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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book was definitely memorable, but not for me. i can understand how someone would love this book but i personally found the ending very lacklustre and that the book could’ve been cut in half, and with that happening, the reader still knowing what’s going on. the ending was too elongated for me too but i still felt fulfilled after finishing, would probably not recommend unless someone described wanting a book like this.
The premise of Little White Lies sounded like a book that I was going to get lost in. I was disappointed. I enjoyed the book but found it dragged in places, jumped about quite a lot without warning and the ending left me confused. It seemed to come out of nowhere and I am not really sure where it all came from.
But in saying that, the main part of the story was good. Abigail White was missing for 7 years. At age 15 she walked into a police station and is turned home. Her family are so happy to have her back but her mother Anne is worried that her little white lie will come out. She did not tell the truth 7 years ago about how her daughter was taken and now police are seeing the holes in the story. Her cousin and best friend Jess is thrilled to have Abigail home and wants to have things back how they used to be. But she can see that something is not right and tries to help her with her trauma.
The lie was not what I was expecting, I thought there might be more to it than that. Overall it was a good story.
Thanks to Harlequin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and in no way biased
But in saying that, the main part of the story was good. Abigail White was missing for 7 years. At age 15 she walked into a police station and is turned home. Her family are so happy to have her back but her mother Anne is worried that her little white lie will come out. She did not tell the truth 7 years ago about how her daughter was taken and now police are seeing the holes in the story. Her cousin and best friend Jess is thrilled to have Abigail home and wants to have things back how they used to be. But she can see that something is not right and tries to help her with her trauma.
The lie was not what I was expecting, I thought there might be more to it than that. Overall it was a good story.
Thanks to Harlequin Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and in no way biased
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Well written and intriguing. Kept me guessing right until the end and I really didn’t see the final twists coming. I felt it’s portrayal of a child reunited after being abducted from her family was sadly realistic. The return full of problems and complexities and not just a ‘happy ever after’ scenario. A great read.
She only looked away for a second…
Anne White only looked away for a second, but that’s all it took to lose sight of her young daughter.
But seven years later, Abigail is found.
Everything about the description of this book had me excited. I love a dark novel where the past seems to follow and you know something isn't right the whole way through - which is exactly what this was. How could Abigail come back to her family after SEVEN WHOLE YEARS and expect to pick up like normal?! She would have had soooo many questions... I love how East has explored the turmoil of that and the effect it had on her relationship with her mother and cousin. It wasn't told from the perspective of Abi, which I found interesting and was even a little disappointed about - I would've liked a taster into her mind.
The thing that let this down for me was the ending - it felt a little bit too predictable and a little bit disjointed. There was just so many events that got packed into 50 pages that didn't have much weight to them. I felt like none of them had the care they needed to have impact and it left me feeling a bit lackluster, It was a good book and would probably deserve 3.5 stars, but I just felt meh at the end of it unfortunately.
Anne White only looked away for a second, but that’s all it took to lose sight of her young daughter.
But seven years later, Abigail is found.
Everything about the description of this book had me excited. I love a dark novel where the past seems to follow and you know something isn't right the whole way through - which is exactly what this was. How could Abigail come back to her family after SEVEN WHOLE YEARS and expect to pick up like normal?! She would have had soooo many questions... I love how East has explored the turmoil of that and the effect it had on her relationship with her mother and cousin. It wasn't told from the perspective of Abi, which I found interesting and was even a little disappointed about - I would've liked a taster into her mind.
The thing that let this down for me was the ending - it felt a little bit too predictable and a little bit disjointed. There was just so many events that got packed into 50 pages that didn't have much weight to them. I felt like none of them had the care they needed to have impact and it left me feeling a bit lackluster, It was a good book and would probably deserve 3.5 stars, but I just felt meh at the end of it unfortunately.
A decent thriller but needed to be a bit tighter.
There were too many extraneous characters and events that needed to be edited out or expanded on such as the relationship between Abigail and the twins; between Jess and Lena; and the relationship with Preston, Abigail’s father. The ending at the railway was overly complicated as well.
It’s a good idea but the execution was average.
There were too many extraneous characters and events that needed to be edited out or expanded on such as the relationship between Abigail and the twins; between Jess and Lena; and the relationship with Preston, Abigail’s father. The ending at the railway was overly complicated as well.
It’s a good idea but the execution was average.
Mixed feelings about this one. I expected more about what happened when Abigail was in captivity but it kept me gripped most of the time. I thought during the dramatic scenes there wasn't enough clarification of what was happening and I had to read it a few times.
More of my reviews can be found on my book blog: brooklynthebookworm.wordpress.com
A huge thank you to HarperCollins Australia and Harlequin Books Australia for providing me with an ARC of Little White Lies to read and review, all thoughts are my own.
Little White Lies was quite the thought-provoking read, for me! I feel like Philippa East did a brilliant job of conveying the dark matter that is child abduction into her story, really making me wonder about the family that was really at the centre of this book.
