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White Lies
A haunting YA thriller you won't be able to put down, White Lies is a boarding school story - with a shockingly dark twist.
Everybody hurts
For Abigail, a new school could be the fresh start she so desperately needs. With her parents in the army and her sister Beth too far away to run to, she knows this year needs to be different. She's never been part of the cool crowd and for the first time Abby wants to fit in. And all it takes is just one little white lie…because some truths are too painful to share.
Everybody lies
But at Cotswold Community College, Abby isn't the only one with a past she'd rather forget. And when she stumbles across a closely-guarded secret, Abigail realises that her one little white lie could reveal everything she’s worked so hard to hide…
Everybody hurts
For Abigail, a new school could be the fresh start she so desperately needs. With her parents in the army and her sister Beth too far away to run to, she knows this year needs to be different. She's never been part of the cool crowd and for the first time Abby wants to fit in. And all it takes is just one little white lie…because some truths are too painful to share.
Everybody lies
But at Cotswold Community College, Abby isn't the only one with a past she'd rather forget. And when she stumbles across a closely-guarded secret, Abigail realises that her one little white lie could reveal everything she’s worked so hard to hide…
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 22 reviews
January 17, 2016
Before I talk about this one it should be mentioned that Zoe Markham’s first novel, Under My Skin, was another stand out read for me when it was released and bears checking out, just in case I forget to mention it later…
Onto her new novel, White Lies, and here we have a very different sense of feeling but with the same compelling edge and absolutely addictive quality. Of school cliques and family drama and one girl, Abigail, determined to fit in at yet another new school, this time she’ll get it right. The ebb and flow of travelling army life has seen Abby go to many schools and she has never quite managed to settle..it seems that if she just tells one tiny white lie, she’ll be accepted and popular here. But things soon spiral out of control…
I LOVED this one. I was utterly engaged start to finish and I devoured it in beautiful spells of reading time – there is a dark edge to the narrative, a scary feel to some of the events and just that little *something* that touches you on an emotional level when reading that grips you utterly.
Abby was fascinating as a character, beautiful levels of personality and when pitted against Scarlett, another absolutely brilliant creation, the sparks began to fly. Add in some truly spooky and dark dealings, a touch of inspiration and a killer twist that I never once saw coming and you have an imaginative, clever and intelligent thriller that just happens to be in the Young Adult market. Pish to that, its better than any one of 150 girl books you might read this year or did last…
Tight plotting, dark humour that may well have you laughing out loud occasionally and the authors ability to ensure you run like hell next time you see a Magpie means that this one comes highly recommended from me.
Onto her new novel, White Lies, and here we have a very different sense of feeling but with the same compelling edge and absolutely addictive quality. Of school cliques and family drama and one girl, Abigail, determined to fit in at yet another new school, this time she’ll get it right. The ebb and flow of travelling army life has seen Abby go to many schools and she has never quite managed to settle..it seems that if she just tells one tiny white lie, she’ll be accepted and popular here. But things soon spiral out of control…
I LOVED this one. I was utterly engaged start to finish and I devoured it in beautiful spells of reading time – there is a dark edge to the narrative, a scary feel to some of the events and just that little *something* that touches you on an emotional level when reading that grips you utterly.
Abby was fascinating as a character, beautiful levels of personality and when pitted against Scarlett, another absolutely brilliant creation, the sparks began to fly. Add in some truly spooky and dark dealings, a touch of inspiration and a killer twist that I never once saw coming and you have an imaginative, clever and intelligent thriller that just happens to be in the Young Adult market. Pish to that, its better than any one of 150 girl books you might read this year or did last…
Tight plotting, dark humour that may well have you laughing out loud occasionally and the authors ability to ensure you run like hell next time you see a Magpie means that this one comes highly recommended from me.
January 21, 2016
Having devoured Markham’s first novel, Under My Skin (another 5* from me) pre-ordering White Lies was a no-brainer. As soon as it popped up on my Kindle app come release day, I dived straight in.
