This story kept me interested throughout. Although I have very little interest in social media myself I find the social implications of it fascinating and this story, as a thriller, is an extreme version of the negative consequences. I am not so sure that it was any surprise to me when I found out ‘who did it’ . However, this is well written and an interesting story involving several well rounded out characters.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Vanessa Lowe is a social media darling, perfect family, life and all of it shared on instagram. Callie is suffering, recovering from loss. Her mother has rented a holiday home in Whitstable for a pre Christmas healing break. The solitude a balm for life after an impossible loss. Vanessa is her landlady. Curious to find out why Callie would visit in the dead of winter and always with a mind to sharing it with her adoring fans.

Lately drama seems to have been following Vanessa around - a broken friendship, mysterious house fire. Then her three year old son is taken in the night.

What follows are twists and turns - well written so you are able to keep up. Is all as it seems or is Vanessa’s reality a lot darker and colder than her followers could ever believe.

A brilliant nod to our time where social media can become an addiction to show our best lives. This book was too good to not be read in a day. I wasn’t able to guess the ending which is a big thumbs up! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me a pre publication read.

A slow starter but worth the effort, it seems that the author has inspiration from certain TV shows, such as Motherland and The Bay, Broadchurch etc, but that should not take away from this well written, gripping story

Ooh, what's not to love about a book based around the school gate politics? Loved this concept and really loved the book too (including the Whitstable setting). I thought Vanessa was a brilliant central character - flawed and intriguing! This would be a fab holiday read.

I wonder if Annie Taylor was somewhat inspired by the TV series Motherland? Certainly, the school gate hierarchy, the need to be accepted and admired, plus the similarity of characters, makes me wonder. Putting that all aside, The Truth About Her is set chiefly in Whitstable, where social media influencer Vanessa Lowe, her husband and three children live. TBH I just cannot get Motherland's alpha mum Amanda out of my head when I think of Vanessa. Presentationally perfect, the perfect children and the perfect marriage, plus oodles of money. All that changes when her son Matthew goes missing. He is the youngest of the three children and definitely the favourite. What follows is a misper enquiry which ends in the worst possible way. But along the way we get to see the real Vanessa and it's not a pretty sight. If you like flip flop novels (the now, then the before), you're in for a treat. It isn't always done on a per chapter basis either, I spotted five segues which might get in to the final printed version. The misper investigation had a massive flaw, not a dog handler in sight. Unbelievable. For surely Matthew would have been quickly found. I was always brought up to believe that two wrongs don't make a right, so the conclusion didn't sit well with me but I suppose it was pragmatic, if not doomed to fail sometime later. I am afraid I have to deduct two stars because the misper investigation was not realistic, the 'kidnap' implausibly under the radar and JJ's testimony unquestioned but sadly, I deduced the architect of the 'kidnap' halfway through the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Vanessa Lowe is married to Tom, and has 3 children. She is also a social media influencer on Instagram, and takes that role very seriously. She becomes friends with a woman who moves to the area, called Rachel, and their friendship develops quickly. Fast forward to the current times and Vanessa has made another new friend who is staying in her cabin, called Callie. Then Vanessa’s toddler son goes missing, and she is adamant Rachel has taken him. Callie decides to try and help the situation, but also helps uncover horrible secrets and truths.

This was a cracking read, I really enjoyed it. We read from the current time with the friendship between Vanessa and Callie, and the previous time of the friendship between Vanessa and Rachel, so we can see how we go from Rachel and Vanessa’s close friendship to Vanessa accusing Rachel of kidnapping her son. The characters were well written, and all of them complex in their own right, which only made the story stronger. I enjoyed the way the author touched on taboo subjects, and these were dealt with sensitively.. The author also shows how social media can become a burden and can ruin certain parts of life if used in the wrong way. An excellent read and a real page turner.

I loved this book and it's take on the power of social media. Vanessa is addicted to social media and presenting an image of the perfect family and the perfect life to her thousands of adoring followers for whom she can do no wrong.

