The Lies Between Us

by J.A. Leake

A compelling drama with plenty of twists, Big Little Lies meets Pretty Little Liars , with a dash of Desperate Housewives .

An anonymous blackmailer threatening to release the deepest secrets of a group of pre-school mums and their fracturing friendships as they attempt to discover who is behind it.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

Audible Audio

First published July 20, 2021

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

100% domestic drama. Interesting but nothing super special. Catty southern pre-k moms having a pissing contest.

[Mahayana Dugast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abandoned for now, I might pick it up later when I'm in a gossipy mood.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LIES BETWEEN US
.J A..Leake
Maria putting her daughter in an expensive preschool when she knew they couldn’t afford it, and wondered if Ariana would makes friends.
Maria making new friends, the lengths and the cost almost destroyed everything. Could she get rid of the one piece that made it so easy to do it all with. James letting her handle the finances even though it was taking a toll on her. Would another job open for him, with Maria past mistakes now known.
A touching story of ones priorities and the ones that miss out on what is important in one’s life. Heartwarming and well done with characters one can relate to.

[Stacey Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story about four women with a secret each and the verge of being exposed by an anonymous texter with revealing pictures they would rather others didn't know. Only issue was i figured out who this person was at 30% and I hoped to wrong and wasn't, bit predictable but was an easy read.

[Alex Mellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a group of highly coiffed, well manicured friends, who all have secrets from their past. They question even their closest friends. This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Leake, and I received a complimentary copy, but I certainly don’t plan on it being the last, having so enjoyed the dramatic start and the many twists and turns in this mystery.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this punchy domestic drama, akin to pretty little liars or desperate housewives but with a southern drawl - The narrator could’ve been reading the weather forecast and I’d have been invested. I’d have like to have heard a content warning as there were some pretty dark detail’s that came out through the course of the story.

Those of us with children know those preschool days well, the cliques of mums, the fundraisers the point scorers and the downright bitchy ones, this group has them all, the thing is, each one of these hold a dark secret and someone is threatening to expose them. It’s like a little game of cat and mouse……. In beautiful houses in suburbia!

The characters weren’t particularly unique but that made them recognisable and relatable, the story was well written.


A fun, fast paced easy listen!

Currently included with audible.

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t Waste Your Money!

I seem to be on a run of bad luck when it comes to books lately. There was really not one likeable character in this book. It’s about a bunch of narcissists trying to out do one another. End of.

[samantha vogel-Hespos · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be reviewed

[Jodie | GeauxGetLit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consumed this book. If you enjoy gossip and secrets this one is for you. Four women, moms and wives, seem to have idyllic lives from the outside. However, what happens inside their homes is anyone guess, until they each receive an anonymous text, will a picture of each in compromising situations. Who is this blackmailer and what do they want? I thought I figured this one out early, but there was a major twist in the story. Highly recommend!

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 31%. No good characters or storyline.

[Diva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great, I was listening to it while shopping and wow. Since there’s no plot direction until the end I only really focused on the characters

So Sibby was a bitch, and she still kinda is but i guess she just needs therapy. Her back story was the saddest and I’ve never gone from hating to tolerating a character so quickly in a book. I hope she leaves her husband fr, the letter her mother wrote her made me cry a bit I can’t lie.

Sarah Anne was the devil in human form. You have to be a different level of wicked to just none-chalantly cheat on your LOVING AND CARING husband like that. Like you’re LITERALLY being threatened and you can’t get over your daddy issues and make validation so you proceed to put your family in danger because of it. I hope her husband leave her, and takes the kids.

Then Marie? I think that’s her name. Even though she was the ‘main character’ she was so boring. I can’t really speak on her issue with stealing since kleptomania is a mental illness so I hope she does get better.

The Lauren… my love. I love her, she’s such a good mother, I wish she insulted her useless husband a bit more, wound his non existent masculinity. I don’t blame her for what happened at the end, she just did what had to be done 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️.