I connected with fifteen-year-old protagonist Abby as she started her new school (vivid memories of this on my part) immediately. But Abby’s new school isn’t just any old school, it’s a posh boarding house with a murky history and a spooky-eyed magpie in residence. Worse still, a little white lie told to ingratiate Abby with her new dorm buddies kick-starts a series of events that soon spiral way, way out of control.
Markham has a free-flowing writing style that is light, but still manages to beautifully convey intricacy of place, character and plot. I think that’s what makes this book so addictive, and it really was addictive. I had to know what was going to happen, I had to know who was involved and to what extent. And the inevitable twist was to die for! The book reminded me a lot of Tanya Byrne’s Follow Me Down, with a generous, scrummy helping of The Falling (one of the stand out movies of last year) on top. I loved it!!
Oh, and one last thing, great Potter references!
I connected with fifteen-year-old protagonist Abby as she started her new school (vivid memories of this on my part) immediately. But Abby’s new school isn’t just any old school, it’s a posh boarding house with a murky history and a spooky-eyed magpie in residence. Worse still, a little white lie told to ingratiate Abby with her new dorm buddies kick-starts a series of events that soon spiral way, way out of control.
Markham has a free-flowing writing style that is light, but still manages to beautifully convey intricacy of place, character and plot. I think that’s what makes this book so addictive, and it really was addictive. I had to know what was going to happen, I had to know who was involved and to what extent. And the inevitable twist was to die for! The book reminded me a lot of Tanya Byrne’s Follow Me Down, with a generous, scrummy helping of The Falling (one of the stand out movies of last year) on top. I loved it!!
Oh, and one last thing, great Potter references!
January 17, 2016
Source: I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher, via Netgalley, with thanks to Carina UK and Netgalley.
Cost: Free
Title: White Lies
Author: Zoe Markham
Genre: YA, Contemporary, mental health
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Abigail moves around a lot, her parents are in the military, she's basically an army brat. So when her parent's find a cheap enough boarding school, they think it's a good idea for Abby. Some stability, the opportunity to make new friends, be with people her own age, work on her academia. What could go wrong? But when Abby starts, she is immediately on the wrong side of some of the girls there after telling a little white lie, and stranded from her parents and her older sister Beth, Abby feels alone and her fresh start doesn't seem as hopeful. But Abby isn't the only one telling white lies, and her past might just catch up with her.
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down and it was short enough for me to whizz through. The formatting of this book had me so confused at first, but as the book began to go on, I caught little hints and foreshadowing about the ending, but when it came I still couldn't believe the unbelievable dark twist that this book took. It was so gripping and surreal that I'm still captivated by it!
I loved the writing style of this author and it's made me incredibly eager to read more books by Ms. Markham.
The characterisation of this book was so point, Abby was very realistic. Something that you find in YA is that teenagers are often melodramatic caricatures of real teenagers, but Abby was so mellow and likeable that it really added to the essence of this book. You felt sorry for her and you wanted things to work out for her.
The whole Beth thing really struck me as I didn't really take much notice of Beth until the end.
I would highly recommend this book if you're a fan of YA that deals with mental health.
Cost: Free
Title: White Lies
Author: Zoe Markham
Genre: YA, Contemporary, mental health
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Abigail moves around a lot, her parents are in the military, she's basically an army brat. So when her parent's find a cheap enough boarding school, they think it's a good idea for Abby. Some stability, the opportunity to make new friends, be with people her own age, work on her academia. What could go wrong? But when Abby starts, she is immediately on the wrong side of some of the girls there after telling a little white lie, and stranded from her parents and her older sister Beth, Abby feels alone and her fresh start doesn't seem as hopeful. But Abby isn't the only one telling white lies, and her past might just catch up with her.
