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A Divided Heart

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Can you love two men at once? Is there any future in that?Brant loves me fiercely.A brilliant billionaire who has owned my heart for four years, he keeps proposing, and I keep turning him down.I can't marry him, not with all of the secrets between us.Lee uses me wildly.As grouchy as he is cocky, he's interested in getting me into his bed and little more.There's no reason for us to work, but I can't stay away from him.I have to make him fall in love with me. If I don't, all of this will be for nothing.Go ahead, judge me. You have no idea of the agony my heart is in.If you think you understand, trust me - you don't."This novel was previously released as Black Lies by Alessandra Torre. This version is an improved and expanded edition that is over 20,000 words longer, with an extended epilogue.*

398 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2023

891 people are currently reading
6323 people want to read

About the author

Alessandra Torre

51 books16.4k followers
Alessandra Torre (AR Torre) is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven romance and suspense novels. In addition to writing, she is the creator of Alessandra Torre Ink - an online community of over 40,000 published and aspiring authors.

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5 stars
738 (42%)
4 stars
608 (34%)
3 stars
297 (17%)
2 stars
64 (3%)
1 star
35 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
Profile Image for Rain.
2,583 reviews21 followers
April 28, 2025
I am terrified to tell her my secret. And I am terrified to hear her tell me hers. I know them, but I don't want them spoken, don't want it to be proven true.

I kinda knew what I was getting myself into when I started this book. The blurb is a warning.

The absolute intense anxiety I felt throughout the reading of this story almost made me stop multiple times. I was sick to my stomach, but the unique premise kept me reading.

Absolute mindf*ck
High anxiety read
Contemporary M/F romance
Slightly unlikable FMC
Unreliable MMC
HEA

I still don’t know how I feel about the ending, it’s beautiful, and I don’t think it could’ve ended any other way…but oh, how it hurt my heart.

Everything has always been different between them. How they kiss, the places they touch, the way they fuck.

5 stars for the intelligent weaving of the story, but my romantic heart feels it’s closer to 4.

* This is the completely remastered, with a longer epilogue, version of Black Lies by the same author.

Spoilers below for those of you that need them.

Seriously. This will ruin the entire story if you read the spoiler.

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Profile Image for Karen.
1,636 reviews134 followers
August 15, 2023
I read this book in its earlier guise as Black Lies in August 2014. I gave it 5 stars and said I really wanted it to be a film.

Nine years later and the re-mastered book is still 5 stars. I think the additional content is excellent.

My brain did a complete spin though. The anxiety I felt moved where it was from the first read. The anxiousness switched. I was worried about all the characters.

Layana Fairmont comes from money. There’s expectations on her finding the perfect match. She’s a rebel though, she will choose her own destiny. When the perfect package arrives in Brant Sharp, her happily ever after is just a white dress and a blue diamond ring away. Until she meets Lee.

Brain explosion incoming. Layana loves two men. She fucks two men. I love all the fucks. The attentive, loving fucks of the genius and the frantic, dirty fucks of the blue collar worker. It’s all fucking brilliant.

I just love how this book plays out and I love how the reader’s conception of the story changes. It really is spectacular.

A film would be magnificent. The electric meetings between Layana and Lee would probably make screens explode but I’m down with that.
Profile Image for ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ .
2,332 reviews1,342 followers
August 18, 2023
description
description

Lyana grew up rich and privileged. Her parents had her life planned out before she was even born. That's why she's so happy to finally be 25. That means hello 12 million dollar trust fund and no more having to do what mom and dad say.
Enter Brant. Super hot and slightly mysterious tech billionaire.
His aunt is trying to warn her away from him.
But why?
And who is Lee and is this going to be a love triangle romance?

READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

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description
description

Well.
I hate love triangles. I don't read them.
But this is Alessandra Torre and I already didn't read the book back when it was called Black Lies. So now I just had to read it.
And yeah. I loved it. I had to keep on reading to find out what is what and how and what and all the things!
I kinda started out hating it. I didn't like Layana at all in the very beginning. That's done on purpose I think. But it got so much better. Layana is just trying to get to her and Brant's happily ever after. But it's really hard and difficult and dangerous and complicated and probably very hopeless. But she'll try everything!
I loved reading it. I'm not really sure if the huge secret is supposed to be so obvious. For me it was obvious from the second I read the blurb. Or definitely after reading the first chapters. But maybe that's also done on purpose. For me the secret is not really the secret if that makes sense. The mystery is if this is all going to end in a happily ever after for all involved.
And we won't find out until the very end. 😊
It was a great book. A bit different than all the other romances out there. I loved reading it. I sometimes got a few 1990's vibes. No idea why. The first edition was written in 2014 - so no idea why it felt even older to me. But I still loved it. I so wouldn't mind to see this as a Netflix thing. Maybe add a bit more danger and mystery and suspense to it for the TV version! But I liked the book just the way it was!

