The Lies That Bind: Mothers and Daughters

by K.J. Ritchie

How far would a mother go to regain control?

Vivien is a master manipulator. She inherited the behavior from her own mother, Joyce, who endured a problematic childhood creating emotional issues that grew stronger and more challenging as she aged.

Vivien had always been desperate to escape her mother’s controlling ways and explosive temper. She pictured herself better, living a life created in her fruitful imagination. She never anticipated that she would end up mirroring those same extreme traits with her own daughter, Rosemary.

Now, coarsely shaped by generations of parental control and emotional abuse, young Rosemary must find her way to break that cycle and make peace with both the life she’s been forced to lead and the questionable choices and behaviour of the women who came before her. A hidden truth helps her find peace and some sort of understanding, as she unravels the lies that bind.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2025

Reviews

[Fiona Annett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that both shook me to my core and validated something within me that had been buried for far too long. The depiction of a never ending cycle of destruction that evolves from multi generational trauma is as raw as the resolution is redeeming. The level of emotion will bring you to your knees and pull you in tight to the main characters and have you asking yourself questions about those characters that hover off to the side and how each and every one of them shapes the direction of the story.
Loved!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read ! My emotions were all over the place following these mothers and daughters through their challenging and deceitful lives, and cheering them on through their wins and cringing losses. A fast paced, event filled read that keeps you always wondering how these sometimes strong, sometimes weak, but determined women will cope. It’s a book that you can’t help but think about as soon as you put it down.

[Sharon Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It grabbed my attention with the character development however, I also found some of the women characters were really hard to like. That’s a testament to the quality of writing by K.J. Ritchie.
The women in this book start out being good and well intentioned whose lives take a turn. It is an essay in how a traumatic event can promote those ingrained negative voices in your head that are so hard to shut out. Something I think is so relatable.
The Lies that Bind, Mothers and Daughters is a journey into the sometimes unhealthy relationship between the two and how each generation strives to change those negative behaviours going forward. Sometimes positive and sometimes not.
I look forward to reading more from K.J. Ritchie

[Jessica Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ritchie reached out to me to ask if I'd consider reading "The Lies That Bind: Mothers and Daughters," I hesitated.

I like to read to escape and being a mother (and a daughter), I was concerned with how challenging the story would be, but I decided to step outside my comfort zone, and I'm glad I did

The Lies That Bind is a compelling and poignant story exploring intergenerational trauma through three generations of women.
Beginning with Joyce and her heartbreaking introduction to womanhood and ending with Rosemary and her fight to break the pattern.

I think this is a really important book considering all the things happening around the world concerning the autonomy women have over their bodies and reproductive health... politics aside, The Lies That Bind is a difficult but rewarding read. The ending is incredibly satisfying, and there's some huge wins and truly awful events for the characters along the way that keep those pages turning.

If you enjoy literary fiction with quiet female rage that explores the complex relationship between familial women, this is one for you.

[Sandra Hass · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to put this book down. I wanted to keep reading to see how this emotional turmoil would end but it just kept getting more unbelievable.

[Chapter.whispers.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

K.J. Ritchie's moving book The Lies That Bind explores the intricacies of intergenerational trauma, especially as it relates to mother-daughter relationships. The book is a moving examination of the intricacies of family ties and the long-lasting effects of mental trauma. The book offers an engaging tale that appeals to readers who enjoy family sagas and psychological dramas because of its vivid storytelling and well-developed characters.

[Geri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quiet, powerful read….
I see things more clearly, not with blame, but with understanding. Thank you❤️