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down and it was short enough for me to whizz through. The formatting of this book had me so confused at first, but as the book began to go on, I caught little hints and foreshadowing about the ending, but when it came I still couldn't believe the unbelievable dark twist that this book took. It was so gripping and surreal that I'm still captivated by it!
I loved the writing style of this author and it's made me incredibly eager to read more books by Ms. Markham.
The characterisation of this book was so point, Abby was very realistic. Something that you find in YA is that teenagers are often melodramatic caricatures of real teenagers, but Abby was so mellow and likeable that it really added to the essence of this book. You felt sorry for her and you wanted things to work out for her.
The whole Beth thing really struck me as I didn't really take much notice of Beth until the end.
I would highly recommend this book if you're a fan of YA that deals with mental health.
January 15, 2016
Abigail is very familiar with starting over. Both of her parents are in the Army and she's had to move and start new schools quite often in her life. This time her older sister Beth has started at uni so Abigail is going to be boarding at Cotswold. When she arrives she meets a young man by the name of Tyler who seems quite nice and then two of her three roommates and seems to hit it off wonderfully with them.
However, during her first meeting with her new roommates Abby tells a few little white lies about her past which eventually catch up to her when her third roommate, Scarlet, feels threatened. Scarlet seems to be determined to ruin Abby's chance at a fresh start and fitting in to the new school at all costs.
White Lies became one of those books I just couldn't put down. A fairly fast paced read that kept me engaged throughout just waiting to see where it would all go. I thought so many times that I knew what was going on and where it was going to go but in the end I wasn't even close. A wonderful edge of your seat thriller that will have you guessing all the way to the end.
Abby is the type of character that you can't help but feel for. She's pretty much had to be a loner most of her life with the exception of her older sister Beth who is her lifeline during her tough times. The other students follow along with their leader, Scarlet who for whatever reason dislikes Abby no matter how hard she tries to befriend her. Scarlet is the perfect "villain" that you don't know whether to hate or feel really sorry for.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out if you enjoy YA thrillers with a bit of horror element thrown into the mix.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
However, during her first meeting with her new roommates Abby tells a few little white lies about her past which eventually catch up to her when her third roommate, Scarlet, feels threatened. Scarlet seems to be determined to ruin Abby's chance at a fresh start and fitting in to the new school at all costs.
White Lies became one of those books I just couldn't put down. A fairly fast paced read that kept me engaged throughout just waiting to see where it would all go. I thought so many times that I knew what was going on and where it was going to go but in the end I wasn't even close. A wonderful edge of your seat thriller that will have you guessing all the way to the end.
Abby is the type of character that you can't help but feel for. She's pretty much had to be a loner most of her life with the exception of her older sister Beth who is her lifeline during her tough times. The other students follow along with their leader, Scarlet who for whatever reason dislikes Abby no matter how hard she tries to befriend her. Scarlet is the perfect "villain" that you don't know whether to hate or feel really sorry for.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking this one out if you enjoy YA thrillers with a bit of horror element thrown into the mix.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
February 15, 2018
White Lies
is a tale of contemporary boarding school life, where a touch of the surreal creeps in to keep our main character company when she finds herself facing the bitingly cold shoulders of others.
The author offers snapshots of situations that build to reveal a truer picture of the impressionable young boarders. As the school term ticks on themes of isolation and considerable apprehension contribute to their psychological wellbeing.
It steadily addresses the backstory behind the telling of a white lie and how this little act provides the defensive barrier needed to keep our worst fears and feelings from intruding on daily life. Equally this simple emotional fortification could prevent help from getting through.
Although I found the story a little slow to start it didn’t take me too long to become attached to the characters and the anxieties they experienced. As my curiosity of them grew I began to flip the pages just that little bit quicker to see how things events would transform life for them.
Plus, the peculiar visits by a lone magpie made a magnificent contribution to the already troubling atmosphere.
The author offers snapshots of situations that build to reveal a truer picture of the impressionable young boarders. As the school term ticks on themes of isolation and considerable apprehension contribute to their psychological wellbeing.
