting to know them all as they are all hiding secrets and I wanted to know what they were! Each character is well observed and I felt as though I was part of their lives as I was reading. I must mention Holly, who adds some humour to a storyline which is otherwise quite dark.

Although it could be described as a slow burner, once My Lies Your Lies bursts into life, there is no stopping it! It is full of twists and turns which kept me wondering what would come next.

I found this enjoyable and easy to read, with an intriguing plot which offered lots of questions for the reader, along with surprises and twists throughout. It wasn't quite a thriller and wasn't quite a family drama, but sits comfortably between the two, leaning closer towards family drama than thriller, I would say. Recommended for fans of Lewis's other novels and Liane Moriarty.

I have read many books from this author and the reason that I love her work is due to the fact that I always know what I am in for but at the same time she always manages to surprise me and bring something fantastically new to the table.

I fell in love with this book from the start and it continued to engage and keep me smiling and send shivers down my spine until the very last page.

The characters of Freda made this book so special. Freda is a reclusive, eccentric, famous writer who has taken refuge in her home in the rural area of Lynton located on a clifftop on the edge of the moor. She spends her days writing in her tower and plotting her revenge. When she employs Joelie to be a ghostwriter for her memoir her assignment is shrouded in mystery and upon arrival Joelie has to sign an NDA before a single secret is revealed.

Joelie is looking forward to her assignment. Her marriage is on the rocks and she needs a break away from everything and everyone but she is in for more than she bargained for when she arrives at Freda’s house.

As Freda’s story unravels, Joelie is shocked to the core but again the story is not as clear cut as first though. Freda spills the secrets but then announces that the young Freda she is talking about is not in fact herself but someone closer to Joelie.

The story of young love both angered me and left a warm feeling. The subject of underage sex is contraversial however in this story it is covered sensitively and the outcome is heartbreaking. The writer really invited me in to be part of the family and I was a little sad to reach the end of the book. I would have loved to have seen more of how the characters develop from the point that we leave them.

This book was haunting, heartbreaking and you could really get a feel for the theme of forgiveness that ran through the whole text. I loved this book and can’t wait to read this author's next book.

Great book, haven’t wanted to put this one down.
Love this author and this is another great book. I cannot say anything negative about this one.

This book started really well and it was turning into a really good mystery, but unfortunately the last third of the story didn't live up to the orignal promise.

An intriguing read which kept me hooked throughout. Became a little fantastical in places but was able to suspend disbelief and enjoy the story.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

A young girl had an affair with her teacher. Joely is a ghost writer who accepts a job writing the memoir of a reclusive writer. As the memoir is being written, secrets start to unfold.

What a mysteriously intriguing read this is. I really liked Fredya and her eccentric ways. The story covers two timelines that are easy to follow once younger past the first third of the book where the storyline is hard to get into. Another enjoyable read from the author.

I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Susan Lewis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.