A DIVIDED HEART was a beautiful and heartbreaking and mysterious and sexy and sad and sweet and funny love story. Don't let the love triangle thing scare you away!

description
💜 💜


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Profile Image for PP's Bookshelf.
2,791 reviews400 followers
December 11, 2023
The best way to enjoy the mindblowing experience called A Divided Heart by Alessandra Torre is to go in completely blind. Let the characters devastate you, make you crazy and ruin you. Let the brilliantly crafted one of the best plots I have read in a long time to consume you. Let the conflicting, messy and powerful emotions overwhelm you. Let the author make you part of an unbelievable journey of seduction, lies and suspense.


It is the story of an incredibly strong woman, Layana Fairmont who lies, stole and cheated for the person she loves. Is it the tech genius billionaire Brant Sharp or is is the completely opposite of Brant, Lee? Or is it something else? Just trust me that nothing is what it feels like or seems like. This story manages to create and transfer such beautiful Savage emotions! I was crying and raging and rambling. I won't deny I was a mess. I won't. This is a powerful love story with ultimate sacrifices and epic happily ever after. I had real panic attacks and I was hyperventilating and I felt the emotional breakdown coming and this is why I read. I did the worst crime of a bookworm as at about 50%, I went to epilogue because I was losing my mind for real. And then came back and finished it with equal love. Layana's strength and dedication is unquestionable. The things she did for love..I cannot process it! Brant is a complex man and so is Lee. Both are intense. Both are obsessed with Laylana. Brant is the polished businessman with his sharp unparalleled genius. Lee is down to earth, unpolished and primal. They both love Layana and she loves them both. But it is not what you think. Never. Such a brilliant take on human mind and it's complexity and diversity. Being a Psychiatrist, I am in complete awe. It was spicy and scorching hot. It was angsty heaven. And the twists keep you on your toes. The puzzle pieces are right there and as they get together, it just blew my mind away all over again.

I will finish with this. I rarely re read books now. But I have started re reading it as soon as I finished. I have a book hangover of century.

PS is it possible to feel heartbroken for a man who wasn't even there...

Thanks Netgalley and the author for the ARC
Profile Image for Stephanie.
619 reviews67 followers
March 5, 2024
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! This book completely blew me away as all of Alessandra Torres’s books have done to me! I have yet to be disappointed! I didn’t see the big twist coming at all and threw my kindle on the couch to digest everything before I could continue! I would definitely recommend this book if you like spicy romance, mystery, and psychological thrillers! I already have a list of people in my head to make read this next!
Profile Image for Beeg Panda.
1,612 reviews572 followers
Read
September 16, 2023
Free 16 September 2023. They say: "go in spoiler free, trust me...." For those of us who need spoilers:

So, yeah. Hectic

Author's note: "This novel was previously released as Black Lies by Alessandra Torre. This version is an improved and expanded edition that is over 20,000 words longer, with an extended epilogue.*





Profile Image for Howard.
2,119 reviews122 followers
August 21, 2024
4 Stars for A Divided Heart (audiobook) by Alessandra Torre read by Cassandra Parker.

I almost stopped reading this because of how blatantly the woman was cheating on the two men. I just couldn’t understand how the author could fix the situation. But she did fix it in a really interesting way.
Profile Image for Jamie Gould.
51 reviews1 follower
August 25, 2023
Wow! What a twist! Sink into this one y’all ! I am a fan and can’t wait to read all of her books🩷
Profile Image for el .
181 reviews10 followers
July 2, 2025
i remember when i read this years ago as "black lies" and it was a banger. reading this remastered version years later and it's still a banger plus it was published on my birthday so that's a plus for me.
Profile Image for Siobhan.
16 reviews2 followers
August 21, 2023
Wow. All I can say is, wow.

