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Tõepoolest täiuslik päev
On Lucy Greeni 30. sünnipäeva eelõhtu ja ta loodab, et pidupäev toob talle väljateenitud ametikõrgenduse ja oodatud abieluettepaneku. Lucy saadab keskööl universumile teele soovi, et homne päev oleks täiuslik. Ent soovidel on teatavasti kombeks täide minna ettenägematul moel … Sünnipäeval hommikul ei suuda Lucy millegipärast tavapäraseid iluprotseduure teha ega kurnavasse trenni minna – kuigi oli endale alati kinnitanud, et naudib neid. Tal pole mingit isu süüa hommikuks vaid pisike jogurt ega tahtmist kanda kontoris šikke ebamugavaid rõivaid. Suhtekorraldusfirmasse tööle jõudes avastab ta, et ta ei ole enam võimeline valetama mitte ainult iseendale, vaid üldse kellelegi. Ei klientidele, poiss-sõbrale ega ahistajast ülemusele. Kuna ta ei saa enam oma tõelisi tundeid varjata, tuleb Lucyl astuda vastu kogu ebaõiglusele, millega ta päeva jooksul kokku puutub. Holly Jamesi särtsakas debüütromaan võtab sihikule kõik valed, mida naistelt tänapäeva maailmas hakkamasaamiseks oodatakse, ja näitab, millise vabanemise toob puhta tõe rääkimine.
343 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
181 people are currently reading
10041 people want to read
About the author
Holly James
6 books451 followersHolly James is the author of adult romance and commercial fiction. She holds a PhD in psychology and has worked in both academia and the tech industry. When she’s not reading or writing a book, she can be found on the beach or hiking in the woods. Born and raised in Northern California, she currently lives at the southern end of the state with her husband and their dog. Find her at hollyjamesbooks.com and on Instagram at @hellohollyjames.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 645 reviews
July 14, 2022
This is such a smart, inspirational, entertaining, also thought provoking version of Jim Carey’s Liar Liar movie! The idea about a celebrity publicist who is making her money by pretending, fake smiling, creating illusions and fictional portraits for people she’s working for, making a birthday wish that resulted with losing her capability of lying is brilliant! ( I quickly high five-d myself for forming this lost sentence! )
Lucy Green raises her cocktail glass to make a wish at her 30th birthday and when she wakes up next day, she realizes she lost her ability to form a lie! She can only tell the truth nothing but the truth! Her lack of capability to say things people want to hear can ruin her entire career, her relationships, everything she’s worked for! But it is also relieving! Truth eventually sets her free! No more pretending, faking, thinking other people’s opinions!
Lucy finds her true place in the world, standing up for herself, fighting against inequality at work space, mansplaining!
This was brilliant, intelligent, fresh, provocative, well written women’s fiction! And it’s also one of the quickest reads of mine! I am looking forward to read more works of the author in near future.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Lucy Green raises her cocktail glass to make a wish at her 30th birthday and when she wakes up next day, she realizes she lost her ability to form a lie! She can only tell the truth nothing but the truth! Her lack of capability to say things people want to hear can ruin her entire career, her relationships, everything she’s worked for! But it is also relieving! Truth eventually sets her free! No more pretending, faking, thinking other people’s opinions!
Lucy finds her true place in the world, standing up for herself, fighting against inequality at work space, mansplaining!
This was brilliant, intelligent, fresh, provocative, well written women’s fiction! And it’s also one of the quickest reads of mine! I am looking forward to read more works of the author in near future.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
July 13, 2022
3.5 stars! This book had a lot of heart and I had a lot of fun reading it! However, this didn't end up being the new favorite that I felt like it could have been. While I love love loved how feminist this was, it did feel a smidge heavy handed at times. I felt like the author was hitting us over the head with things that were easy to infer from the characters actions alone so it did up end feeling a bit repetitive at time. With all that being said though, this was still a fun read and I would absolutely be willing to read more from Holly James in the future. I could definitely see this developing into a series because James really flushed out a lot of the side characters and I would be super intrigued to see where their love lives might end up in future installments!
CW: sexual harassment, disordered eating, food/body shaming
CW: sexual harassment, disordered eating, food/body shaming
August 17, 2022
Summary: On the eve of her 30th birthday, PR agent Lucy Green makes a wish on her cocktail - that her birthday be perfect. Upon awaking, she realizes she feels a bit different and it soon becomes clear she is no longer able to tell a lie, not even the smallest of them.
As Lucy vies for a promotion, faces her harassing boss, and deals with the boyfriend who jilted her the previous evening, the inability to lie makes for some interesting confrontations. A lighthearted book with a serious core, Nothing But The Truth examines the role of women in the work place and the struggles they often deal with.
Thoughts: This was a cute variation on the movie Liar Liar and I enjoyed the humor and levity the author mixed in with the more serious undertone. I love books with a strong female main character and this book definitely had that, along with several very strong supporting characters. I really liked the humor Holly James uses throughout the book, even when dealing with some heavier topics like workplace sexual harassment. Lucy’s rapport with Adam was fun to read and I found myself wanting more of their interactions.
My only criticism is that it dragged a bit for me around the middle of the book and I began to lose focus. Overall, I would definitely recommend checking this one out especially if you enjoy women’s fiction featuring strong, take charge women.
I listened to this one on audio and I thought Brittany Pressley did an excellent job narrating. it was a quick and easy listen as well as being very clear and concise. Sometimes a narrator can hinder a book, in this case, she definitely did not.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for my ARC and PRH Audio for my ACL copy in exchange for my honest review.
As Lucy vies for a promotion, faces her harassing boss, and deals with the boyfriend who jilted her the previous evening, the inability to lie makes for some interesting confrontations. A lighthearted book with a serious core, Nothing But The Truth examines the role of women in the work place and the struggles they often deal with.
Thoughts: This was a cute variation on the movie Liar Liar and I enjoyed the humor and levity the author mixed in with the more serious undertone. I love books with a strong female main character and this book definitely had that, along with several very strong supporting characters. I really liked the humor Holly James uses throughout the book, even when dealing with some heavier topics like workplace sexual harassment. Lucy’s rapport with Adam was fun to read and I found myself wanting more of their interactions.
My only criticism is that it dragged a bit for me around the middle of the book and I began to lose focus. Overall, I would definitely recommend checking this one out especially if you enjoy women’s fiction featuring strong, take charge women.