See, Anne and Robert are absolutely beside themselves and had been every day for 8 years, when their 7 year old Abigail was taken in that mere moment when Anne looked away, occupied with a buggy containing her twin infant sons whilst trying to get on a train – it was just that moment where Abigail was not seen for another eight years, only to be returned to her family as a fifteen year old girl. I instantly felt completely harrowed for Abigail, I mean, we don’t really know what she went through during all that time, but of course she’s come back to her family and is finding it hard to adjust to everyone and everything. She hardly eats, wears the same t-shirt day after day, and only seems to show whispers of her former self around her cousin, Jess, who claims she will be able to help Abigail, that as long as she’s there, Abigail will be okay once more. Initially, I really enjoyed Jess’s devotion to Abigail, though of course I must admit I did wonder if Jess’s devotion had deeper feelings entwined within herself, but I think that’s just for speculation purposes, perhaps. At the same time though, as clear as it was that Abigail only wanted to be around Jess, I did wonder what Abigail really thought of her cousin. As close as two peas in a pod that Abigail and Jess were, I do think, as it’s conveyed as such in Little White Lies, that Jess actually was clear cut minded in the sense that she thought family dynamic would return to normal once Abigail came back.
Surely Abigail would know that she belongs with her family? That they love her and miss her, that her captor only fed her lies to make her think garbage, toxic thoughts that maybe her Mum didn’t want her….surely Abigail could see past these tainted words?!
Little White Lies is brilliantly written from, initially, the alternating points of view of Anne, Abigail’s Mum, and of course her adoring cousin, Jess. I always enjoy multiple POVS and Little White Lies held no exception! It was really intriguing to read both points of view throughout, especially as the mystery of what really happened, not only as to the true identity of who kidnapped Abigail all those years, but what she really thought as she tried to adjust back into her home life, not being able to shake the unnerving words and lies that were fed to her by the man that took her away from her family for all those years. Yet, strangely enough, when Abigail had to undertake aptitude tests to see where she’d comfortably fit in terms of resuming schooling, (she’d missed 8 years of it?!), the psychologist was quite surprised to learn that she had a really high aptitude, meaning that her captor educated her! I just did not know what to think, only that I needed to know what was truly going on!
Throughout Anne’s narration, we learn that she has some struggles adjusting to life with her beloved Abigail back, unable to quite accept that she’s back, not sure how to react to her, unable to shake lies from her past. I really wondered what Anne couldn’t face, I mean of course she thought she was doing right by cutting off Abigail’s biological Father from her life, but those moments between Mother and Daughter reunited that just should be so tender were just so uncomfortable for both parties, Abigail not being able to hold back the fact that she thinks maybe her family weren’t looking for her for all those years, that Jess can’t accept that things aren’t okay now just because she’s back, honestly, Little White Lies was just embedded with lots of deep thoughts and heavy emotions and mystery that I really couldn’t envison where it would lead next!
I did feel so truly horrified for Abigail, given all that trauma that she went through and the feeling of uncertainty that she felt when she was back home, from her Mother trying to buy her new clothes, paint her room, give her a well and true fresh start, to her cousin Jess lovingly putting together a photo album chronicling their close moments together from infancy and their younger years until they were torn apart. However, Jess definitely tries to include Abigail in her friendship with Lena, which in turn leads to an unexpected reveal. Lena confides to Abigail how much Jess adores her cousin and let me just say Abigail’s reply definitely was not what I envisioned. I mean, I get Abigail being frustrated with Jess, thinking that her cousin thinks in such a clear, stubborn way, that she’s back and that everything’s fine, when of course Abigail went through hell, but Jess’s parents weren’t exactly providing her the most use situation at home, either. Fights being held aplenty between her parents, all to do with what may have happened during and perhaps leading up to what really happened with Abigail’s disappearance.
What really was impressive in Little White Lies though, mystery aside, were the family relationships throughout this book. Anne always looked to her elder sister, Lillian in life, Lillian, always organised and always had her life together, in a seemingly stable relationship with her husband, providing a comfortable relationship between them and Jess, yet when we hear from Lillian herself throughout the latter part of this book, there was another unexpected twist! One that just lead to many more questions and wondering why someone would do that! I couldn’t quite fathom it and truthfully I don’t think I have processed everything that went down during the climatic parts of Little White Lies! It was just equal parts heartbreaking and shocking to see the family come apart at the seams! Knowing that everything wouldn’t be the same, but thinking that the truth always must come to light!
Little White Lies demands to be read and absorbed! I cannot recommend this enough! I was so engaged in this book and am wholly haunted having finished it! I feel like the characters and the story will definitely stay in my mind for some time to come! If you like a fabulous Thriller, then Little White Lies is waiting for you!
A huge thank you to HarperCollins Australia and Harlequin Books Australia for providing me with an ARC of Little White Lies to read and review, all thoughts are my own.