It steadily addresses the backstory behind the telling of a white lie and how this little act provides the defensive barrier needed to keep our worst fears and feelings from intruding on daily life. Equally this simple emotional fortification could prevent help from getting through.
Although I found the story a little slow to start it didn’t take me too long to become attached to the characters and the anxieties they experienced. As my curiosity of them grew I began to flip the pages just that little bit quicker to see how things events would transform life for them.
Plus, the peculiar visits by a lone magpie made a magnificent contribution to the already troubling atmosphere.
January 23, 2016
Published by: Carina (18th January 2016)
ISBN: 9781474045001
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4*
Synopsis:
Everybody hurts
For Abigail, a new school could be the fresh start she so desperately needs. With her parents in the army and her sister Beth too far away to run to, she knows this year needs to be different. She's never been part of the cool crowd and for the first time Abby wants to fit in. And all it takes is just one little white lie…because some truths are too painful to share.
Everybody lies
But at Cotswold Community College, Abby isn't the only one with a past she'd rather forget. And when she stumbles across a closely-guarded secret, Abigail realises that her one little white lie could reveal everything she’s worked so hard to hide…
Review:
As a young adult I read a lot of boarding school stories, so the setting was a throwback to my childhood and teenage years, when I devoured all such stories. The fact that the building is ancient immediately adds rather a spooky feel, exacerbated by the appearance of a raven, the close proximity of the local graveyard and the ritualistic telling of ghost stories. I thought perhaps Abby would discover the school was haunted by long-forgotten children who had befallen some evil in times gone by. But does she?
Although she fits the cliche, It's hard not to like Abby. She's your typical underdog - overweight and not exactly pretty, she's the misfit newcomer among the ranks of teens and she dreads trying to fit in among her classmates, let alone the girls in her dorm. I really liked the way the author added layers of detail as the book went along, to build a complex picture of several of the different characters at the school.
It's hard to say much more without giving away too much of the story, but everything takes a darker turn. For me the best part of White Lies starts here, not discounting that the story as a whole is very well put together. It was hard not to be drawn into Abby's conflicting emotions as she struggles to put everything into perspective.
I found White Lies hard to put down and highly recommend it. Although this is targeted at the Young Adult market, I enjoyed it as an adult reader. I'd recommend it to readers of all ages and genres, as it touches on a lot of themes, including loss, schooldays, supernatural, romance, suspense and thriller.
ISBN: 9781474045001
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4*
Synopsis:
Everybody hurts
For Abigail, a new school could be the fresh start she so desperately needs. With her parents in the army and her sister Beth too far away to run to, she knows this year needs to be different. She's never been part of the cool crowd and for the first time Abby wants to fit in. And all it takes is just one little white lie…because some truths are too painful to share.
Everybody lies
But at Cotswold Community College, Abby isn't the only one with a past she'd rather forget. And when she stumbles across a closely-guarded secret, Abigail realises that her one little white lie could reveal everything she’s worked so hard to hide…
Review:
As a young adult I read a lot of boarding school stories, so the setting was a throwback to my childhood and teenage years, when I devoured all such stories. The fact that the building is ancient immediately adds rather a spooky feel, exacerbated by the appearance of a raven, the close proximity of the local graveyard and the ritualistic telling of ghost stories. I thought perhaps Abby would discover the school was haunted by long-forgotten children who had befallen some evil in times gone by. But does she?
Although she fits the cliche, It's hard not to like Abby. She's your typical underdog - overweight and not exactly pretty, she's the misfit newcomer among the ranks of teens and she dreads trying to fit in among her classmates, let alone the girls in her dorm. I really liked the way the author added layers of detail as the book went along, to build a complex picture of several of the different characters at the school.
It's hard to say much more without giving away too much of the story, but everything takes a darker turn. For me the best part of White Lies starts here, not discounting that the story as a whole is very well put together. It was hard not to be drawn into Abby's conflicting emotions as she struggles to put everything into perspective.