I listened to this one on audio and I thought Brittany Pressley did an excellent job narrating. it was a quick and easy listen as well as being very clear and concise. Sometimes a narrator can hinder a book, in this case, she definitely did not.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for my ARC and PRH Audio for my ACL copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2022
I've read many chick lit books over the years and I don't recall coming across such an empowering read in the genre until now. Loved the messaging of bucking societal conventions and freely speaking your mind and doing what you want and believe in. The fact there was a cute romance storyline as well was just the icing on the cake.
Lucy Green is a publicist and her 30th birthday is tomorrow. She hopes the day will bring her a promotion at work and a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. While waiting at a bar for him to show up, the bartender takes pity on her and offers her a unique cocktail. Lucy makes a wish that she will have a perfect birthday. Well, you know what they say, wishes really do come true. When Lucy wakes up the next morning, she's in for an incredible day!
So the story shares a little bit in common with the film Liar, Liar. (Do you feel old knowing the movie came out 25 years ago? I do!) So Lucy is forced to speak her mind but it goes one step further, in that her actions are dictated by her beliefs rather than social norms. It was inspiring to watch Lucy deal with small and big issues whether it was opting for a low maintenance style of dress and hairstyle or something more serious like her workplace issue. You can't help but smile as you see someone living on their own terms.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a positive, uplifting read with a dash of a romance thrown in.
Thank you to Dutton Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Lucy Green is a publicist and her 30th birthday is tomorrow. She hopes the day will bring her a promotion at work and a marriage proposal from her boyfriend. While waiting at a bar for him to show up, the bartender takes pity on her and offers her a unique cocktail. Lucy makes a wish that she will have a perfect birthday. Well, you know what they say, wishes really do come true. When Lucy wakes up the next morning, she's in for an incredible day!
So the story shares a little bit in common with the film Liar, Liar. (Do you feel old knowing the movie came out 25 years ago? I do!) So Lucy is forced to speak her mind but it goes one step further, in that her actions are dictated by her beliefs rather than social norms. It was inspiring to watch Lucy deal with small and big issues whether it was opting for a low maintenance style of dress and hairstyle or something more serious like her workplace issue. You can't help but smile as you see someone living on their own terms.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a positive, uplifting read with a dash of a romance thrown in.
Thank you to Dutton Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
April 18, 2023
Lucy is alone at the bar the night before her 30th birthday and wishes for a perfect day on her 30th birthday. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds herself fighting against her old routines and saying things she would usually keep to herself.
This story takes place mostly over just the one day, but we see Lucy changing in more ways than just the number at the front of her age.
This is such a fun, semi-light feminist novel, with a great message to women of all ages: stop lying to yourself, live your life, and don’t listen to the patriarchy. – Michelle V.
This story takes place mostly over just the one day, but we see Lucy changing in more ways than just the number at the front of her age.
This is such a fun, semi-light feminist novel, with a great message to women of all ages: stop lying to yourself, live your life, and don’t listen to the patriarchy. – Michelle V.
August 5, 2022
Thank you Dutton & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
On the eve of her 30th birthday, publicist Lucy Green wishes for her birthday to be a "perfect day"! She anticipates her long-term boyfriend proposing at a romantic dinner. The next day, Lucy wakes up to find that she is physically unable to lie - to herself or anyone else. She cannot force herself through her usual fitness and beauty routine, has no desire to eat her yogurt for breakfast or put on her uncomfortable shapewear for a day in the office. This inability to lie forces her to address inauthenticities in different areas of her life and start anew on her 30th birthday.
To be completely honest, this book had a lot of potential. Sadly, it was not utilized. This book is meant to be very feminist-oriented, in that the MC breaks through a lot of stereotypes while she is not able to lie for that one day. Through Lucy, the author tries to be blunt about the things women do to appease society and how we aren't being honest about how we are feeling. Here, the female empowerment cliches went too far to the point where the book was just .... unrealistic. At times the constant cliches had me physically rolling my eyes while I read.
The author tried to make her point way too strongly. For me, the beauty of an author making a certain point through their writing is the subtlety of it. The author needs to let the reader do the mental work to piece together the point they are trying to make in order for the story to feel authentic. The author missed the mark on this by just stating every single feminist cliche she could think of and finding a way to incorporate (I use this term loosely) into the story. The reason I am so hung up on the use of the cliches is because it completely distracted from the rest of the story.
Anyways, this book was a miss for me. But other people seem to really like it.
2/5
On the eve of her 30th birthday, publicist Lucy Green wishes for her birthday to be a "perfect day"! She anticipates her long-term boyfriend proposing at a romantic dinner. The next day, Lucy wakes up to find that she is physically unable to lie - to herself or anyone else. She cannot force herself through her usual fitness and beauty routine, has no desire to eat her yogurt for breakfast or put on her uncomfortable shapewear for a day in the office. This inability to lie forces her to address inauthenticities in different areas of her life and start anew on her 30th birthday.
To be completely honest, this book had a lot of potential. Sadly, it was not utilized. This book is meant to be very feminist-oriented, in that the MC breaks through a lot of stereotypes while she is not able to lie for that one day. Through Lucy, the author tries to be blunt about the things women do to appease society and how we aren't being honest about how we are feeling. Here, the female empowerment cliches went too far to the point where the book was just .... unrealistic. At times the constant cliches had me physically rolling my eyes while I read.
The author tried to make her point way too strongly. For me, the beauty of an author making a certain point through their writing is the subtlety of it. The author needs to let the reader do the mental work to piece together the point they are trying to make in order for the story to feel authentic. The author missed the mark on this by just stating every single feminist cliche she could think of and finding a way to incorporate (I use this term loosely) into the story. The reason I am so hung up on the use of the cliches is because it completely distracted from the rest of the story.
Anyways, this book was a miss for me. But other people seem to really like it.
2/5
February 12, 2023
⬇️watch my wrap up for all of my thoughts!⬇️
https://youtu.be/XZ6rKZoge4c
Rating: 4/5⭐️s
Pros:
•right from the jump I really enjoyed the authors writing style
•I fell in love with the main character, especially after she “couldn’t tell a lie” she was so funny and real
•I really liked how this book had such a powerful female main character that rlly didn’t put up with the men being in power and in charge of her
•the whole concept is pretty unrealistic but I think there were a lot of messages throughout the book that do apply in real life.