Well I can say a lot more than that, but I just finished this book about two minutes ago and I am in absolute shock at how enjoyable that was. The writing was fantastic and the entire story just flowed so well that once I started reading, I never wanted to stop. I was so invested in the story and what would happen in the end that I just kept reading until it was done. I lost a lot of sleep because I stayed up until about 3am every night to keep reading. I took some detailed notes about my reactions to each part of the book, and I won't share them all but here are some of my favorite things about the book. (Spoiler free of couse)

From the moment the book started, I was absolutely hooked and never wanted to let go. The prologue, while just a few pages long was such a strong way to start the book. The readers are getting a glimpse into the story that is about to unfold in front of us and it is quite the journey to be on. The story just feels so real and relatable in the beginning with the interactions between Layana (FMC) and her parents.

The characters are already fully developed beings by the time we meet them which I love. That isn't to say that there is no character growth throughout the novel, because believe me there is. I felt like the characters on the page were coming to life as they were introduced and they felt real which was really enjoyable. Also, the characters that you're meant to dislike do a great job of making you dislike them and the same goes for those who you're meant to enjoy. I love when the characters know who they are and we don't have to try and figure them out ourselves.

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect to the story because from the start we know that something about this story and/or relationship is going to go wrong and something will unravel, but we don't know what. I liked that there were little nods to it which kept me invested and needing to know what was going to happen. It was important to keep the readers hooked for a story like this and Alessandra did a great job of that.

Finally, I will say that if you're looking for a book that has a plot twist you will NEVER see coming, this is the book for you. If you're looking for a romance with a lot of spicy scenes, this is the book for you. If you're looking to get invested and thrown into a fictional world and connect with the characters on the page, this is the book for you. Even if you're just looking for a beautifully written, cohesive, emotional book, this is the book for you. I honestly could not recommend this book more and without a doubt, I give this book 5 stars.
4 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2023
Seems to be a rebranding of Black Lies one of my favorite of this author’s work.
Profile Image for Dirty Dayna.
2,154 reviews109 followers
January 4, 2024
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100000000 I'm still in love with this books STARS
Wow

I put this ARC off because I am that person that usually hates the book that everyone raves about… WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME this book is … wow.
I am seriously book speechless this is one of those books where you think you know whats going on and then you realize you are a moron and know nothing.

If you've been around a time or two come back and follow along with black lies this has been enhanced



We start our story with Lana who leaves her rich lifestyle to find something else and ends up meeting a billionaire Brandt and everything seems perfect until Lana discovers Brandt’s secret the night before he was going to propose. And Lana fakes an illness and returns and fucks Lee in an alley.
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So now you are with me lets hate Lana together fuck yes…
But the sex with Lee is consuming and sexy and fucking hawt
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But Lana knows if she is going to Marry Brandt she needs to break up with Lee.

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And she needs to break up with him because she loves Brandt but she loves fucking Lee
 photo http3A2F2F36.media.tumblr.com2Fa1a901c62f9e4622b0aefec497802cc72Ftumblr_mp2bgmsoPL1r63p7zo2_1280_zpsylieeuno.png

But the love Brandt and Lana have for eachother makes up for every flaw mistake and heartbreak in this 2 year affair.

 photo http3A2F2F31.media.tumblr.com2Fd27e23987a7e97db3b23c082918dde4a2Ftumblr_nco97p8Ren1rmdodwo1_500_zpsohp4fc2c.gif
Lana and Brandt solidify their relationship and get married and adopt Hannah from the shelter where Lana works.

Did you figure out the big secret? Do you love Lana? Can you forgive her? Fuck this book WRECKED my heart
Profile Image for BOOKLOVER_81.
2,322 reviews86 followers
September 13, 2024
Oh, how I love going into a book blind and being on the edge of my seat throughout... this is my first book from this author. I'm looking forward to more.

Brant gives Layana everything she wants. He fits in her rarefied world, proving wealthier than she is, and has a work ethic to support his professional successes. He gives her attention and love, and she trusts him implicitly. So when Lee, a rough-hewn blue-collar guy, turns her head in a convenience store, you are confused. Why, Layana? Why? Brant is everything! Except, as Lee shows, he isn't quiet. Lee brings something to Layana that she didn't know she needed, and now she finds herself not necessarily torn between two lovers but, perhaps more importantly, fulfilled by two lovers. Each gives her what she needs, and together, they give her everything. But this life can't continue. You feel the clock ticking, and Torre builds on that with a time stamp in her titles. You hold your breath, wondering what will happen next.

