bibliostorian 's review for:

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

3.5

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was a twisting, turning story with unreliable narrators all the way through. Just when you think you're truly getting to the truth of it, another thing pops up to make you doubt something. And the title of the book itself has you going in from the get-go in sleuth mode trying to figure out what's real and what isn't. That this is set against the backdrop of true crime podcasts and Netflix documentaries, both of which are genres known for their biased reporting and clever editing, only makes it more interesting. What's real? What isn't? Is Josie nuts, or is Alix? Is everyone nuts? What's up with their husbands? 

Anyway, I finished it and I still have no idea what's the real, honest-to-god truth, and I'm both cranky and not that Lisa Jewell clearly meant it to do that to me. Hah. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Blood