When one of her followers, Rachel comes to live nearby with her family they all quickly become firm friends with Rachel beginning to amass a social media presence of her own.

What happens though when Rachel's popularity increases and Vanessa doesn't want to share the limelight. Desperate times call for desperate measures and Vanessa embarks on a dark and twisted path to ensure she remains the media queen. An excellent and gripping book.

An incredible read from start to finish. the twists and turns throughout this book having the reader wanting more and more.
Callie is renting a beach hut in Whitstable to give herself time to recover from a loss. There she meets Vanessa, an online influencer, beautiful and friendly. Vanessa has the perfect life, a devoted husband and three children.
As Callie becomes more embroiled in Vanessa's life she becomes more and more certain that things are not what they seem.
This book will have you on the edge of your seat until the end. It is a great read with believable characters brought to life within the pages. Would definetly recommend.

An utterly compelling story! This is the first book by Annie Taylor I've read but I loved every minute of it. We follow three women whose lives intersect in the darkest of ways. A real character study and proper page turner. Loved it.

Initially, I found the backstory to be a bit long. However, the more I got into the book, I realised the backstory was needed. A great storyline.
Thank you to Annie Taylor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Oh my - what a story. I found it a bit long winded until I really got into it - then I discovered why we'd had all the back story and different points of view, and that changed my opinion straight away. We don't know anyone really until we live with them - and not always then. It's a heart rending story. They got the right person in the end though - well she deserved everything they threw at her.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. Vanessa Lowe is an influencer, living a glamourous lifestyle in the seaside town of Whitstable with her architect husband and 3 children. When Rachel moves to the town she is befriended by Vanessa and the two families soon become inseparable. However, things eventually turn sour and Rachel and her family move to nearby Margate. Callie is renting a beach property belonging to Vanessa while she tries to recover from the death of her baby. While she is there Vanessa's youngest child, 3 year old Matthew disappears. Vanessa is convinced Rachel is responsible. Callie finds herself under suspicion. This is a great story that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

#TheTruthAboutHer #NetGalley
Awesome.
When Callie rents a beach cottage in Whitstable, she doesn't expect for its owner to be glamorous influencer Vanessa Lowe.
Vanessa has it all. A beautiful home, a loyal husband, three perfect children, and a growing number of adoring online fans.
Callie has long admired her world from afar. But when Vanessa invites her in, the closer Callie looks, the more she suspects that there's more to Vanessa than meets the eye. So when Vanessa's son disappears, Callie must question everything she knows. Is Vanessa a mother in despair? Or is she a woman who'll do whatever it takes to cover up the cracks
I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

Callie is booked into a seaside airbnb challis in Whitstable to get away be herself by her Mum after a very bad time in her life. Unknown to them the owner of the property is Vanessa a Instagram influencer that both she and her Mum follow. It also turns out Vanessa is a fan of Callies Mum.

When this is discovered Vanessa invites Callie for a meal and her escape from life is about to be dramatically Changed. I will let you read about it but will tell you about my experience.

From the start I felt drawn into the thriller and the twist and turns never allowed me to draw back. There is another important character as well as the kids and men there is Rachel the 3 ladies are the core of the thriller. As i say there are other characters that gives this an even greater impact. Specially the last part of the book but to understand that you have to read the rest 1st so no point jumping to the back sorry.

I recommend this thriller it's full of thrill and hold your breath moments and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The clue to the story is the statement that ‘Matthew Lowe is missing’. He is the third child in a family which on the surface appears to be successful, caring and loving. That is until the story takes the reader below the surface to expose the real people, Vanessa and Justin, who are not what they seem to be. Vanessa has been conducting a war against Rachel, a former employee whom she accuses of stalking her then committing arson in her kitchen. She is the obvious person to accuse of taking Matthew. It then becomes clear that is an abusive mother of her other two children, JJ and Emma. The story offers several clues to what might have happened to the missing boy when he is found dead. The conclusion is unexpected and gripping. There is only one problem with this book and that is the way it jumps to the past then back to the present without warning. It can make it very confusing.