I adore Brant. I love him for all his flaws. I love Lee, and I adore him for all his flaws. Layana is in an impossible position, and I felt for her, wondering what I would do if I were her.

**disorder
**Mystery
**Book boyfriend

Hoopla listen 🎶
Profile Image for Nadine Bookaholic.
3,727 reviews526 followers
August 30, 2023
I LOVED Black Lies when I read it in March of 2015, and it was a Book I had considered Rereading but hadn't...that was Until now. A Divided Heart is Black Lies, but not only with a New title and cover, it also has more to the story, and as impossible as it may seem, I loved it even more the second time.

Layana is a woman who knows what she wants, and she wants Brant, well, that is, until she also wants Lee. This Love Triangle is one that I can get behind, and I don't say that lightly.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewADH

a divided heart by alessandra torre

Nadine's Obsessed with Books **I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
**𝓘 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝓪 𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓵𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓹𝔂
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Profile Image for ♡ Alex Murphy ♡.
124 reviews13 followers
September 1, 2023
This book was so fun to read and kept me intrigued the whole time! I went in fairly blind, which I think is best for the story. We know right off the bat that there is a big secret and there was so much suspense and build up leading to the reveal. One thing I don't love in books, although I can usually look past, is when the protagonist figures out the secret way before the readers do. At that point I'm like, I WANNA KNOW TOO!! That being said, the twist was a wild one that completely changes the story and makes the reader question everything they know. Unfortunately, I have read this twist in two other books last fall, so it didn't hit me as hard as I would've liked and I started to suspect it part way through the story, but it was definitely the most well executed in A Divided Heart in comparison to the other two stories I've read.

I received a free ARC from this author for an honest review!
Profile Image for Kim.
996 reviews52 followers
August 23, 2023
Long before there was Verity, there was a book called Black Lies. Now, Torre has added new material to Black Lies creating this stunner, A Divided Heart. If you are a fan of that twisty, blow my mind, what in the actual f*** kind of reading experience, then run to grab this one! I don’t read much romance, and it’s usually a romcom, but this author is one of my favorites so I will read what she writes. Her thrillers are all A++ in my opinion. Her books are tightly plotted and written to thrill, all with absolutely no fluff. So I don’t even want to talk about the storyline because I know I’ll spoil it. It’s best to just go in blind and enjoy the ride! Thank you Netgalley, Select Publishing and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available now!
Profile Image for Fran (fransbookstagram).
593 reviews59 followers
October 4, 2023
description

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 Stars

First off, it's an awesome book! I stumbled across this beauty by chance and it was so good! Once I read the prologue I was hooked and needed to know more. It felt like this book was written as a script for a movie, it was so visual and I just needed to know more as each chapter progressed.

We meet Layana, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, who smiles on cue and is absolutely gorgeous. Brought up in the Standford wife lifestyle, was keen to go it alone. Once her trust fund dropped into her account she was off to live the life she always envisioned. In doing so, she meets Brant and her life takes on a whole new level.

Brant is everything you expect a billionaire to be; drop dead gorgeous, wears a suit well, smells divine and his smile will melt your panties. He's also driven, a recluse and lives to work. When he meets Layana, he knows he's in trouble, life becomes colourful and he's smitten with her.

As this book progressed I doubted Layana and where her loyalties lie, but then a plot twist happens and I loved her more than ever. This book will keep you guessing, keep you on your toes and will have you eager to get to know what secrets lie beneath. The ending will will have you rooting for not one, but several people. Multiple-person POV ends in a HEA that was gorgeous and so well deserved.

I honestly thought this book was brilliant, and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. A book to definitely add to your tbr.


Profile Image for Melanie Jakusz.
324 reviews11 followers
April 22, 2024
Most importantly: wtf???????

S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S

Ok here we go.

The first 50% of the book I wasn’t hooked. I loved Brant. Could not figure out wtf made Lee worth all the deception.

I thought it was incredibly obvious Brant was suffering from DID. But when I found out LEE was Brant?! I all but threw my kindle.