I found White Lies hard to put down and highly recommend it. Although this is targeted at the Young Adult market, I enjoyed it as an adult reader. I'd recommend it to readers of all ages and genres, as it touches on a lot of themes, including loss, schooldays, supernatural, romance, suspense and thriller.
March 26, 2016
Originally reviewed on Becca's Books.
If what you're after is a Gothic, darkly thrilling and twisted novel, then White Lies by Zoe Markham could be exactly what you're looking for. I'd been meaning to pick up one of Markham's novels for such a long time and finally got round to doing so. I couldn't wait to begin. I'd seen tons of excellent comments on Twitter and the reviews were fantastic too. As soon as I was able to, I tucked right into it and raced through the pages, barely pausing to take a breath.
White Lies by Zoe Markham follows the story of Abigail (Abby) as she slips into her new boarding school and tries to find her feet in the strange new surroundings. With both parents working away in the army, and big sister Beth away at university, Abby is pretty much alone in her new adventures. And adventures they certainly are, although not of the happy, care-free kind. It is clear, from the get-go, that Abby struggles to fit in, and I could sympathise with this character on so many levels. I've never been one of the "cool kids" myself either, and so I felt that extra bit closer to Abby, which I adore when reading any book. Zoe had skilfully crafted Abigail. Despite trying to remain calm on the surface, the reader was able to see right through her demeanour. Beneath, she was a storm of emotions and uncertainty, and who could blame her, really? Abby was fending for herself from the second she arrived at Cotswold Community College, and for one who doesn't feel they belong, it's a bloody struggle. Zoe put this across fantastically well throughout the novel, so much so that I wanted to step right inside and take sides with Abby, so that she didn't feel so alone.
Sharing a room with three other girls, Abby is pleasantly surprised when they quickly fall into friendly conversation with each other, rather than spiteful glares or glances. That is until Scarlett arrives. Everyone loves Scarlett. She's practically perfect in every way. The boys fall at her feet and all the girls want to be her. And Abby's fine with that. Really, she is. That is until she uncovers a deep, dark secret about Scarlett, and this in turn sets the wheels in motion for ultimate destruction. Markham got the whole "clique" feel of the story absolutely spot-on. When things take a turn for the worst, just when I thought everything was going great for Abby, it's not hard to notice how quickly her new friends take sides. Harsh, snide and cruel, Abby realises that the only person who's got her back is herself, and perhaps a few others, but she's not quite sure just yet... There are secrets everywhere she turns, and who, exactly, is she able to trust?
The atmosphere within White Lies by Zoe Markham was suffocating, overwhelming, claustrophobic even. And the simple fact that the novel is set in a boarding school notched up the creepiness by a million. Alongside spine-tingling ghost stories about the place itself, intriguing strangers and secrets being withheld on all counts, this truly got beneath my skin. And then when the shocking truth was finally revealed, I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. It turned everything I thought I knew about the characters upside down and left me questioning it all. Truly brilliant.
Becca's Books is awarding White Lies by Zoe Markham with four of my bookish stars! Brilliantly developed, with a fantastically curious heroine and a chilling setting, I cannot wait to read more from this author. Markham has a fantastic style, one that I found rather addictive, and one that creeps right into your mind and lingers like fog.
If what you're after is a Gothic, darkly thrilling and twisted novel, then White Lies by Zoe Markham could be exactly what you're looking for. I'd been meaning to pick up one of Markham's novels for such a long time and finally got round to doing so. I couldn't wait to begin. I'd seen tons of excellent comments on Twitter and the reviews were fantastic too. As soon as I was able to, I tucked right into it and raced through the pages, barely pausing to take a breath.
White Lies by Zoe Markham follows the story of Abigail (Abby) as she slips into her new boarding school and tries to find her feet in the strange new surroundings. With both parents working away in the army, and big sister Beth away at university, Abby is pretty much alone in her new adventures. And adventures they certainly are, although not of the happy, care-free kind. It is clear, from the get-go, that Abby struggles to fit in, and I could sympathise with this character on so many levels. I've never been one of the "cool kids" myself either, and so I felt that extra bit closer to Abby, which I adore when reading any book. Zoe had skilfully crafted Abigail. Despite trying to remain calm on the surface, the reader was able to see right through her demeanour. Beneath, she was a storm of emotions and uncertainty, and who could blame her, really? Abby was fending for herself from the second she arrived at Cotswold Community College, and for one who doesn't feel they belong, it's a bloody struggle. Zoe put this across fantastically well throughout the novel, so much so that I wanted to step right inside and take sides with Abby, so that she didn't feel so alone.
Sharing a room with three other girls, Abby is pleasantly surprised when they quickly fall into friendly conversation with each other, rather than spiteful glares or glances. That is until Scarlett arrives. Everyone loves Scarlett. She's practically perfect in every way. The boys fall at her feet and all the girls want to be her. And Abby's fine with that. Really, she is. That is until she uncovers a deep, dark secret about Scarlett, and this in turn sets the wheels in motion for ultimate destruction. Markham got the whole "clique" feel of the story absolutely spot-on. When things take a turn for the worst, just when I thought everything was going great for Abby, it's not hard to notice how quickly her new friends take sides. Harsh, snide and cruel, Abby realises that the only person who's got her back is herself, and perhaps a few others, but she's not quite sure just yet... There are secrets everywhere she turns, and who, exactly, is she able to trust?
The atmosphere within White Lies by Zoe Markham was suffocating, overwhelming, claustrophobic even. And the simple fact that the novel is set in a boarding school notched up the creepiness by a million. Alongside spine-tingling ghost stories about the place itself, intriguing strangers and secrets being withheld on all counts, this truly got beneath my skin. And then when the shocking truth was finally revealed, I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. It turned everything I thought I knew about the characters upside down and left me questioning it all. Truly brilliant.
Becca's Books is awarding White Lies by Zoe Markham with four of my bookish stars! Brilliantly developed, with a fantastically curious heroine and a chilling setting, I cannot wait to read more from this author. Markham has a fantastic style, one that I found rather addictive, and one that creeps right into your mind and lingers like fog.
March 13, 2016
This is the first book I have read by Zoe. I certainly can’t be classified as a young adult but I still really enjoyed this.
I used to adore reading books about boarding schools when I was a kid so thought this may be of the same ilk, full of midnight parties and jolly hockey sticks. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Abigail arrives for her first day at the school, it’s an ancient building with a creepy feel. She is used to being the new girl her parents are in the military so there is a lot of moving around. Her father is doing a tour in Afghanistan and her mother is due to join him, sister Beth has gone to Uni so the only option left for Abby is to board.
I felt for her and could sympathise as she was desperate to fit in. She seemed the ‘odd’ girl, not slim and attractive like the others so she was pleased and surprised to find Tyler ( hunky sixth former) offering to take her under his wing. She soon met her dorm mates, Rae, Lilly and Scarlett .. they all had their own quirks and as they got to know each other Abby may have elaborated on her lifestyle a little bit.
One of the first things she notices is a magpie who she nicknames Grey. Magpies will always appear a little sinister now! As time goes on the girls change and Abby faces turmoil. The white lies she told will come back to haunt her. As she forms a bond with Archie the plot thickens.
This is beautifully written, it covers a variety of topics and the all to real mental health issues are dealt with in a delicate way all the time raising awareness. It’s almost like peeling an onion reading this as we delve deeper into Abby’s mind. It is hauntingly atmospheric and riveting. I read it in one sitting such is the quality of story telling and tension. I thought I saw where it was going but there are twists and turns to keep you guessing. No spoilers but by the end I felt drained.