Little White Lies was quite the thought-provoking read, for me! I feel like Philippa East did a brilliant job of conveying the dark matter that is child abduction into her story, really making me wonder about the family that was really at the centre of this book.
See, Anne and Robert are absolutely beside themselves and had been every day for 8 years, when their 7 year old Abigail was taken in that mere moment when Anne looked away, occupied with a buggy containing her twin infant sons whilst trying to get on a train – it was just that moment where Abigail was not seen for another eight years, only to be returned to her family as a fifteen year old girl. I instantly felt completely harrowed for Abigail, I mean, we don’t really know what she went through during all that time, but of course she’s come back to her family and is finding it hard to adjust to everyone and everything. She hardly eats, wears the same t-shirt day after day, and only seems to show whispers of her former self around her cousin, Jess, who claims she will be able to help Abigail, that as long as she’s there, Abigail will be okay once more. Initially, I really enjoyed Jess’s devotion to Abigail, though of course I must admit I did wonder if Jess’s devotion had deeper feelings entwined within herself, but I think that’s just for speculation purposes, perhaps. At the same time though, as clear as it was that Abigail only wanted to be around Jess, I did wonder what Abigail really thought of her cousin. As close as two peas in a pod that Abigail and Jess were, I do think, as it’s conveyed as such in Little White Lies, that Jess actually was clear cut minded in the sense that she thought family dynamic would return to normal once Abigail came back.
Surely Abigail would know that she belongs with her family? That they love her and miss her, that her captor only fed her lies to make her think garbage, toxic thoughts that maybe her Mum didn’t want her….surely Abigail could see past these tainted words?!
Little White Lies is brilliantly written from, initially, the alternating points of view of Anne, Abigail’s Mum, and of course her adoring cousin, Jess. I always enjoy multiple POVS and Little White Lies held no exception! It was really intriguing to read both points of view throughout, especially as the mystery of what really happened, not only as to the true identity of who kidnapped Abigail all those years, but what she really thought as she tried to adjust back into her home life, not being able to shake the unnerving words and lies that were fed to her by the man that took her away from her family for all those years. Yet, strangely enough, when Abigail had to undertake aptitude tests to see where she’d comfortably fit in terms of resuming schooling, (she’d missed 8 years of it?!), the psychologist was quite surprised to learn that she had a really high aptitude, meaning that her captor educated her! I just did not know what to think, only that I needed to know what was truly going on!
Throughout Anne’s narration, we learn that she has some struggles adjusting to life with her beloved Abigail back, unable to quite accept that she’s back, not sure how to react to her, unable to shake lies from her past. I really wondered what Anne couldn’t face, I mean of course she thought she was doing right by cutting off Abigail’s biological Father from her life, but those moments between Mother and Daughter reunited that just should be so tender were just so uncomfortable for both parties, Abigail not being able to hold back the fact that she thinks maybe her family weren’t looking for her for all those years, that Jess can’t accept that things aren’t okay now just because she’s back, honestly, Little White Lies was just embedded with lots of deep thoughts and heavy emotions and mystery that I really couldn’t envison where it would lead next!
I did feel so truly horrified for Abigail, given all that trauma that she went through and the feeling of uncertainty that she felt when she was back home, from her Mother trying to buy her new clothes, paint her room, give her a well and true fresh start, to her cousin Jess lovingly putting together a photo album chronicling their close moments together from infancy and their younger years until they were torn apart. However, Jess definitely tries to include Abigail in her friendship with Lena, which in turn leads to an unexpected reveal. Lena confides to Abigail how much Jess adores her cousin and let me just say Abigail’s reply definitely was not what I envisioned. I mean, I get Abigail being frustrated with Jess, thinking that her cousin thinks in such a clear, stubborn way, that she’s back and that everything’s fine, when of course Abigail went through hell, but Jess’s parents weren’t exactly providing her the most use situation at home, either. Fights being held aplenty between her parents, all to do with what may have happened during and perhaps leading up to what really happened with Abigail’s disappearance.
What really was impressive in Little White Lies though, mystery aside, were the family relationships throughout this book. Anne always looked to her elder sister, Lillian in life, Lillian, always organised and always had her life together, in a seemingly stable relationship with her husband, providing a comfortable relationship between them and Jess, yet when we hear from Lillian herself throughout the latter part of this book, there was another unexpected twist! One that just lead to many more questions and wondering why someone would do that! I couldn’t quite fathom it and truthfully I don’t think I have processed everything that went down during the climatic parts of Little White Lies! It was just equal parts heartbreaking and shocking to see the family come apart at the seams! Knowing that everything wouldn’t be the same, but thinking that the truth always must come to light!
Little White Lies demands to be read and absorbed! I cannot recommend this enough! I was so engaged in this book and am wholly haunted having finished it! I feel like the characters and the story will definitely stay in my mind for some time to come! If you like a fabulous Thriller, then Little White Lies is waiting for you!
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes