I have been on an absolute tear through divorce memoirs in 2024, and though fictional, Liars fit the vibe perfectly. The whole book shimmers with anger and offers plenty of interesting material to chew on in a book club discussion. At times I sympathised deeply with the narrator, sharing her fury at what a let down her husband was - at other times I was ready to throw the book at the wall, so frustrated was I that the protagonist wouldn't take more responsibility for her situation and just leave. Kept me ruminating until the final page

I thought this was a really interesting and accomplished novel about desire and marriage told over a number of years, I think it skewers the fantasy of the creative life but also shows how easily one can let go of being in control of one’s own life. I can tell that it will be a book that a lot of people will see themselves in and while it dipped slightly towards the middle there was a recklessness about it that overall made it a compelling read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Picador for my copy, solid 3.5/5

Pheromones conspire to bring a woman and man together, they cohabit, they marry, they have a child. The woman’s career is compromised and her entire existence revolves around this incompetent, lazy, selfish person, yet she lives in denial, she convinces herself it’s ok - he lies to her and she lies to herself. They divorce. It’s ok.

Boy meets girl and it all goes to shizz is the essence of this anti-love story, and yes, it’s told in first person short staccato sentences with some slightly wtf metaphors as seems to be the fashion, however, this book is also full of truths and has great narrative propulsion and a clear voice.

Would recommend, but to a select audience.

I remember someone (an agent possibly?) telling me that no one is interested in reading about someone’s marital breakdown and divorce, but with the increasing appetite for relatibility among readers, maybe that’s not quite true. Although at times I felt like shaking the narrator for being so blind and misguided as to not spot the red flags – but, hand on heart, have we always been wise in our own relationships? This sounded very true indeed to me and was also quite painful to read.

It has been a long time since I read a book with a male character who was so utterly and completely infuriating. The book was quick to read but it was a story that was really rich in character and gave a full insight into the slow and painful breakdown of the marriage.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

This book gripped me from the first page- the bitter and fractured relationship between the two main characters in a horrible union that they both want to escape was very well done- full of nuance and tension, as well as some wit.

I thought that the narrative tone was perfectly realised- a bitter and sardonic tone of a woman who has reached every limit but is unsure how to continue, whilst also remembering the good times.

Great fun, and very sharply observed.

Disturbingly readable, you’re never quite sure where you are and who to believe in this novel, which I’m sure is the point. Left a nasty taste but in a good way. I couldn’t not finish it.

I really enjoyed this novel - more of a novella in length but very rich and complex in material, incredibly absorbing and very much evokes the emotions of a disintegrating marriage and divorce. Highly recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

OMG I hate books about men who blame the women in their life for their problems. Not a fan of this story. If someone whose had a marriage they didn't want to stay in this could be really triggering.
I wasn't a fan. I skimmed the last portion of it.

This read almost dystopian in that it showcases a story of an abusive and manipulative marriage, and your're let into the deepest and darkest thoughts of a wife and mother as she suffers from her marriage with a literal man child. While frustrating to read, I couldn't put this book down and I feel that's a testament to how well this book was written. The reality of misogyny in out modern world was intricately captured and all the frustration built up to a relieving "happy" ending when our main character finally found clarity. I really enjoyed this one and am excited to read more of Sarah Manguso's work

Beautifully written. I found myself hearing the complaints of many of my female friends when reading this ultimately depressing novel. However, that's not to say I wouldn't recommend it because I absolutely would. It's a rallying cry to women, a feminist masterpiece.

Brilliantly crafted, utterly infuriating tale of a marriage and its disintegration.

Feels raw and full of rage. I have no doubt this book will resonate with its audience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I found this a very interesting but also slightly frustrating read. It does a good job at exploring how women often end up losing themselves in marriage despite being aware of the potential dangers, and how emotional abusers can hide in plain sight. However, it felt very repetitive - I'm not sure if this was a device to indicate how we can go through the same experiences again and again before managing to escape (i.e. how we lie to ourselves as well as others), but for a short novel it definitely felt draggy in places. It would be an interesting companion piece to read alongside something like A Room Of One's Own, given the focus on art and how marriage and children can be particularly detrimental to women's artistic careers. I'll look forward to reading what Manguso does next.

This was a great read! Manguso perfectly captures the essence of frustrated characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it was such a rich tapestry of built up lies that pile.

Honestly, I'd class this as a horror story. Sarah Manguso has so perfectly captured the frustrations and injustices shared by countless wives - the near-total loss of self, of freedom, of joy. It's a deeply harrowing read that will completely consume you from the get-go. A powerful and vital read.

Liars raised my blood pressure and continued to compound the belief that most men suck and the ones who say they don’t suck the most. Manguso doesn’t mince words. [full review on youtube as linked below]

O.M.G!! WOW!! My head is spinning … I was just blown away … So captivating and addictive… Had me on the edge of my seat … Just incredible!!

There was much to admire and enjoy in this book, but I think it was a case of personal taste, because I didn't quite click with it. Too much heteropessimism for me, maybe? I will read more from this author though.

So thrilled to read the new novel from the author of 300 Arguments and find that once again she has blown any expectations out of the water. Don't read the synopsis, just read the book.

The emotional power of this book is extraordinary - I started it intending to just take a look and it completely consumed me over the short time it took to read. The stripped back prose perfectly delivers the tirade of rage, bitterness, sadness and disappointment that the protagonist unleashes. It's very involving, triggering at times, and as well as empathy there are moments when the reader is likely to feel intense frustration and despair at at her passivity and just going along with this man's incessant, narcissistic demands. But I blame society, not the women who find themselves in this situation - walking away is not easy. A novel full of universal truths and relatable observations - even if fortunately it doesn't always have to be this way.