Anyway this story is a good example of what happens when you don’t go to therapy before having a family/getting in a relationship

[Linda Hinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.90 rounding up to 4 stars. As the cover indicates “A perfect read for fans of Big Little Lies”, I couldn’t help but think of Big Little Lies as I started the book.

This is the first book I have read by this author and from what I can see it may be the debut novel. I enjoyed the writing style (again reminded me of Liane Morriarty) and I found the story kept me wanting to come back for more every time I put the book down.

Centers around a group of moms in a pre-school in South Carolina. Each have secrets that they what to keep hidden. I enjoyed this book and look forward to others by this author.

[Readwritedesign · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh yes, I really enjoyed this one. Suburbia and all of its wonders broke down one by one. My favorite type of read is one that pulls us behind the curtain of a family and reveals the humanity underneath.

This is the story of four preschool moms who just can't let go of the past. As they all become friends, someone seeks to reveal their deepest darkest secrets. Fear, grief, and shame keep these four women shackled to their ideal image of perfect life. But, when the annonymous texts start coming in with pictures of their greatest perceived failures, will they rise above or be controlled by the sender?

[Bookish_B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I love a good school mom book filled with drama. I love when a book starts off with a bang. This book however did not, and that was fine. This book told a slow southern mom story and I loved every page. I loved and hated each trifling charter at some point. I honestly hated putting the book down. I hated it, even more, to keep reading because I didn't want it to end.

[Tina Helzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read any of the books for this author before and I have to say that I am loving what I read. This book has it all, twist turns, and a plotline that keeps you guessing as to what might happen next and I highly recommend this book and this author.

Hurry out and get this book. You will love it.

[Jamie Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LIES BETWEEN US is an expertly-paced, page-turning look into the world of secrets adults will do anything to keep hidden. Leake masterfully weaves a tale of sabotage and backstabbing and sin, and craftily hides it behind social status and the want for perfection. Give this book a read—you’ll be glad you did!

[Peg Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a story!!

Wow what “ messed up in the head” women! The author describes each of the four women fully. It reminds you of the reality shows “The Real Women of…”. This story is so realistic that you feel you know these women and can relate to them in a way. Recommend reading making you think long and hard about how you and your friends interact.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line

The lies between us was an excellent book. I couldn’t put it down. It made me envy and dream about the pampered wealthy life those characters lived. Until the end when I realized that it’s so true. Without my loved ones all the wealth in the world wouldn’t make be happy It’s family that counts.

[Lissa Wells · Rating 2 out of 5]

Domestic drama

This domestic drama was just mediocre to me. It really could have been more alluring but for me there were just too many characters kind of all thrown together in a big fishbowl with not much of a storyline. I wanted to like this book , but this group of young moms with their pathetic lives just didn't , I just couldn't

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for readers of Big Little Lies. Actually, it's hard to imagine Lies Between Us without Liane's work. Rich women, one poor one, trouble at school, an abusive husband (violence ie)... It was this sense of derivativeness that floored me as I read, although, "in itself" it was ok.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was very slow in the beginning and hard to pick up. However, it does get better at the end and everything is tied up neatly. We’ll, not everything. Why didn’t Lauren confront Sissy at the end?

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is twisted realistic fiction at its best. Reminds me of a modern Peyton Place.

[Emily Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

great new author

The book kept me entertained and drew me in immediately. A great story of marriage/mystery/drama … I thoroughly enjoyed it & hope to read more from this author.

[Megan Crusante · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, rounded up because it was entertaining if a bit pointless.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 interesting characters

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked it.
I could see this book being a television show.

[Tish · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read of J.A. Leake it was ok. I don't think it was terrible but maybe not a book I'd recommend to a friend. It wasn't a huge hit.

[Jasmyn Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4. These pre-school moms are super cringe. And while I suspected who the anonymous texter was, they were way more messed up than anyone could’ve guessed.

[Nicky Brinsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and the way it was written. I just feel there could have been more. There was so much build up throughout that it deserved a more exciting ending....

[Mary Witbooi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The things that happen behind closed doors. Noone's life is what it seems on the outside.