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lucy_warren's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
shelleyann01's review against another edition
4.0
Do whatever you want, my darling heart. You get to choose. But before you do, first of all, you need to take a deep breath and think.
This book was so wonderfully layered from the start that I enjoyed every minute of it. You realise that something terrible is going to happen right from reading chapter one but not exactly what. But the thing is, with this book it isn't totally about the "big secret" it's actually the journey up to it that's as enjoyable. The author builds up the layers of the plot slowly and carefully, wracking up the tension and making you want to devour and savour every single word. I adore a domestic noir with dark tormented characters like Nina, who is hiding her secrets from the past but still having to live with them everyday.
Helen Callaghan is a huge talent. Everything Is Lies is beautifully written, with a pull that grips and does not let go. I was convinced that I'd worked out exactly what was happening, and who people really were, only to have the wind knocked out of me as this author expertly throws in the most unexpected of twists, turning the whole story on its head.
I loved the language of this book. Helen Callaghan writes as I speak. For example: The train was noisy and hotter than hell. Thats exactly something I would say. I stayed up late to continue reading this novel and it's a real page turner. I really enjoy thrillers and dark novels that explore family relationships, such as this. A superbly written and deeply unsettling book.
This book was so wonderfully layered from the start that I enjoyed every minute of it. You realise that something terrible is going to happen right from reading chapter one but not exactly what. But the thing is, with this book it isn't totally about the "big secret" it's actually the journey up to it that's as enjoyable. The author builds up the layers of the plot slowly and carefully, wracking up the tension and making you want to devour and savour every single word. I adore a domestic noir with dark tormented characters like Nina, who is hiding her secrets from the past but still having to live with them everyday.
Helen Callaghan is a huge talent. Everything Is Lies is beautifully written, with a pull that grips and does not let go. I was convinced that I'd worked out exactly what was happening, and who people really were, only to have the wind knocked out of me as this author expertly throws in the most unexpected of twists, turning the whole story on its head.
I loved the language of this book. Helen Callaghan writes as I speak. For example: The train was noisy and hotter than hell. Thats exactly something I would say. I stayed up late to continue reading this novel and it's a real page turner. I really enjoy thrillers and dark novels that explore family relationships, such as this. A superbly written and deeply unsettling book.
littlemissbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Was würden Sie tun, wenn sie erführen, dass Ihr gesamtes Leben auf einer Lüge basiert?
Als Sophia nach einem merkwürdigen Anruf von ihrer Mutter ins elterliche Heim zurückkehrt, findet sie diese erhängt und ihren Vater blutüberströmt auf. Dann tauchen auch noch Notizbücher auf, in welchen ihre Mutter eine alles andere als idyllische Vergangenheit beschreibt, und Sophia beginnt, Nachforschungen anzustellen. Damit begibt sie sich allerdings selbst in große Gefahr...
Inhaltlich gefällt mir "Lügen. Nichts als Lügen" richtig gut. Die Handlung ist interessant, gut durchdacht und auf packende Weise ziemlich verstrickt. Allerdings muss ich, wie auch schon bei Callaghans Erstlingswerk "Dear Amy", das Tempo dieses Thrillers kritisieren - zu Beginn und Ende geht es ziemlich rasant zu, doch der Mittelteil ist teilweise relativ zäh zu lesen.
Dass das Buch auf zwei Zeitebenen spielt und sowohl Sophia als auch Nina ihre Erlebnisse schildern, hat mir wiederum außerordentlich gut gefallen.
Schade finde ich, dass ich die beiden großen Plottwists am Ende selbst "erraten" habe, was die Spannung ein kleines bisschen gedämpft hat, keineswegs aber meine Faszination für die Geschichte.
Insgesamt hatte ich also zwar ein paar kleinere Probleme mit diesem Buch, aber trotzdem viel Spaß beim Lesen. Ich empfehle es daher auch gerne weiter.
Als Sophia nach einem merkwürdigen Anruf von ihrer Mutter ins elterliche Heim zurückkehrt, findet sie diese erhängt und ihren Vater blutüberströmt auf. Dann tauchen auch noch Notizbücher auf, in welchen ihre Mutter eine alles andere als idyllische Vergangenheit beschreibt, und Sophia beginnt, Nachforschungen anzustellen. Damit begibt sie sich allerdings selbst in große Gefahr...
Inhaltlich gefällt mir "Lügen. Nichts als Lügen" richtig gut. Die Handlung ist interessant, gut durchdacht und auf packende Weise ziemlich verstrickt. Allerdings muss ich, wie auch schon bei Callaghans Erstlingswerk "Dear Amy", das Tempo dieses Thrillers kritisieren - zu Beginn und Ende geht es ziemlich rasant zu, doch der Mittelteil ist teilweise relativ zäh zu lesen.
Dass das Buch auf zwei Zeitebenen spielt und sowohl Sophia als auch Nina ihre Erlebnisse schildern, hat mir wiederum außerordentlich gut gefallen.