I will certainly read other books from Zoe. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Neverland Blog Tours for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
I used to adore reading books about boarding schools when I was a kid so thought this may be of the same ilk, full of midnight parties and jolly hockey sticks. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Abigail arrives for her first day at the school, it’s an ancient building with a creepy feel. She is used to being the new girl her parents are in the military so there is a lot of moving around. Her father is doing a tour in Afghanistan and her mother is due to join him, sister Beth has gone to Uni so the only option left for Abby is to board.
I felt for her and could sympathise as she was desperate to fit in. She seemed the ‘odd’ girl, not slim and attractive like the others so she was pleased and surprised to find Tyler ( hunky sixth former) offering to take her under his wing. She soon met her dorm mates, Rae, Lilly and Scarlett .. they all had their own quirks and as they got to know each other Abby may have elaborated on her lifestyle a little bit.
One of the first things she notices is a magpie who she nicknames Grey. Magpies will always appear a little sinister now! As time goes on the girls change and Abby faces turmoil. The white lies she told will come back to haunt her. As she forms a bond with Archie the plot thickens.
This is beautifully written, it covers a variety of topics and the all to real mental health issues are dealt with in a delicate way all the time raising awareness. It’s almost like peeling an onion reading this as we delve deeper into Abby’s mind. It is hauntingly atmospheric and riveting. I read it in one sitting such is the quality of story telling and tension. I thought I saw where it was going but there are twists and turns to keep you guessing. No spoilers but by the end I felt drained.
I will certainly read other books from Zoe. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Neverland Blog Tours for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 18, 2016
To me, this was young adult fiction at its best. White Lies was an immensely spellbinding, atmospheric story about fifteen-year-old Abigail whose parents are both serving with the military overseas, so she ends up being sent to yet another school. Making friends has never come easy to insecure Abigail, and she so wants to get it right this time, but then a little white lie is told, a secret is uncovered and soon Abigail finds herself isolated from the other pupils within the confines of an old boarding school with an eerie history.
I read this in record time. Just couldn't put it down. I loved the style of writing and the way the author somehow managed to create this peculiar atmosphere of dark foreboding.
Abigail was a great character with such a lovely personality. I thought I had worked out where this story would eventually go, but I was pretty far off in the end.
White Lies was a real edge-of-your-seat thriller with great psychological insights that I would highly recommend even if young adult isn't your usual genre.
Thanks to Carina UK and the author for my copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I read this in record time. Just couldn't put it down. I loved the style of writing and the way the author somehow managed to create this peculiar atmosphere of dark foreboding.
Abigail was a great character with such a lovely personality. I thought I had worked out where this story would eventually go, but I was pretty far off in the end.
White Lies was a real edge-of-your-seat thriller with great psychological insights that I would highly recommend even if young adult isn't your usual genre.
Thanks to Carina UK and the author for my copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 2, 2016
Wow this novel took a huge plot twist at the end! One I definitely wasn't expecting, and one that made the entire novel feel pointless.
Extremely well written, this novel follows the life of Abby, and her boarding school eperience, little do we know, nothing is as it seems.
This novel is slow, it takes a while for things to become evident, that being said, the characters are amazing, it tackles a myriad of different issues and as mentioned above, a plot twist that even the most clued in people won't see coming.
Extremely well written, this novel follows the life of Abby, and her boarding school eperience, little do we know, nothing is as it seems.
This novel is slow, it takes a while for things to become evident, that being said, the characters are amazing, it tackles a myriad of different issues and as mentioned above, a plot twist that even the most clued in people won't see coming.
