Scan barcode
bscarlin's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
cozynoveltea's review
4.0
Imagine if you weren't able to lie anymore? This is such a refreshing premise for a story. It's reminiscent of the movie 'Liar Liar' but James has given this an updated, feminist spin. In my opinion, it seems poignant that Lucy's inability to lie happens when she turns 30.
Throughout the book, Lucy learns how to stand up for herself and get what she wants. By the end of the day, she's happier when it comes to her professional, personal, and romantic life. While the book tackles complex issues (like Me Too) seriously, the book manages to be light hearted. This is an easy read with great characters, perfect for the Summer.
Throughout the book, Lucy learns how to stand up for herself and get what she wants. By the end of the day, she's happier when it comes to her professional, personal, and romantic life. While the book tackles complex issues (like Me Too) seriously, the book manages to be light hearted. This is an easy read with great characters, perfect for the Summer.
sarahs_book_corner's review
4.0
Read This If:
•Remember the movie Liar Liar
•Need a reminder to live your best life
Thoughts:
I think Lucy just became my favorite female MC in a book. I think everyone must read this one! It was super cute, and a very cool concept. I was so here for Lucy just being like yeah, I’m over this bullshit and spoke her truth. At first, I wasn’t sure where this was going to go with the not being able to lie concept. I immediately thought about the movie Liar Liar. I loved where this ended up going. I think this book is a lovely reminder to all of us that we need to be true to ourselves and speak our truth, no matter what society tell us. Eat the dam cake!!!
I think this is a must read for everyone!
Thank you @netgalley & @Duttonbooks for this advanced readers copy!
•Remember the movie Liar Liar
•Need a reminder to live your best life
Thoughts:
I think Lucy just became my favorite female MC in a book. I think everyone must read this one! It was super cute, and a very cool concept. I was so here for Lucy just being like yeah, I’m over this bullshit and spoke her truth. At first, I wasn’t sure where this was going to go with the not being able to lie concept. I immediately thought about the movie Liar Liar. I loved where this ended up going. I think this book is a lovely reminder to all of us that we need to be true to ourselves and speak our truth, no matter what society tell us. Eat the dam cake!!!
I think this is a must read for everyone!
Thank you @netgalley & @Duttonbooks for this advanced readers copy!
pagesplotsandpints's review
3.0
Read Completed 2/2/24 | 3 stars
Liar Liar meets The Devil Wears Prada (kind of) in this contemporary novel without the romance. (Well, there's a little romance in it but it definitely not a romance novel.) I picked this up after reading Holly James' latest release THE DEJA GLITCH -- which was a romance -- and I knew this wasn't a romance, but I was still hoping for the same kind of writing magic that I enjoyed in her other book. I liked the concept of Lucy being magically only able to tell the truth in a little magic / sci-fi twist like I enjoyed in THE DEJA GLITCH and have been loving in some other fun romcoms like THIS SPELLS LOVE and Ashley Poston romances.
This started off fun with Lucy making a wish the night before her 30th birthday to have a perfect day, and her perfect day ends up only allowing her to tell the truth, so she basically truth bombs her way through day, destroying everything but kind of in a good way? It was cute at first, and then the truths quickly lead up to dismantling her whole workplace due to sexual harassment and Lucy & others finally doing something about the horrible boss.
Look, I liked the message, but I felt like the author ended up beating us over the head a little bit. I mostly just didn't feel like the tone matched in the two halves of the book. The beginning was fun and light, like many romcoms are and the vibe that I was looking for when I started this book (yes, still knowing it wasn't a romcom). When we got to about halfway and Lucy started taking down her horrible boss for horrible things, it became all-consuming and kind of stopped being a well-rounded personal journey and just ended up being about work and this one thing. Again, not a bad message but I didn't always like the way the author handled it and I didn't always like the way Lucy handled it either. I liked that the truth made her speak up about it but I also feel like she kind of bulldozed everyone and while the concept was great and she was FORCED to speak up, other people weren't and they weren't even allowed to process things since the whole story happened in a day.
I just didn't love the second half and it didn't really match the first half in a lot of ways. I felt like too many things were forced and it didn't always feel like a good flow of a journey that Lucy went on.
