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thephdivabooks's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fun, grab-your-popcorn sort of book that was so fun to read! Three women connected by proximity, and a whole bunch of lies!
The opening chapter starts with a bang—a body found at the bottom of the stairs at 1054 Mockingbird Lane. From there the book travels back in time and the story is told in a mostly linear format, as we lead up to who the body is at the bottom of the stairs and how it came to be there. And let’s just say there are several characters who may have done something to deserve ending up there!
The book reads more like contemporary suspense than psychological thriller through most of it, but in a good way. Don’t go in expecting a straight thriller because I’m not sure that would completely capture this story. While the book begins with a hint as to the mystery, I’d say this is more about the journey that gets you to that mystery.
Three women are at the center of the story, each connected to the others by the proximity of living in apartments at 1054 Mockingbird Lane. There is Riki, a private school teacher in her mid-twenties who has a dream boyfriend but can’t help but fall in love a bit with her very attractive aspiring-actor neighbor Brandon. Embry, a southern belle beauty and mom of two (with one on the way) who happens to be married to Brandon, and also happens to be keeping her latest pregnancy a secret. And finally, there is Sylvia, a successful marketing professional who suspects her boyfriend may be keeping something from her related to his needy ex-girlfriend.
As you learn more about these three women, let’s just say that while they are all compelling in their own way, Stacy Wise has truly written quite a character in Sylvia. Sylvia is a wild ride and she is not someone to cross. She is smart, driven, and completely unafraid to be a little bit devious.
One thing that was really compelling were the glimpses we got of the backstory to these three women. None of them are quite as simple as what meets the eye. Even Sylvia, whose hardened exterior can make her seem unsympathetic at times, really connected with her elderly land lady, developing a friendship that was sweet. There are lots of small moments like this that humanize the women in different ways. Because Sylvia is so strong, hers serve to show her softer side. For Embry and Riki, the opposite is true. They seem outwardly sweet and naïve, but each has a bit more steel to her than meets the eye.
I got lost in their stories, so I nearly forgot we were heading towards that dead body for a bit! Expect lots of secrets, lies, and revenge along the way, and then a slam-dunk ending.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for my copy. Opinions are my own.
The opening chapter starts with a bang—a body found at the bottom of the stairs at 1054 Mockingbird Lane. From there the book travels back in time and the story is told in a mostly linear format, as we lead up to who the body is at the bottom of the stairs and how it came to be there. And let’s just say there are several characters who may have done something to deserve ending up there!
The book reads more like contemporary suspense than psychological thriller through most of it, but in a good way. Don’t go in expecting a straight thriller because I’m not sure that would completely capture this story. While the book begins with a hint as to the mystery, I’d say this is more about the journey that gets you to that mystery.
Three women are at the center of the story, each connected to the others by the proximity of living in apartments at 1054 Mockingbird Lane. There is Riki, a private school teacher in her mid-twenties who has a dream boyfriend but can’t help but fall in love a bit with her very attractive aspiring-actor neighbor Brandon. Embry, a southern belle beauty and mom of two (with one on the way) who happens to be married to Brandon, and also happens to be keeping her latest pregnancy a secret. And finally, there is Sylvia, a successful marketing professional who suspects her boyfriend may be keeping something from her related to his needy ex-girlfriend.
As you learn more about these three women, let’s just say that while they are all compelling in their own way, Stacy Wise has truly written quite a character in Sylvia. Sylvia is a wild ride and she is not someone to cross. She is smart, driven, and completely unafraid to be a little bit devious.
One thing that was really compelling were the glimpses we got of the backstory to these three women. None of them are quite as simple as what meets the eye. Even Sylvia, whose hardened exterior can make her seem unsympathetic at times, really connected with her elderly land lady, developing a friendship that was sweet. There are lots of small moments like this that humanize the women in different ways. Because Sylvia is so strong, hers serve to show her softer side. For Embry and Riki, the opposite is true. They seem outwardly sweet and naïve, but each has a bit more steel to her than meets the eye.
I got lost in their stories, so I nearly forgot we were heading towards that dead body for a bit! Expect lots of secrets, lies, and revenge along the way, and then a slam-dunk ending.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Suzy Approved Book Tours for my copy. Opinions are my own.
bookswithmaddi's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Lie, Lie Again” follows the three women living at 1054 Mockingbird Lane: Embry, Riki, and Sylvia. All carry life-changing secrets that they fully intend to keep hidden. With a swift turn of events they find themselves with a body at the bottom of the stairs, and secrets leaking out of their sleeves. To what extent will these women go to keep those secrets buried?
I requested this ARC on a whim, the cover is beautiful and the concept really intrigued me. The entire book in itself is very unique and quite unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved how it followed all three women and allowed the reader to see the story from each of their perspectives, it gave the book a lot of depth and also revealed how much work must have gone into writing such an intricate story. Stacy Wise is no doubt a very talented author, her ability to devote so much time and story to each character while not allowing the story to drag blew me away. I will without a doubt be picking up more of Stacy Wise’s books simply for her natural talent of storytelling and creating three dimensional, fascinating characters..