•it really tells you the importance of not lying to others but not lying to yourself and I think the author did a really good job of depicting that
•I really like Lucy and Oliver’s friendship, it was so cute and they were each others ride or dies, it felt so wholesome
•really enjoyed the end, felt content with it
Cons:
•I really liked the length of the book but the chapters were pretty lengthy (about 20 pages per chapter)
•I don’t really like how one thing happened so fast (no spoilers) it felt rlly rlly rushed
•def kind of insta lovey but it wasn’t a big downfall
https://youtu.be/XZ6rKZoge4c
Rating: 4/5⭐️s
Pros:
•right from the jump I really enjoyed the authors writing style
•I fell in love with the main character, especially after she “couldn’t tell a lie” she was so funny and real
•I really liked how this book had such a powerful female main character that rlly didn’t put up with the men being in power and in charge of her
•the whole concept is pretty unrealistic but I think there were a lot of messages throughout the book that do apply in real life.
•it really tells you the importance of not lying to others but not lying to yourself and I think the author did a really good job of depicting that
•I really like Lucy and Oliver’s friendship, it was so cute and they were each others ride or dies, it felt so wholesome
•really enjoyed the end, felt content with it
Cons:
•I really liked the length of the book but the chapters were pretty lengthy (about 20 pages per chapter)
•I don’t really like how one thing happened so fast (no spoilers) it felt rlly rlly rushed
•def kind of insta lovey but it wasn’t a big downfall
December 19, 2023
This started out with a cute premise, but then it got a little too didactic for me.
September 5, 2022
Omg we GET IT.
February 9, 2025
──⟡⋆˙✩ 2.75 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ I appreciated what the author was trying to do—the message she conveyed in her book and how she explored the issues women face in our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, she crammed in so much that the transitions were less than smooth, making it feel like she was simply ticking off issues to discuss every chapter rather than telling a cohesive story.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ This novel had a thrilling concept, but the execution fell short. There were many great points she brought up—a lot of things I’d never really thought about that contribute to the oppression of women—but I feel like this would have worked much better as a work of non-fiction rather than a novel because she wasn’t able to pull it off effectively.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ The minor romantic subplot was cute but very rushed. The insta-lust wasn’t my thing, and they moved way too fast in just one day.
But where was the line between what she wanted for herself and what society pressured her to have, whether it was beauty standards, a relationship status, or something as life-altering as children?
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ I appreciated what the author was trying to do—the message she conveyed in her book and how she explored the issues women face in our day-to-day lives. Unfortunately, she crammed in so much that the transitions were less than smooth, making it feel like she was simply ticking off issues to discuss every chapter rather than telling a cohesive story.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ This novel had a thrilling concept, but the execution fell short. There were many great points she brought up—a lot of things I’d never really thought about that contribute to the oppression of women—but I feel like this would have worked much better as a work of non-fiction rather than a novel because she wasn’t able to pull it off effectively.
·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ The minor romantic subplot was cute but very rushed. The insta-lust wasn’t my thing, and they moved way too fast in just one day.
July 28, 2022
This book had promise and sounded like it would be a cute, funny read. It did start that way. Then somewhere along the way it took a wrong turn and just became all kinds of awful. I really believe a good author can get their point across without beating you over the head with it. Unfortunately, this author couldn’t. I skim-finished this book because I got so sick of the soap box monologues and self-righteousness of the female protagonist (to me, she was likable until she wasn’t). And all of this happened in a day? Please. My advice is to skip this one.
January 4, 2023
Ooooo, this was so fun! I love stories with inexplainable magic, and I'd describe this one as a feminist spin on the movie Liar Liar. After a wish gone wrong, Lucy Green wakes up on her 30th birthday with the inability to lie.
I really, really liked Lucy! For so long she's been acting as an alternate version of herself, much like a character. And thanks to her forced honesty, her life slowly begins to change for the better. The story touches on an array of topics pertaining to women, but the biggest focus is sexual harassment in the workplace. But I must say, it was perfectly balanced with humour!
This story has a great message that did get repetitive at times, but seeing Lucy find power in her truth was so satisfying. This story had many fantastic side characters, too!
And yes, there's a smidge of romance! I loved Adam aka Hot Bartender. Their flirty dialogue was so fun. With her next release, The Deja Glitch, featuring a 24-hour time loop, I am beyond excited to read more from Holly James!
(heat level: closed-door)
I really, really liked Lucy! For so long she's been acting as an alternate version of herself, much like a character. And thanks to her forced honesty, her life slowly begins to change for the better. The story touches on an array of topics pertaining to women, but the biggest focus is sexual harassment in the workplace. But I must say, it was perfectly balanced with humour!
This story has a great message that did get repetitive at times, but seeing Lucy find power in her truth was so satisfying. This story had many fantastic side characters, too!
And yes, there's a smidge of romance! I loved Adam aka Hot Bartender. Their flirty dialogue was so fun. With her next release, The Deja Glitch, featuring a 24-hour time loop, I am beyond excited to read more from Holly James!
(heat level: closed-door)
July 25, 2022
2.5
This story centered on Lucy, a woman who discovers she can only speak the truth for 24 hours on her 30th birthday. The novel tries to have fun as it addresses issues/themes such as sexual harassment, sexism, and female empowerment, but sometimes the characters and topics were portrayed in a way that came across preachy/cringey.
This story centered on Lucy, a woman who discovers she can only speak the truth for 24 hours on her 30th birthday. The novel tries to have fun as it addresses issues/themes such as sexual harassment, sexism, and female empowerment, but sometimes the characters and topics were portrayed in a way that came across preachy/cringey.
July 13, 2022
What an absolutely surprise DELIGHT this debut book was!! Lucy Green is a Hollywood publicist turning 30 and when her boyfriend stands her up she makes a wish for a perfect birthday. What follows is a story told over one day in which Lucy is unable to tell a lie and it is gloriously freeing!
If you like books with a touch of inexplicable magic and a strong feminist bent this one is for you! Part women's fiction, part romance but 100% fun!! I LOVED the narration by Brittany Pressley and just how incredible it was watching Lucy's journey to stop going along with all the B.S. women have to deal with and stand up for what she wants.
I seriously CAN'T recommend this book enough!! Be prepared to laugh and cheer as Lucy calls out her boss for sexual harassment in the workplace, stands up to her baby-pushing mother and dumps her neglectful boyfriend. Much thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
Favorite quote:
"I'm not fine! I've been telling myself that everything is fine when it's not. I'm so conditioned as a woman - brainwashed - to keep quiet about it, to pretend that everything was okay and not make a scene that I went along with it. I always go along with it. But not today!"
