A review by alindeman
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Well holy shiiiiiiiit. That was incredible! God what a compelling story. This is the story of a woman sharing her traumatic life story with another woman on a podcast… or is it? 
Because that is the real mystery, the real question you are left with at the end of the book, what is foretold by the books title: what is the truth?
I was a bit surprised that I really found myself rooting for Josie to be good, to be the victim rather than the perpetrator of these violent crimes. And I suppose that’s the point isn’t it?
Josie can recreate reality to fit her narrative and make you believe it. Or can she?? Maybe she was the victim all along, her final words the truth.
I think that really speaks to the skill of Lisa Jewell. Both how compelling Josie’s character is and how you truly have no clue what the truth is. We know for a fact Josie was groomed by Walter. I don’t care what you say,
a teenage girl cannot (should not be able to) seduce a grown fucking man. It bothered me they seemed to gloss over this as soon as the rest of her story was called into question. Walter is not a good man. He is a pedophile and a CRIMINAL. (I also don’t believe for a second that a pedophile stops being a pedophile… realistically he was certainly hurting someone else) She is a victim in that aspect, and that is the truth. But was she also a victim of her daughters’ brutality? Or did the teenage victim turn abuser? That is the real mystery.

I *highly* suggest listening to the audiobook, it’s truly an incredible production.
I will certainly be thinking about this story/mystery for days to come…
MAKE IT A BOOK OR A MOVIE PLSSSSS
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