I did feel like there was a whole lot of build up with Jillian. She had her nephew raped, kept him drugged and manipulated him his entire life. Then when the DID comes to light, he is drugged and restrained in her house. She goes to take over his autonomy legally, professionally… shows up at his house with her “soldiers”?! And then Layana gets an attorney just in time to make it just kind of fizzle out? Idk, felt anticlimactic to me.

As did the trauma that triggered the DID. He just remembered one day and it was tragic but the guy is dead and what a weight off his shoulders.

Lastly, Jillian should be rotting in prison, not in a mental facility!! But she hired Molly?!? The levels of her deceit?!? AHHHH!!!
Profile Image for Krissy Leigh.
52 reviews3 followers
January 8, 2024
What a wild ride! I was hooked from the very start. The writing is fantastic! There’s mystery, there’s romance, there’s spice. Highly addictive. Sultry and intense. And that twist!!! Wow, just wow. Alessandra Torre is brilliant!
Profile Image for Melissa.
288 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2023
This book was a Rollercoaster of events and emotions. Twists and turns when you least expect it. Exceptional writing, and I want to devour every book of hers!!!!
Profile Image for Brianna Citino .
94 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2023
-strong/possessive FMC
-Love triangle
-sweet billionaire
-bad boy landscaper

I don’t want to give much away because I think everyone should go in blind to this book! But, if you want a romance with some forbidden twists and turns. If you want a book that you’re unable to put down, then this is for you!

This book is out now in kindle unlimited and paperback.

I received a free ARC from this author for an honest review!
Profile Image for Maria Angie Mendoza.
3,175 reviews20 followers
August 15, 2023
Oh my goodness what a ride!!!
This author never ceases to amaze me with her creative arsenal of inventive stories!
This book was hands down awe-some-balls!!!
The author had my undivided attention when she announced that this release was a “bigger and better version of Black Lies”!
Back in 2014 it was my first read by this author and I have loved everything she has written. Fast forward to 2023 and I still remember this story, it was that good, and remains awe-some-balls!!
The plot, the twists,…the revelation…oh my gawd!!
This new version is a must read!
The added content made it richer, fresher, more suspenseful, and more complex!
Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down…
These characters were twisted and beautifully flawed! This book pulled at my emotions as the question of why do we do the things we do when it comes to relationships!
Emotional, heart wrenching, this juicy love triangle situation is like no other!
Let me just say this author does love triangles like no other author!
Read and find out!
Remember things are never what they appear!
Profile Image for  Thea™.
3,777 reviews11 followers
September 8, 2023
According to the author's note A Divided Heart is Black Lies with a new title and a new cover. "This novel was previously released as Black Lies by Alessandra Torre. This version is an improved and expanded edition that is over 20,000 words longer, with an extended epilogue."
Turned out, I had already read Black Lies in August 2016; gave it 4 stars then.
I couldn't remember anything of Black Lies and the blurb of A Divided Heart looked very good... so I decided to just read it. And as to be expected (poor memory)... absolutely nothing of the story was even vaguely familiar for me. 😆
I really, really liked the story!! 😍 However... when I'd finished the book, I realized that I had somehow been waiting for something that ultimately didn't happen...?? And I was left with a somewhat disappointed feeling. 😔
Great read.... just not 'great enough' for 5 stars.
I really liked the new cover (much better than the first one!) and the new title is more appropriate.

A Divided Heart by Alessandra Torre Black Lies by Alessandra Torre
Profile Image for Hannah.
178 reviews114 followers
November 23, 2023
The author claimed there was more plot added to the story but it was literally the same old book? Still pretty good so 3 stars
Profile Image for kayliesbookcorner.
81 reviews614 followers
April 14, 2024
I go into 99% of my books completely blind, never reading the synopsis. . . Simply going off of Goodreads ratings, genre, + good vibes 😂 and I’m so glad I DIDN’T read the synopsis for this one either because I was shocccckkkeddd when I got to like 75% of the book. So good! Did NOT see the twist coming. Thinkkk, romance with a bit of mystery where the characters are seeming pretty shady in their relationship choices + you want to keep reading to know what the F is going on 🤣
Profile Image for Amber Liesse.
72 reviews
January 15, 2024
Okay so I actually saw the twist coming probably because I read a similar book a few years ago. I won’t give anything away but I had a hunch so looked for clues in the writing - which I found. I did expect for a huge ball drop after the twist and was not given one. Definitely a good read though!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews

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