I was very fortunate to be able to grab a copy of The truth about her before it hits the shelves thanks to netgalley and Annie Taylor. This is the first book I have ever read by this author, as she has previously published books under the name A.M Taylor.

Callie rents a beach cottage in Whitstable, she doesn't expect for its owner to be glamorous influencer Vanessa Lowe.
Vanessa has it all. Callie has long admired her world from afar. But when Vanessa invites her in, the closer Callie looks, the more she suspects that there's more to Vanessa than meets the eye.

Wow what a fantastic book!
The prologue was short but sweet. It did the job on hooking me in without too much information. It's great the way the author describes things, it makes you really see everything in your mind, especially the cabin, I really felt like I could visualise how it was
I love the fact the chapters are short and straight to the point.
As soon as Vanessa is introduced you can guess that she is hiding something and not the lovely person she makes out to be! With a great twist at the end, this is defo one to read!
This is a eye opening story on how deceitful and manipulative social media can be!

3.5 rounded up

Callie Thorne arrives in Whitstable, Kent for a much-needed, get away from it all. She rents, a beautiful modern beachfront cabin and goes to introduce yourself to the owner. She is astonished to find it belongs to Instaglamorous Vanessa Lowe, who Callie follows as many others do. She seems glossy and golden as per her aspirational Instagram image and she certainly playing that role to perfection. However, as we know, appearances can and are often deceptive and Callie picks up a few unsettling vibes. Shortly before Christmas. Vanessa‘s youngest son. Matthew goes missing. Is Vanessa genuinely a mother in despair or is there more going on beneath the shiny veneer?

There are a number of things I really enjoy about this novel, especially the Instagram glamorous, carefully staged image, which a multitude of loyal followers buy into and desire versus the truth of what’s really going on underneath. The characterisation of Vanessa and those in her orbit around her is done really well and I like how we gradually see cracks beneath the visage. Vanessa is certainly intriguing though not necessarily likeable and the family dynamics are strange and puzzling. There are several examples of toxicity which further adds to the unease and off vibes.

There are a number of other layers to the storytelling which the author explores which makes it much more interesting and thought-provoking read than just delving beneath the surfaces. I also enjoy a novel with unreliable narrators which adds something extra into the mix. There are plenty of twists that keep you reading on with all kinds of drama varying in its seriousness. You keep wondering who exactly is playing who. There are some moments of fear and chill with tension and suspense.

However, on occasions, it feels a bit like a soap opera though not necessarily a bad one! I think the novel is too long and some parts drag a bit, hence the 3.5 rating. It has timelines from the past interspersed with the present day which whilst they are informative it does halt the flow. The end seems to come very abruptly and in all honesty I’m not that surprised by what emerges.

Overall, despite the above reservations, it is a good read with a lot that is praise worthy. I will definitely read more by this author .

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review

That was a real roller coaster ride. It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I felt sorry for Callie after her mother booked a beach cottage to enable her to have some time to herself after suffering the death of her daughter. She meets the owner Vanessa, who she admires, and that's when all the trouble started. Despite seeming to have a perfect home and family she is one sad woman. Her treatment of her children is terrible. It was heartbreaking when Matthew, Vanessa's youngest son, disappeared. I loved the twists and turns and how the story unfolded. I never saw the ending coming. Poor JJ what a burden to have to live with. Very clever writing.

Callie is renting an Airbnb property and becomes friends with its owners.
When their young child goes missing Callie finds herself in a situation out of her control.
There was a before and after timelines in this book that weren’t defined and it had me confused to which timeline I was reading.
A thriller with twist and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow … that was a roller coaster. Well written and tense and I didn’t see the end coming. The dangers of social media and the influence it can have is well represented. Too easy sometimes to take it all at face value - but what lies behind the perfect image !