I debated quite a while about whether to rate this book 3 or 4 stars but I landed on 3. I preface this by saying mystery/thriller is really not a genre I typically lean towards, especially ones so focused on mystery. With that said I realize my personal preference definitely affects my enjoyment of this book and I definitely know some people who would love this. My other problem that coincides with this is that I was under the impression that this would be more of a thriller than it was. I think the description leans a little bit too heavily on the dead body aspect which was actually not really that big of a plot line until quite late in the story. It was an interesting element to the book and kept me wondering throughout the book, but I think Sylvia’s character was really what wrapped me into this story and what made it a thriller for me.
Sylvia was very much my favorite character and was incredibly well written. I do wish the book had delved a little bit more into her past as her current habits are clearly due to childhood trauma and I wished the story could’ve traced that a little bit more. However, it was the end that really convinced me to give it 3 stars instead of 4. The story felt cut short, for all of the depth that was put into nearly every scene in this book the end left me feeling unsatisfied, everything was almost too perfect. It was like everyone's lives were resolved at exactly the same time, and everyone who was in the wrong suddenly realized it synchronously and apologized. There were also so many side characters that were introduced and abandoned by the rushed ending so it felt that there were a lot of loose ends.
My criticisms however don’t mean I don’t recommend this book. I think that it would be perfect for people who like family drama, domestic thrillers and a little dose of Amy Dunne. I truly hope this book does well when it is released as the time and effort put into it is fully evident from how well written and structured the book is.
“Lie, Lie Again” follows the three women living at 1054 Mockingbird Lane: Embry, Riki, and Sylvia. All carry life-changing secrets that they fully intend to keep hidden. With a swift turn of events they find themselves with a body at the bottom of the stairs, and secrets leaking out of their sleeves. To what extent will these women go to keep those secrets buried?
I requested this ARC on a whim, the cover is beautiful and the concept really intrigued me. The entire book in itself is very unique and quite unlike anything I’ve read before. I loved how it followed all three women and allowed the reader to see the story from each of their perspectives, it gave the book a lot of depth and also revealed how much work must have gone into writing such an intricate story. Stacy Wise is no doubt a very talented author, her ability to devote so much time and story to each character while not allowing the story to drag blew me away. I will without a doubt be picking up more of Stacy Wise’s books simply for her natural talent of storytelling and creating three dimensional, fascinating characters..
I debated quite a while about whether to rate this book 3 or 4 stars but I landed on 3. I preface this by saying mystery/thriller is really not a genre I typically lean towards, especially ones so focused on mystery. With that said I realize my personal preference definitely affects my enjoyment of this book and I definitely know some people who would love this. My other problem that coincides with this is that I was under the impression that this would be more of a thriller than it was. I think the description leans a little bit too heavily on the dead body aspect which was actually not really that big of a plot line until quite late in the story. It was an interesting element to the book and kept me wondering throughout the book, but I think Sylvia’s character was really what wrapped me into this story and what made it a thriller for me.
Sylvia was very much my favorite character and was incredibly well written. I do wish the book had delved a little bit more into her past as her current habits are clearly due to childhood trauma and I wished the story could’ve traced that a little bit more. However, it was the end that really convinced me to give it 3 stars instead of 4. The story felt cut short, for all of the depth that was put into nearly every scene in this book the end left me feeling unsatisfied, everything was almost too perfect. It was like everyone's lives were resolved at exactly the same time, and everyone who was in the wrong suddenly realized it synchronously and apologized. There were also so many side characters that were introduced and abandoned by the rushed ending so it felt that there were a lot of loose ends.
My criticisms however don’t mean I don’t recommend this book. I think that it would be perfect for people who like family drama, domestic thrillers and a little dose of Amy Dunne. I truly hope this book does well when it is released as the time and effort put into it is fully evident from how well written and structured the book is.
vjlp22_reader's review against another edition
- No clear plot
- Not a thriller, as it seemed to be marketed
- Unlikeable, unrelatable characters. Only Sylivia even remotely interesting
- Unbelievable plot points
- Writing a tad repetitive at times
- Dragged out unnecessarily, pretty boring
rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
A small bungalow apartment complex inhabited by 3 women.
Sylvia-an attractive woman, feels she should have a child, gets involved with Hugh. Unbeknownst to her, Hugh is married with a child. Sylvia wants revenge.
Riki-25 years old, has a crush on Brandon, her married neighbor.
Embry-24, married to Brandon, an unemployed actor, with 2 children, and one on the way. Is Brandon keeping something from her?
When Jonathan, son of the owner of the bungalows, decides to sell the place, the women have to decide what to do.
I liked this novel OK, but wasn't a fan of Sylvia.
Quick read.
Sylvia-an attractive woman, feels she should have a child, gets involved with Hugh. Unbeknownst to her, Hugh is married with a child. Sylvia wants revenge.
Riki-25 years old, has a crush on Brandon, her married neighbor.
Embry-24, married to Brandon, an unemployed actor, with 2 children, and one on the way. Is Brandon keeping something from her?
When Jonathan, son of the owner of the bungalows, decides to sell the place, the women have to decide what to do.