Schade finde ich, dass ich die beiden großen Plottwists am Ende selbst "erraten" habe, was die Spannung ein kleines bisschen gedämpft hat, keineswegs aber meine Faszination für die Geschichte.
Insgesamt hatte ich also zwar ein paar kleinere Probleme mit diesem Buch, aber trotzdem viel Spaß beim Lesen. Ich empfehle es daher auch gerne weiter.
notchloelucas's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
OH GOD
This was my first book of 2022 and honestly, after randomly picking it off the shelf and loving the blurb just as the waterstones was about to shut, I was so happy with the outcome. I was gripped to this book so much that I was thinking about it, the ending was nothing I was close to expecting and although I did predict one twist, I was still hooked and wanted to desperately know more about the story! The final twist had me explaining the entire plot to my boyfriend just so that he could share my genuine shock. The only reason it gets 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because of certain plot points that I assumed would be extremely important, being ended with a one sentence explanation toward the end of the book. I would have liked there to be some sort of answer to this and would have happily read the extra 40-50 pages if necessary.
This was my first book of 2022 and honestly, after randomly picking it off the shelf and loving the blurb just as the waterstones was about to shut, I was so happy with the outcome. I was gripped to this book so much that I was thinking about it, the ending was nothing I was close to expecting and although I did predict one twist, I was still hooked and wanted to desperately know more about the story! The final twist had me explaining the entire plot to my boyfriend just so that he could share my genuine shock. The only reason it gets 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because of certain plot points that I assumed would be extremely important, being ended with a one sentence explanation toward the end of the book. I would have liked there to be some sort of answer to this and would have happily read the extra 40-50 pages if necessary.
carls2112's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this, great ending although I am not usually a fan of "cult" style books
angiemich2904's review against another edition
This book started well and I was initially intrigued as it snapped back in time, however this was short lived for me and I ended up really struggling to finish the book.
carl_still_reading's review against another edition
3.0
The story was ok, nothing I haven’t read before, the twists were good, but due to the slow pace of the book I found it hard to get through, however the last 100 pages I could not put it down.
fishey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Was a bad idea to this book up for a quick 10 minute read before bed because I could NOT put it down. This story is really interesting and explores cults in a really interesting way, such as how we can see cults in everyday life. Maybe it's because I read too many thrillers and crime shows though because I guessed the book's major twists very early on, but the story kept me engaged the whole way through nonetheless. I also really love the idea of the 3 notebooks throughout the text. I found myself sometimes skipping over some of Sophie's bits to get to the next notebook because they were really the highlight of the book.
However, I thought whenSophie's fake dad or whatever Jared tries to murder her is kinda lame and I feel like it was kinda included for shock value but there wasn't really any like motive for him to do that idk. Also I felt like Aaron saving her as sort of a redemption thing was really unnecessary and I don't like how it tries to make the reader sympathise with him. Also, I kinda wish Nina's death was left a mystery, because honestly I feel like the ending makes her look naive and stupid when she isn't. Also I thought that bakery lady was an old woman or something like how did she have that much strength but maybe I just imagined her differently or something. Also I really wish that Sophie did more than just investigate in this story, like she didn't really have character development because she was the same person throughout the whole story.
But other than those things, I pretty much loved it and it was an interesting read :)
However, I thought when
But other than those things, I pretty much loved it and it was an interesting read :)
nourthelibrarymouse's review against another edition
4.0
•Everything is lies tells the story of Sophia, a single child of two overprotective parents. After getting a worrying call from her mom and ignoring her at night, Sophia wakes up early and heads to her parents house to find her mom hanged, and her father stabbed and lying in his blood. Persuaded that this wasn’t a Murder-Suicide, Sophia strives to clear her mother’s name and begins to uncover the secrets of her parents’ past that wasn’t as innocent and casual as she thought.
•I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect it to be this thrilling so i was pretty stressed the majority of my time reading it. We go through Sophia’s findings through her mother’s notebooks, which are addressed to her. This made the story so much more enjoyable because we get to read about her experience in a direct way. The plot is pretty impressive too, and the actions are so detailed. I recommend this book to anyone who’s into this genre, and to people looking to read books outside of their comfort zone too.
•QOTB• ‘I was adrift in a cosmetic darkness, with only luminescent plastic planets to guide me.’
•2020: Book 9/40•
•I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t expect it to be this thrilling so i was pretty stressed the majority of my time reading it. We go through Sophia’s findings through her mother’s notebooks, which are addressed to her. This made the story so much more enjoyable because we get to read about her experience in a direct way. The plot is pretty impressive too, and the actions are so detailed. I recommend this book to anyone who’s into this genre, and to people looking to read books outside of their comfort zone too.
•QOTB• ‘I was adrift in a cosmetic darkness, with only luminescent plastic planets to guide me.’
•2020: Book 9/40•