If you like books with a touch of inexplicable magic and a strong feminist bent this one is for you! Part women's fiction, part romance but 100% fun!! I LOVED the narration by Brittany Pressley and just how incredible it was watching Lucy's journey to stop going along with all the B.S. women have to deal with and stand up for what she wants.
I seriously CAN'T recommend this book enough!! Be prepared to laugh and cheer as Lucy calls out her boss for sexual harassment in the workplace, stands up to her baby-pushing mother and dumps her neglectful boyfriend. Much thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
Favorite quote:
"I'm not fine! I've been telling myself that everything is fine when it's not. I'm so conditioned as a woman - brainwashed - to keep quiet about it, to pretend that everything was okay and not make a scene that I went along with it. I always go along with it. But not today!"
June 9, 2022
Nothing but the Truth by Holly James. Thanks to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the gifted e-Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lucy Green loves her job as a celebrity PR agent but it requires a certain level of finesse and charm. When she wakes on her birthday literally unable to tell a lie, she finds it challenging to say the least.
I loved the concept of this one! I love a hint of magic in a contemporary world. I felt it could of had more humor to it, but it went a more a serious route, which totally worked. The me-too aspect made it pretty realistic, with a hint into the world of elite public relations. Despite the deep content, the story flew by and was a quick and entertaining read.
“What would happen to her career if she had to tell every celebrity she worked for just how big the messes they made were and that everything was in fact not fine.”
Nothing But the Truth comes out 7/12.
Lucy Green loves her job as a celebrity PR agent but it requires a certain level of finesse and charm. When she wakes on her birthday literally unable to tell a lie, she finds it challenging to say the least.
I loved the concept of this one! I love a hint of magic in a contemporary world. I felt it could of had more humor to it, but it went a more a serious route, which totally worked. The me-too aspect made it pretty realistic, with a hint into the world of elite public relations. Despite the deep content, the story flew by and was a quick and entertaining read.
“What would happen to her career if she had to tell every celebrity she worked for just how big the messes they made were and that everything was in fact not fine.”
Nothing But the Truth comes out 7/12.
November 11, 2024
This had such a fun premise—a birthday wish gone wrong where the MC is unable to lie for a day. Which is no big deal except she’s a PR agent... competing for a promotion... that hinges on her signing on a new actress. At lunch. Today.
So again, really fun premise with lots of potential, but unfortunately, it hurts to say the part that really ruined it for me was the feminist aspect. Where the main character, Lucy, proceeds to hit us over the head with all the ways a woman must adapt, change, and tolerate injustices in order to make it in a patriarchal world, especially in a corporate setting. This feels like it was written right after the Me Too movement (it even mentions it in the book). I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but she did a lot of telling and not showing through Lucy’s constant inner monologues and tangents to her male friends that really came off out of left field and took me out of the story. Some subtly with the message would have gone a long way in this short book. Also, a two hundred plus-page book has no business having 20-page chapters. Yeah, this was 2.75 stars, but rounding to 3.
So again, really fun premise with lots of potential, but unfortunately, it hurts to say the part that really ruined it for me was the feminist aspect. Where the main character, Lucy, proceeds to hit us over the head with all the ways a woman must adapt, change, and tolerate injustices in order to make it in a patriarchal world, especially in a corporate setting. This feels like it was written right after the Me Too movement (it even mentions it in the book). I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but she did a lot of telling and not showing through Lucy’s constant inner monologues and tangents to her male friends that really came off out of left field and took me out of the story. Some subtly with the message would have gone a long way in this short book. Also, a two hundred plus-page book has no business having 20-page chapters. Yeah, this was 2.75 stars, but rounding to 3.
July 5, 2022
Nothing But the Truth follows Lucy, a publicist in LA, on her 30th birthday as she navigates the challenge of a birthday wish gone wrong. On the eve of turning 30, Lucy makes a wish for her birthday to be the *perfect day.* However, things get strange immediately after Lucy wakes up and begins to deviate from her routine. Instead of going to spin class which she always dreads, Lucy goes to breakfast with a friend and orders a delicious meal. While getting ready for work, Lucy decides to wear comfortable clothes/shoes and forgo make up instead of her usual high heels and extensive "daily prep" routine. Lucy begins to deviate so much from her norm that she realizes something is VERY wrong - or... is it all suddenly very right?
I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I was expecting a cute, funny rom com and instead got a slap in the face with the many challenges women face in society today. The over arching message is that women tend to settle in their personal lives and careers and that it is complete BS. It champions women standing up for themselves and instead of settling for mediocre to make it well known what they want. Then, if someone gets in the way, flay them alive.
I am a woman. I have faced sexism in the workplace, I just couldn't relate to Lucy as a character. Everything was her way or the highway and when someone didn't support her there was virtually NO understanding on her part. She was asking people to risk their entire careers - and while secual harrassment in the workplace is wrong on EVERY level - dropping truth bombs on people and expecting them to immediately support you without giving them time to digest or think.... that is uncaring and demanding.
I enjoyed the overall message - don't settle for mediocre and stand up for yourself. The writing was ok - not mindblowing, but not leaving tons to be desired either. Nothing But the Truth just wasn't a quirky, funny, rom com like I was expecting. It was more of an awkward "Down with the patriarchy, but we'll try to be funny while doing it and throw in a love story" type of book.
I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I was expecting a cute, funny rom com and instead got a slap in the face with the many challenges women face in society today. The over arching message is that women tend to settle in their personal lives and careers and that it is complete BS. It champions women standing up for themselves and instead of settling for mediocre to make it well known what they want. Then, if someone gets in the way, flay them alive.
I am a woman. I have faced sexism in the workplace, I just couldn't relate to Lucy as a character. Everything was her way or the highway and when someone didn't support her there was virtually NO understanding on her part. She was asking people to risk their entire careers - and while secual harrassment in the workplace is wrong on EVERY level - dropping truth bombs on people and expecting them to immediately support you without giving them time to digest or think.... that is uncaring and demanding.
I enjoyed the overall message - don't settle for mediocre and stand up for yourself. The writing was ok - not mindblowing, but not leaving tons to be desired either. Nothing But the Truth just wasn't a quirky, funny, rom com like I was expecting. It was more of an awkward "Down with the patriarchy, but we'll try to be funny while doing it and throw in a love story" type of book.