Liar Liar meets The Devil Wears Prada (kind of) in this contemporary novel without the romance. (Well, there's a little romance in it but it definitely not a romance novel.) I picked this up after reading Holly James' latest release THE DEJA GLITCH -- which was a romance -- and I knew this wasn't a romance, but I was still hoping for the same kind of writing magic that I enjoyed in her other book. I liked the concept of Lucy being magically only able to tell the truth in a little magic / sci-fi twist like I enjoyed in THE DEJA GLITCH and have been loving in some other fun romcoms like THIS SPELLS LOVE and Ashley Poston romances.
This started off fun with Lucy making a wish the night before her 30th birthday to have a perfect day, and her perfect day ends up only allowing her to tell the truth, so she basically truth bombs her way through day, destroying everything but kind of in a good way? It was cute at first, and then the truths quickly lead up to dismantling her whole workplace due to sexual harassment and Lucy & others finally doing something about the horrible boss.
Look, I liked the message, but I felt like the author ended up beating us over the head a little bit. I mostly just didn't feel like the tone matched in the two halves of the book. The beginning was fun and light, like many romcoms are and the vibe that I was looking for when I started this book (yes, still knowing it wasn't a romcom). When we got to about halfway and Lucy started taking down her horrible boss for horrible things, it became all-consuming and kind of stopped being a well-rounded personal journey and just ended up being about work and this one thing. Again, not a bad message but I didn't always like the way the author handled it and I didn't always like the way Lucy handled it either. I liked that the truth made her speak up about it but I also feel like she kind of bulldozed everyone and while the concept was great and she was FORCED to speak up, other people weren't and they weren't even allowed to process things since the whole story happened in a day.
I just didn't love the second half and it didn't really match the first half in a lot of ways. I felt like too many things were forced and it didn't always feel like a good flow of a journey that Lucy went on.
recyclops229's review
4.0
When I first read the summary for Nothing But the Truth on Book Outlet’s website, I was intrigued. The plot reminded me of the movie “Liar Liar.” I definitely wasn’t expecting the workplace storyline in this book but I’m also not disappointed by it. I found this book really enjoyable, I felt that storyline was thoughtfully written, and I liked Chase’s arc because he could’ve easily been a one-dimensional character but the author allowed him to grow and redeem himself which was cool.
emilyreadstoomuch's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
_reedmylife_'s review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Nothing but the Truth is an interesting novel that has more depth to it than I originally thought.
Holly James offers a #MeToo novel that disguises itself as a romance novel. I would definitely say the romance is a subplot within this book and the main focus is the shit women have to put up with on a daily basis just be accepted by society as well as the bullshit we are told we must deal with when working with cis men. I liked that Holly James ventured into this topic and it was especially intriguing as Lucy works within a PR firm.
The premise is essentially that Lucy wakes up on her 30th birthday unable to tell a lie. I loved getting to navigate this new found truth within Lucy's life as she is struggling to understand why the things she used to "love" and just naturally put up with are no longer things that she is willing to deal with. This idea that we could wake up on a monumental birthday and really just say fuck this shit is such a nice idea. Although Lucy almost uproots her life completely, I love the honesty that Nothing But the Truth offers and it lends for an easy read even though the major plot point is that a bunch of the women at this firm have been Sexually Harassed or Assaulted by the CEO.
If you are looking for a book that is quick but also offers a lot of good insight about womanhood, I would really recommend this novel!
Holly James offers a #MeToo novel that disguises itself as a romance novel. I would definitely say the romance is a subplot within this book and the main focus is the shit women have to put up with on a daily basis just be accepted by society as well as the bullshit we are told we must deal with when working with cis men. I liked that Holly James ventured into this topic and it was especially intriguing as Lucy works within a PR firm.
The premise is essentially that Lucy wakes up on her 30th birthday unable to tell a lie. I loved getting to navigate this new found truth within Lucy's life as she is struggling to understand why the things she used to "love" and just naturally put up with are no longer things that she is willing to deal with. This idea that we could wake up on a monumental birthday and really just say fuck this shit is such a nice idea. Although Lucy almost uproots her life completely, I love the honesty that Nothing But the Truth offers and it lends for an easy read even though the major plot point is that a bunch of the women at this firm have been Sexually Harassed or Assaulted by the CEO.
If you are looking for a book that is quick but also offers a lot of good insight about womanhood, I would really recommend this novel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
faithr108's review
4.0
i loved how much feminism is in this book! oh what i would give to have the guts Lucy Green has (even if she didn’t have a choice)
i also loved the sweet romance blossoming between her and the “hot bartender”
i also loved the sweet romance blossoming between her and the “hot bartender”