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martachbc's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
cometreadings's review
4.0
Maggie Smith's Truth and Other Lies is a compelling and fast-paced debut novel that sucked me in from the start. The story follows Megan Barnes, a reporter who finds herself out of a job and her boyfriend on the same day. She moves back in with her over-protective mother and quickly realizes that they are two very different people. When Megan is given the opportunity to work for a Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist, she jumps at the chance. But when an anonymous tweet threatens to bring everything crashing down, Megan must uncover the lies before it's too late.
I really enjoyed this book! Maggie Smith's writing is sharp and witty, and she has a great handle on the complexities of female relationships. The story is also very timely, with themes of fake news and the power of the internet.
I really enjoyed this book! Maggie Smith's writing is sharp and witty, and she has a great handle on the complexities of female relationships. The story is also very timely, with themes of fake news and the power of the internet.
maralyons's review
4.0
Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith is a fast-paced novel about a young investigative reporter who returns home in shame, but a fluke interaction allows her to work for a renowned journalist several decades her senior. We first meet 25-year old Megan as she moves back home to Chicago, on the tail of being fired from her job as reporter for not properly vetting a story and the dissolution of her relationship with her boyfriend. She moves home with her overprotective mother, who turns out to be running for a state congressional seat as a republican. Megan’s personal politics cause her to distance herself from her mother and idolize her new boss, Jocelyn. A scandal develops that threatens Jocelyn’s career and Megan is tasked with investigating and resolving it. I really liked how the characters and story developed. The story reads quickly and we learn more about Megan’s mother and Jocelyn that put their actions and behavior into focus. Though the scandal is serious, it almost seems tame in comparison to the wild headlines we’ve seen over the past several years in the news. I found it fascinating to consider how some women have achieved great success over the past several decades vs. our idealistic expectations now. I really enjoyed this read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.
ashleyholstrom's review
“In Maggie Smith’s novel Truth and Other Lies, three driven women make life-altering decisions about the secrets they’ve kept in order to get ahead.”
Reviewed for Foreword Reviews.
Reviewed for Foreword Reviews.
spowers2627's review
4.0
This debut by Maggie Smith was interesting kept me guessing.. Part mystery, part drama, this one examines choices that shape our lives. Additionally it looks at the impact of role models. As Megan comes home to recover from a difficult breakup we see her struggle with her relationship with her mom. A journalist searching for a job Megan finds herself working for a seasoned journalist she admires. Many twists to the plot wil keep you turning the pages.
mad_king18's review
3.0
While I did enjoy this book I feel like the story didn’t wrap up fully and while I do appreciate an open ended ending this book left me with too many questions. I feel like the twist was a little predictable but I did enjoy the commentary it provided on politics, equality and power.
chasingholden's review
4.0
Megan Barnes has just lost both her job as a reporter and her boyfriend in the same day, Her life in shambles, she makes the decision to head back home to Chicago determined to reinvent herself and her life. Its not long before she remembers the frustration of living with her over-protective mother, especially when her mother announces a run for Congress; With so m any hot topics becoming a focus its not long long before Megan and her mother are sparring constantly from the major differences in their opinions. After receiving a job offer from a woman she idolizes everything is at stake once again.
Sharp, Witty, and completely raw, Truth and other Lies shines a spotlight on what its like to be a woman, a mother, and a journalist by weaving together the lies, secrets, and ambition with different motivations painting a brilliantly crafted picture of how our choices mold not just our lives but the lives of everyone we're close to, making this story readers won't be able to put it down.
Thank you to netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance e-copy, providing me with the opportunity to honestly recommend this book to every one looking for a relevant and compelling story
Sharp, Witty, and completely raw, Truth and other Lies shines a spotlight on what its like to be a woman, a mother, and a journalist by weaving together the lies, secrets, and ambition with different motivations painting a brilliantly crafted picture of how our choices mold not just our lives but the lives of everyone we're close to, making this story readers won't be able to put it down.
Thank you to netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance e-copy, providing me with the opportunity to honestly recommend this book to every one looking for a relevant and compelling story
lmrajt's review
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I read this in a single day! Fast-paced and I really cared about the characters. There were some little inconsistencies and things that seemed implausible, but I was able to overlook them to find out what happened next. PS I could not understand why she disliked her mom so much?!
booksintheirnaturalhabitat's review
4.0
Truthfully, Truth and Other Lies is right on the edge of my “normal” categories. It was a surprise how much I enjoyed it - isn’t that the best?!
Megan’s life is spiraling so she heads home to Chicago to live with her mom. Their relationship isn’t exactly healthy but it means someplace she can get her feet under her again. They are on different sides of the political spectrum and her mom is a helicopter parent. It doesn’t help that her mom is unexpectedly running for a Congress role. And when Megan finally lands a role with a PR agency promoting a journalist she’s admired for years, it may not be everything she dreamed of.
I loved Megan! Her tenacity, her drive, her willingness to fight for what’s right was inspiring. Though she may be a little too trusting of the people around her, she has a good head on her shoulders. Time and time again she kept driving forward despite naysayers and that’s admirable.
Overall, this book had me continually turning the pages. It was hard to put down! Politics is such a complex web of social game. And the journalists around political issues are no different.
A cut-throat, high-stakes read!
Thank you to the author @maggiesmithwrites for the opportunity to read this book. The review expresses my own personal opinion.
Megan’s life is spiraling so she heads home to Chicago to live with her mom. Their relationship isn’t exactly healthy but it means someplace she can get her feet under her again. They are on different sides of the political spectrum and her mom is a helicopter parent. It doesn’t help that her mom is unexpectedly running for a Congress role. And when Megan finally lands a role with a PR agency promoting a journalist she’s admired for years, it may not be everything she dreamed of.
I loved Megan! Her tenacity, her drive, her willingness to fight for what’s right was inspiring. Though she may be a little too trusting of the people around her, she has a good head on her shoulders. Time and time again she kept driving forward despite naysayers and that’s admirable.
Overall, this book had me continually turning the pages. It was hard to put down! Politics is such a complex web of social game. And the journalists around political issues are no different.
A cut-throat, high-stakes read!
Thank you to the author @maggiesmithwrites for the opportunity to read this book. The review expresses my own personal opinion.