July 9, 2022
Nothing But The Truth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 7/12/22
Author: Holly James
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 304
Goodreads Rating: 3.86
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dutton and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: It’s the eve of Hollywood publicist Lucy Green’s thirtieth birthday, so she makes a rueful wish over her cocktail for a perfect birthday. But when Lucy’s wish is granted in the most unexpected way, things go terribly awry, as things often do when wishes come true…. When Lucy arrives at the office, she realizes that not only can she no longer lie to herself, she can’t lie to anyone else, either. Now that she can’t hide how she feels, Lucy must confront all the injustices—small and large—she’s faced on a daily basis at work, in her relationship, and in every other aspect of her life...and the truth is going to come out in a big way.
My Thoughts: This reminded me of the movie, Liar Liar, starring Jim Carey. Imagine a publicist, who makes their career by telling white lies, cannot lie anymore, brilliant! The characters are well developed, have depth, passionate, charismatic, and keeps you engaged throughout the story. I absolutely adored Lucy and how she was written, the perfect heroine, that I absolutely rooted for throughout the story, she is both likable and relatable. The author’s writing style is complex, thought provoking, creative, and just brilliant! While there is a romantic element to the story, it is more of Lucy standing in her truth, discovering who she really is, connecting with the people around her, and no longer a doormat for anyone. What I most loved is that Lucy followed what she believed and not what society expects. The story has an amazing message and I absolutely adored it. Even though I was fortunate enough to read an early ARC of this book, I have also preordered the audiobook to listen to. With this being James debut novel, I can only imagine what she will write in the future, I will definitely be buying future novels from James.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 7/12/22
Author: Holly James
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 304
Goodreads Rating: 3.86
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Dutton and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: It’s the eve of Hollywood publicist Lucy Green’s thirtieth birthday, so she makes a rueful wish over her cocktail for a perfect birthday. But when Lucy’s wish is granted in the most unexpected way, things go terribly awry, as things often do when wishes come true…. When Lucy arrives at the office, she realizes that not only can she no longer lie to herself, she can’t lie to anyone else, either. Now that she can’t hide how she feels, Lucy must confront all the injustices—small and large—she’s faced on a daily basis at work, in her relationship, and in every other aspect of her life...and the truth is going to come out in a big way.
My Thoughts: This reminded me of the movie, Liar Liar, starring Jim Carey. Imagine a publicist, who makes their career by telling white lies, cannot lie anymore, brilliant! The characters are well developed, have depth, passionate, charismatic, and keeps you engaged throughout the story. I absolutely adored Lucy and how she was written, the perfect heroine, that I absolutely rooted for throughout the story, she is both likable and relatable. The author’s writing style is complex, thought provoking, creative, and just brilliant! While there is a romantic element to the story, it is more of Lucy standing in her truth, discovering who she really is, connecting with the people around her, and no longer a doormat for anyone. What I most loved is that Lucy followed what she believed and not what society expects. The story has an amazing message and I absolutely adored it. Even though I was fortunate enough to read an early ARC of this book, I have also preordered the audiobook to listen to. With this being James debut novel, I can only imagine what she will write in the future, I will definitely be buying future novels from James.
July 8, 2022
This was a super cute take on the movie Liar Liar with a dash of something magical. Lucy wakes up on the morning of her thirtieth birthday and realizes she physically cannot lie at all. It’s a rude awakening when she sees just how much she lies to herself, her friends and her coworkers every single day. Being forced to be honest with herself has her rethinking so many aspects of her life and the results are surprisingly empowering.
This was one of those easy and lighthearted reads that made for a great escape. It’s women fiction with a small side of romance, definitely more about Lucy personally and her journey to figuring out what she honestly wants and needs. I’m on a Brittany Pressley roll lately and she is always just a joy to listen to! Grab this if you want a fast and light read.
This was one of those easy and lighthearted reads that made for a great escape. It’s women fiction with a small side of romance, definitely more about Lucy personally and her journey to figuring out what she honestly wants and needs. I’m on a Brittany Pressley roll lately and she is always just a joy to listen to! Grab this if you want a fast and light read.
November 10, 2022
Did you ever watch the early 2000’s TV drama, 24…whereas each week's episode covered the life of a counterterrorism agent in real time (with the clock ticking down in the corner of the screen depicting a single hour of the day per episode)? To say it was stressful is an understatement.
I may have bias toward novels that take this approach: the entire story occurs over the course of a day. I usually avoid these books (and likely would have avoided this one had I not gone in blind). Why? Because they are exhausting! So much drama, on top of drama. I keep thinking, I WOULD NEED A NAP ON SUCH A RELENTLESS DAY!! Maybe two.
Suffice it to say, I didn’t dislike this book. It was a great effort to highlight workplace harassment in a compelling manner. But damn, I now need a nap.
I may have bias toward novels that take this approach: the entire story occurs over the course of a day. I usually avoid these books (and likely would have avoided this one had I not gone in blind). Why? Because they are exhausting! So much drama, on top of drama. I keep thinking, I WOULD NEED A NAP ON SUCH A RELENTLESS DAY!! Maybe two.
Suffice it to say, I didn’t dislike this book. It was a great effort to highlight workplace harassment in a compelling manner. But damn, I now need a nap.
October 9, 2022
It's hard to rate stories featuring the me too movement because duh. It's an important topic but I'm also like I know how this is going to play out. However, I enjoyed the twist to the story where our heroine can't stop telling the truth. It was fun! Just a bit much with feminist issues sometimes. The romance was sweet too! 4 stars.
January 2, 2025
Wow, what a great book! First my review, then a related rant.
I read this book in its entirety on New Year’s Day. My goal for new years was to completely enjoy my day, read as much as possible, drink coffee, nothing else. And I ended up completely reading 3 books. So I read this from beginning to end.
This is a smart book about a woman who can’t lie due to magic reasons. It’s also her birthday. It takes place over a day and is about her being sexually harassed by the CEO of her publicity firm, then exposing him and risking her career. The minor characters are excellent, work bestie, her immediate boss Joanna, her client rock stars, a hot bartender and her clueless boyfriend.
This book was just so smart and funny. Several times I wanted to fistpump in the air as it so eloquently describes the patriarchy and how it is ridiculous and hurts everyone.
And now for my rant. My friends, this isn’t a romance as the cover suggests. It isn’t even really a magic-realism book as the blurb suggests. Why does every contemporary fiction book with a female protagonist have to be shelved as romance? Oh I know. Because it is the best selling genre.
I read this book in its entirety on New Year’s Day. My goal for new years was to completely enjoy my day, read as much as possible, drink coffee, nothing else. And I ended up completely reading 3 books. So I read this from beginning to end.