I liked this novel OK, but wasn't a fan of Sylvia.
Quick read.
sandrasbookgraph's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 loved it! Definitely gives big little lies vibes and it is more of a fast-paced drama than a thriller. There is suspense building the whole time but definitely a page-turner at the very end. I highly recommended if you are looking to read a light dramatic story about women with secrets, revenge, and lies!
starkva's review against another edition
2.0
There were a few clever elements to this book. I wouldn't say it was great, but it was readable. A little too 'chick lit' for a thriller, I felt. Very average.
crhbrault's review against another edition
3.0
Only ok. This wasn’t the worst book of the year for me, but it wasn’t anything spectacular- the characters were pretty much all trite and cookie cutter predictable, which didn’t make any of the particularly likeable.
bookishwithwine's review against another edition
4.0
My Thoughts
Meet the women of Mockingbird Lane where secrets, jealousy and a taste for revenge are only a few on the prerequisites required to live here.
Sylvia, Riki and Embry are all dealing with issues in their lives. Embry's husband is an actor who can't land a job, and money is running out. They have two kids with a surprise baby on the way that Embry has yet to tell him about #3. Riki baby-sits for Embry some nights, and she dreams that Embry's husband is hers for the taking. Sylvia has been played by her boyfriend, but little does he know that revenge is her middle name.
Then there is the issue of the dead body!
I love how the chapters alternate between each of the ladies. The only stable one, in my opinion, is Embry. She had such faith in her husband landing a job, but she wants to find a job to help out...especially with another baby on the way. Little doubts pop up in her head along the way about her husband's faithfulness, but that's what happens when everyone is keeping secrets. I had my doubts about how long Riki could keep her obsession with Embry's husband to herself. There were a few on edge moments when I thought she was going to have to come clean about her feelings, and more when I thought Riki was going to make a move. Sylvia. I couldn't wait to see what she was going to do next! The author gives little glimpses into Sylvia's past so we can see how and why she became the person she is today. Needless to say she has a history of being left by the male figure in her life. Well she is done with playing the victim.
This was such a wild read! I would say out of the three, I was more interested in what steps Sylvia was going to take to stop being the victim. I also would have never guessed who ends up dead, but in reality I should have seen that coming.
This page turner is available January 1, 2021!
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours, Lake Union Publishing and Author Stacy Wise for letting me be on tour today. Also thank you to NetGalley for the #copy of the book.
Book Rating: 4/5
Wine Pairing: Penfolds Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Meet the women of Mockingbird Lane where secrets, jealousy and a taste for revenge are only a few on the prerequisites required to live here.
Sylvia, Riki and Embry are all dealing with issues in their lives. Embry's husband is an actor who can't land a job, and money is running out. They have two kids with a surprise baby on the way that Embry has yet to tell him about #3. Riki baby-sits for Embry some nights, and she dreams that Embry's husband is hers for the taking. Sylvia has been played by her boyfriend, but little does he know that revenge is her middle name.
Then there is the issue of the dead body!
I love how the chapters alternate between each of the ladies. The only stable one, in my opinion, is Embry. She had such faith in her husband landing a job, but she wants to find a job to help out...especially with another baby on the way. Little doubts pop up in her head along the way about her husband's faithfulness, but that's what happens when everyone is keeping secrets. I had my doubts about how long Riki could keep her obsession with Embry's husband to herself. There were a few on edge moments when I thought she was going to have to come clean about her feelings, and more when I thought Riki was going to make a move. Sylvia. I couldn't wait to see what she was going to do next! The author gives little glimpses into Sylvia's past so we can see how and why she became the person she is today. Needless to say she has a history of being left by the male figure in her life. Well she is done with playing the victim.
This was such a wild read! I would say out of the three, I was more interested in what steps Sylvia was going to take to stop being the victim. I also would have never guessed who ends up dead, but in reality I should have seen that coming.
This page turner is available January 1, 2021!
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours, Lake Union Publishing and Author Stacy Wise for letting me be on tour today. Also thank you to NetGalley for the #copy of the book.
Book Rating: 4/5
Wine Pairing: Penfolds Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
kayleighhroseee's review against another edition
2.0
First things first, this book was advertised as a thriller & I couldn’t disagree more. Sure, there’s a death involved at the very end but other than that, no real suspense. For me, it was more like reading an easy-going, chick-lit.
I was really looking forward to reading this book but it seems to have taken me AGES to finish. When I’m hooked on a book I can’t put it down, but this only happened in the second half of the novel; beforehand I was a little bit bored (& I hate to say it!).
I have no real opinions of this book. I loved the character development but the storyline just seems a bit... vanilla?
I was really looking forward to reading this book but it seems to have taken me AGES to finish. When I’m hooked on a book I can’t put it down, but this only happened in the second half of the novel; beforehand I was a little bit bored (& I hate to say it!).
I have no real opinions of this book. I loved the character development but the storyline just seems a bit... vanilla?
dsauriol1991's review against another edition
3.5
This book takes some wild twists and turns. Told from three POV's of the female residents of Mockingbird Lane it's a fun story that starts with a body at the bottom of the stairs and goes from there.