This is a smart book about a woman who can’t lie due to magic reasons. It’s also her birthday. It takes place over a day and is about her being sexually harassed by the CEO of her publicity firm, then exposing him and risking her career. The minor characters are excellent, work bestie, her immediate boss Joanna, her client rock stars, a hot bartender and her clueless boyfriend.
This book was just so smart and funny. Several times I wanted to fistpump in the air as it so eloquently describes the patriarchy and how it is ridiculous and hurts everyone.
And now for my rant. My friends, this isn’t a romance as the cover suggests. It isn’t even really a magic-realism book as the blurb suggests. Why does every contemporary fiction book with a female protagonist have to be shelved as romance? Oh I know. Because it is the best selling genre.
July 27, 2022
Lucy Green is about to turn 30 and she’s not happy about it. By her thirties, Lucy hoped to be engaged to her long time boyfriend and promoted at work. But on her big day, a meeting with a potential big name client and a rooftop party are being thrown in her honor, so she might just get her wish in the nick of time.
On the night before the big 3-0 though, Lucy’s boyfriend stands her up…again. The bartender (handsome, of course) notices the sullen Lucy and offers to make her a drink to wash away her worries.
But Lucy’s innocuous birthday wish morphs into more than she ever bargained for. The next morning when she wakes up she finds herself not feeling like…herself. Despite it being her birthday, she has no desire to get gussied up, has no qualms about being short with her overbearing mother, and honestly isn’t looking forward to all she’s been supposedly wishing for, and for so long.
Unfortunately, this feeling carries over to her workday. Before long Lucy realizes she simply cannot lie anymore. Not to others, or, more importantly, to herself. This is not an epiphany like crisis, she literally cannot do it. Being in the business of sometimes sugar coating the truth, Lucy panics. With so much to lose, can Lucy come out of it unscathed, even if it means telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
In the vein of the movie Liar, Liar, Nothing But the Truth is a classic tale of being careful what you wish for. Light in its delivery, it still deals with A LOT of things, some of which are decidedly heavy handed, all in the course of one day. In fact, that would be my biggest gripe about this book. I admired what it set out to accomplish, but the rushed pacing of it all ironically made a book about being honest, feel less authentic.
A cute read to breeze through, if I’M being honest, I wanted a bit more out of this one.
On the night before the big 3-0 though, Lucy’s boyfriend stands her up…again. The bartender (handsome, of course) notices the sullen Lucy and offers to make her a drink to wash away her worries.
But Lucy’s innocuous birthday wish morphs into more than she ever bargained for. The next morning when she wakes up she finds herself not feeling like…herself. Despite it being her birthday, she has no desire to get gussied up, has no qualms about being short with her overbearing mother, and honestly isn’t looking forward to all she’s been supposedly wishing for, and for so long.
Unfortunately, this feeling carries over to her workday. Before long Lucy realizes she simply cannot lie anymore. Not to others, or, more importantly, to herself. This is not an epiphany like crisis, she literally cannot do it. Being in the business of sometimes sugar coating the truth, Lucy panics. With so much to lose, can Lucy come out of it unscathed, even if it means telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
In the vein of the movie Liar, Liar, Nothing But the Truth is a classic tale of being careful what you wish for. Light in its delivery, it still deals with A LOT of things, some of which are decidedly heavy handed, all in the course of one day. In fact, that would be my biggest gripe about this book. I admired what it set out to accomplish, but the rushed pacing of it all ironically made a book about being honest, feel less authentic.
A cute read to breeze through, if I’M being honest, I wanted a bit more out of this one.
June 16, 2025
What I expected: a fun, lighthearted romance book.
What I got: the author CONSTANTLY slapping me in the face with the injustice and mistreatment women face every day just by existing. It was presented to me in such a forceful manner that was truely uncalled for. Not to mention Lucy's inner monologues on the matter which you can find in the book on every 10th page or so.
Don't expect subtle hints here, nor an ounce of trust that you actually have braincells and can - in fact - process information if delevered to you through the actions and dialouges between the caracters. I don't like to be treated like that as a reader, so I got pretty bitter pretty quickly.
The premise of this book had potential but it was not utilised properly. I found myself rolling my eyes, skipping over whole paragraphs and putting the book down with utter frustration at the end.
Also, I feel like it's worth mentioning, that this is not a romance book (although it's advertised as such?). It's all of the above, plus a romance subplot so thin, you can barely see it. I honestly think that Lucy should have ended up single by the end, with her friends/family/clients/collegues supporting her in her choices. Finding happiness and fulfillment in building her carrier - which she clearly values higher than a romantic relationship anyways.
Giving this a generous 2⭐
What I got: the author CONSTANTLY slapping me in the face with the injustice and mistreatment women face every day just by existing. It was presented to me in such a forceful manner that was truely uncalled for. Not to mention Lucy's inner monologues on the matter which you can find in the book on every 10th page or so.
Don't expect subtle hints here, nor an ounce of trust that you actually have braincells and can - in fact - process information if delevered to you through the actions and dialouges between the caracters. I don't like to be treated like that as a reader, so I got pretty bitter pretty quickly.
The premise of this book had potential but it was not utilised properly. I found myself rolling my eyes, skipping over whole paragraphs and putting the book down with utter frustration at the end.
Also, I feel like it's worth mentioning, that this is not a romance book (although it's advertised as such?). It's all of the above, plus a romance subplot so thin, you can barely see it. I honestly think that Lucy should have ended up single by the end, with her friends/family/clients/collegues supporting her in her choices. Finding happiness and fulfillment in building her carrier - which she clearly values higher than a romantic relationship anyways.
Giving this a generous 2⭐
May 24, 2022
A delightful feminist spin on Liar, Liar, Nothing But the Truth is the perfect read for your beach bag this summer. The author's humorous voice sparkles and I loved the "day in the life of a PR professional" Lucy is a heroine to root for, but I adored *most* of the side characters as well (Jonathan being the exception). I loved how the women supported each other and was appreciative that the author gave one of the men a redeeming character arc. I already can't wait to read the Deja Glitch next year!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 2, 2022
Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for my gifted review copy of Nothing But the Truth by Holly James.
There is so much to love about Nothing But the Truth by Holly James. First, it has an element of magic. Now, I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's so dang fun. Lucy is a Hollywood publicist and she drinks a cocktail on the eve of her thirtieth birthday for her life to be perfect The next day, she cannot tell a lie. Can you imagine?
As you can imagine this leads to some very interesting conversations. The first is a frank and honest discussion with her colleagues about menstruation. I tell you, I was cheering while barreling down the highway with my audio blasting. LOVE IT!
Based on the cover and the synopsis, I thought this would be a fun jaunt into the world of celebrity management and young adulthood. While it is that, it is so much more. Holly brings real issues to the forefront including sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Verdict
I am Really Into This book. It's fun, clever, and enjoyable and the audio is fantastic.
There is so much to love about Nothing But the Truth by Holly James. First, it has an element of magic. Now, I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's so dang fun. Lucy is a Hollywood publicist and she drinks a cocktail on the eve of her thirtieth birthday for her life to be perfect The next day, she cannot tell a lie. Can you imagine?
As you can imagine this leads to some very interesting conversations. The first is a frank and honest discussion with her colleagues about menstruation. I tell you, I was cheering while barreling down the highway with my audio blasting. LOVE IT!
Based on the cover and the synopsis, I thought this would be a fun jaunt into the world of celebrity management and young adulthood. While it is that, it is so much more. Holly brings real issues to the forefront including sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Verdict
I am Really Into This book. It's fun, clever, and enjoyable and the audio is fantastic.
October 11, 2022
The bartender/ boyfriend she ended up with in the end was so random. A lot of the "truths" she told were validating for me and I imagine women everywhere, but feminst commentary aside this was missing something for me
August 6, 2022
BOOK REVIEW: Nothing But the Truth by Holly James
2022 Publication Date: July 12
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Contemporary Fiction
CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
As you make each choice in your day, pause and ask... Why am I doing this?...
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: I love finding T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books from genres that can often be thrown in a bucket of stereotypes. July seems to be rewarding me with this wonderful gift of finding multiple matches in one of my favorite book treasure hunts!
Nothing But The Truth by Holly James is a refreshing and insightful read that will both entertain you and strike a chord with any woman who reads it. Coming off the age of the "Me Too" movement, Holly James masterfully writes a story filled with humor, magic, romance and tons of insightful moments originating from the strong female lead at the center of this story.
This is no easy feat... And even more impressively, this is Holly James first novel!
Nothing But The Truth has snagged all my top book awards: T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read, Best Book Club Books and Best Books By Genre for Contemporary Fiction... Yes... This book is "that" unicorn!
And I can assure you... Holly James' next book will be an auto-buy on my Most Anticipated Books of the Year list as well.
Holly is exactly the type of author I love to read... and applaud. I (along with many women) love to find stories where we can both celebrate strong female empowerment while still totally embracing being a girl.
Folks... It is not a contradiction. Get used to it... ✨😎✨
Pages: 303
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Women's Fiction
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Los Angeles (California)
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino
TV: Good Girls Revolt (Amazon Prime)
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It's the eve of Hollywood publicist Lucy Green's thirtieth birthday, and she's hoping for a promotion and a proposal from her boyfriend. But when he stands her up for a date and her rival colleague is determined to snag her promotion, she makes a wish for a perfect birthday filled with everything she wants.
Little does she know that her wish will be granted in the most unexpected way possible.
Suddenly, Lucy finds herself compelled to tell the truth all the time, no matter what the consequences. And when the truth starts coming out, the wish starts to feel more like a curse as it threatens to destroy her relationships, her career, and her life as she knows it.
With her new "let the chips fall where they may" truth-telling, Lucy scrambles to find a way to break the "curse" before it destroys everything she's worked so hard for.
Can Lucy find a way to break the curse before it destroys everything she's worked so hard for? Or will the truth finally set her free?
Filled with heart, humor, and a whole lot of truth-telling, Nothing But the Truth is a funny, heartwarming novel about finding out that sometimes, the best thing you can do is just be yourself.
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The power of truth-telling: Lucy's compulsion to tell the truth, no matter what the consequences, ultimately leads to some difficult conversations and situations. But it also opens up a whole new world of honesty and authenticity for her.
• The importance of being honest and true to yourself
• Explore the expectations placed on women's appearances
RELATED QUOTE:
"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." - James A. Garfield
--------------------
All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-...
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
2022 Publication Date: July 12
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books
T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Contemporary Fiction
CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
As you make each choice in your day, pause and ask... Why am I doing this?...
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: I love finding T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books from genres that can often be thrown in a bucket of stereotypes. July seems to be rewarding me with this wonderful gift of finding multiple matches in one of my favorite book treasure hunts!
Nothing But The Truth by Holly James is a refreshing and insightful read that will both entertain you and strike a chord with any woman who reads it. Coming off the age of the "Me Too" movement, Holly James masterfully writes a story filled with humor, magic, romance and tons of insightful moments originating from the strong female lead at the center of this story.
This is no easy feat... And even more impressively, this is Holly James first novel!
Nothing But The Truth has snagged all my top book awards: T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read, Best Book Club Books and Best Books By Genre for Contemporary Fiction... Yes... This book is "that" unicorn!
And I can assure you... Holly James' next book will be an auto-buy on my Most Anticipated Books of the Year list as well.
Holly is exactly the type of author I love to read... and applaud. I (along with many women) love to find stories where we can both celebrate strong female empowerment while still totally embracing being a girl.
Folks... It is not a contradiction. Get used to it... ✨😎✨
Pages: 303
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Sub-Genre: Women's Fiction
Time Period: Present Day
Location: Los Angeles (California)
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: Smile and Look Pretty by Amanda Pellegrino
TV: Good Girls Revolt (Amazon Prime)
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It's the eve of Hollywood publicist Lucy Green's thirtieth birthday, and she's hoping for a promotion and a proposal from her boyfriend. But when he stands her up for a date and her rival colleague is determined to snag her promotion, she makes a wish for a perfect birthday filled with everything she wants.
Little does she know that her wish will be granted in the most unexpected way possible.
Suddenly, Lucy finds herself compelled to tell the truth all the time, no matter what the consequences. And when the truth starts coming out, the wish starts to feel more like a curse as it threatens to destroy her relationships, her career, and her life as she knows it.
With her new "let the chips fall where they may" truth-telling, Lucy scrambles to find a way to break the "curse" before it destroys everything she's worked so hard for.
Can Lucy find a way to break the curse before it destroys everything she's worked so hard for? Or will the truth finally set her free?
Filled with heart, humor, and a whole lot of truth-telling, Nothing But the Truth is a funny, heartwarming novel about finding out that sometimes, the best thing you can do is just be yourself.
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
• The power of truth-telling: Lucy's compulsion to tell the truth, no matter what the consequences, ultimately leads to some difficult conversations and situations. But it also opens up a whole new world of honesty and authenticity for her.
• The importance of being honest and true to yourself
• Explore the expectations placed on women's appearances
RELATED QUOTE:
"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." - James A. Garfield
--------------------
All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-...
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
July 21, 2022
2.5 Stars
The day before her 30th birthday, Lucy makes a wish for the perfect day. When she wakes the next morning, she realizes she’s physically incapable of lying in any capacity. This causes a whole slew of hijinks to occur as Lucy must face the truth when it comes to her relationships and the injustices she faces at work.
The novel started off very bumpy, with Lucy’s morning routine taking up a quarter of this novel as she realizes she hates every aspect of getting ready that she’s grown accustomed to. It started off witty, but turned repetitive and annoying.
Finally at work, the readers are introduced to the wonderful Oliver, Lucy’s work friend. He’s so bubbly and funny - anyone would kill for a ride or die like Oliver. Unfortunately, Lucy often goes on feminist tangents directed towards Oliver despite him not doing anything bad. Poor guy gets scolded so often, even Lucy admits to herself he doesn’t deserve her wrath but he just happens to be the nearest individual with a penis.
This was my biggest issue with this novel. The feminist message is nice in theory, but this sort of message is more feminazi. Lucy is such a massive man hater that when she meets a genuinely nice man she believes she’s delusional and is hallucinating him. This guy puts up with her craziness and has to prove he’s a real human being to her. Like… girl I know you’ve had lots of encounters with shitty men but shockingly they are not all like that.
I am a proud feminist, but messages like these are dangerous. Yes, queen, point out those workplace injustices and rant about the patriarchy, but don’t take it out on your male best friend and the cute guy treating you as you should. They’re innocent, yet are taking the brunt of your frustrations! It made me frustrated! I was cheering alongside the characters when the men who deserved it were told off, but when the other men were feeling the heat from the message too it made me feel uncomfortable. Lucy acknowledged herself that she was unhinged at times and I hate to agree. Such a great message lost through over-preachiness.
The birthday party scene at the end felt dragged out and the set up was a little ridiculous with all the characters of the book arriving one by one to close out their plot lines. I was having some fun with this book when Lucy and Oliver were trying silly online remedies to rid her of her “truth curse” and I enjoyed the Hollywood aspect of this novel, so it wasn’t a total flop. It was just way too preachy for me and Lucy wasn’t that lovable of a heroine.
Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The day before her 30th birthday, Lucy makes a wish for the perfect day. When she wakes the next morning, she realizes she’s physically incapable of lying in any capacity. This causes a whole slew of hijinks to occur as Lucy must face the truth when it comes to her relationships and the injustices she faces at work.
The novel started off very bumpy, with Lucy’s morning routine taking up a quarter of this novel as she realizes she hates every aspect of getting ready that she’s grown accustomed to. It started off witty, but turned repetitive and annoying.
Finally at work, the readers are introduced to the wonderful Oliver, Lucy’s work friend. He’s so bubbly and funny - anyone would kill for a ride or die like Oliver. Unfortunately, Lucy often goes on feminist tangents directed towards Oliver despite him not doing anything bad. Poor guy gets scolded so often, even Lucy admits to herself he doesn’t deserve her wrath but he just happens to be the nearest individual with a penis.
This was my biggest issue with this novel. The feminist message is nice in theory, but this sort of message is more feminazi. Lucy is such a massive man hater that when she meets a genuinely nice man she believes she’s delusional and is hallucinating him. This guy puts up with her craziness and has to prove he’s a real human being to her. Like… girl I know you’ve had lots of encounters with shitty men but shockingly they are not all like that.
I am a proud feminist, but messages like these are dangerous. Yes, queen, point out those workplace injustices and rant about the patriarchy, but don’t take it out on your male best friend and the cute guy treating you as you should. They’re innocent, yet are taking the brunt of your frustrations! It made me frustrated! I was cheering alongside the characters when the men who deserved it were told off, but when the other men were feeling the heat from the message too it made me feel uncomfortable. Lucy acknowledged herself that she was unhinged at times and I hate to agree. Such a great message lost through over-preachiness.
The birthday party scene at the end felt dragged out and the set up was a little ridiculous with all the characters of the book arriving one by one to close out their plot lines. I was having some fun with this book when Lucy and Oliver were trying silly online remedies to rid her of her “truth curse” and I enjoyed the Hollywood aspect of this novel, so it wasn’t a total flop. It was just way too preachy for me and Lucy wasn’t that lovable of a heroine.
Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2024
Lucy Green wanted her thirtieth birthday to be a perfect day when she made her wish. Little did she know it would would leave her with the inability to tell a lie. Though this “curse” was initially challenging, the results were rather surprising.
This was a rather interesting and entertaining exploration of the lies we tell ourselves each day. The beginning was utterly hilarious, and I found myself laughing and nodding my head as Lucy came clean with herself about everything from shape wear to restrictive eating. It offered quite a bit of social commentary about the way women are taught to accept certain things and convince themselves that they are onboard with all of it. Because Lucy was forced to tell the truth, many of her beliefs were challenged, and as a result, she grew tremendously. The story took a more serious turn that I wasn’t expecting, but I did appreciate the way the the author addressed and incorporated it.
I have seen this being noted as a romance. There was a romantic (sub) sub-plot which I really enjoyed, but it was a minor part of the story in my opinion. Nonetheless, I adored the love interest and enjoyed how he kept surprising Lucy (and me).
Overall: I really enjoyed this spin on “Liar, Liar”, and I appreciated the well the author kept the story fun while incorporating a serious issue.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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This was a rather interesting and entertaining exploration of the lies we tell ourselves each day. The beginning was utterly hilarious, and I found myself laughing and nodding my head as Lucy came clean with herself about everything from shape wear to restrictive eating. It offered quite a bit of social commentary about the way women are taught to accept certain things and convince themselves that they are onboard with all of it. Because Lucy was forced to tell the truth, many of her beliefs were challenged, and as a result, she grew tremendously. The story took a more serious turn that I wasn’t expecting, but I did appreciate the way the the author addressed and incorporated it.
I have seen this being noted as a romance. There was a romantic (sub) sub-plot which I really enjoyed, but it was a minor part of the story in my opinion. Nonetheless, I adored the love interest and enjoyed how he kept surprising Lucy (and me).
Overall: I really enjoyed this spin on “Liar, Liar”, and I appreciated the well the author kept the story fun while incorporating a serious issue.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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