March 12, 2016
Review to come
October 22, 2018
This novel was a joy to read. The characters are all intriguing, from 15-year-old Abigail (Abby), the main character, to her friends and contacts in her new boarding school. The story is told from Abby's point of view, and one of the enjoyable features of it is figuring out which elements of the story are totally objective and which are slanted due to Abby's not-always-reliable perspective. The narrative is well paced, and kept my interest throughout. Each chapter brings new surprises and deepens the plot as well as the reader's insight into the characters. My only complaint--a minor one--is that most of the major characters disappear from the story near the very end, making the end occur too suddenly and with less drama than I anticipated. While billed as a YA novel, I think it would appeal to most adults as well, and I would recommend it as well to adults as adolescents.
November 1, 2018
I loved it! This is the perfect YA suspense novel to add to my class library. While the beginning was a bit slow, I felt very invested in the main character's life and wanted to know more.
White Lies is told from the point of view of Abby, a new girl at a boarding school. She ends up the victim of bullying. She has a lot of emotion baggage and has to deal with several ghosts (literally and figuratively). Abby is a likeable character and you want to see her succeed.
I think my students will love the twists in this book and I can't wait to get a copy for my class. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
White Lies is told from the point of view of Abby, a new girl at a boarding school. She ends up the victim of bullying. She has a lot of emotion baggage and has to deal with several ghosts (literally and figuratively). Abby is a likeable character and you want to see her succeed.
I think my students will love the twists in this book and I can't wait to get a copy for my class. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2017
We all tell lies, some big some small.
Markham's 'White Lies' is a blend of the Gothic and the modern world. Reminiscent of 90's boarding schools hidden within a modern setting. A powerful story that explores how one little lie can have consequences, whether we lie to ourselves or others.
We all tell lies, some big some small.
Markham's 'White Lies' is a blend of the Gothic and the modern world. Reminiscent of 90's boarding schools hidden within a modern setting. A powerful story that explores how one little lie can have consequences, whether we lie to ourselves or others.
We all tell lies, some big some small.
April 21, 2016
This is the story of a fifteen year old girl named Abigail, who gets sent to an overnight boarding school, because her older sister is at her first year of uni and her parents are out of the country, again, serving in the military. Being part of the "in" crowd has never been her strong suit, but she wants so badly to be part of a close group of friends, and as she meets 2 of her 3 new roommates, she thinks she just might be in with the popular crowd for once.
Then she meets Scarlet, her 3rd roommate and the most popular girl at school, and at Cotswold, the creepy boarding school with a history. During her first real conversation with all 3 of her roommates, Abigail tells a couple of white lies trying to fit in and be part of the group. But, Scar is dealing with her own issues and feels threatened by Abby. She also finds out about the lies that Abby has told and soon gets the entire student body to ostracize the new girl.
During this traumatic and difficult time, Abby feels she has no one to turn to, except her big sister Beth who has always been her best friend. Beth has been there for her all her life, and Abby has relied on her sister to help her by talking sense to her. Abby texts and emails her for the advice she needs.
As the book progresses and more and more people take sides and become meaner to her, she seeks refuge in walking. Soon she comes upon an old church with a graveyard and a bench. She spends much of her free time sitting on that bench and reading alone, until one night she comes upon a stranger in "her" graveyard. Here she meets Archie who seems to really understand what she's going through as he too was an outsider in high school. They strike up a friendship and he too begins to help her cope.
I felt that the character of Abby was so well thought out and believable. The author deals with many issues that teens deal with all the time: self-esteem, bullying, mental health, peer pressure and eating disorders, in a realistic way all through the book. I was swept up in this gothic, darkly foreboding novel. Every time I thought I had things figured out, Markham threw in a twist that pulled me right in and then completely surprised me by the plot twist at the end.
I highly recommend this book if you like to read YA fiction with a dark, gothic feel, that will keep you guessing right up until the very end.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Then she meets Scarlet, her 3rd roommate and the most popular girl at school, and at Cotswold, the creepy boarding school with a history. During her first real conversation with all 3 of her roommates, Abigail tells a couple of white lies trying to fit in and be part of the group. But, Scar is dealing with her own issues and feels threatened by Abby. She also finds out about the lies that Abby has told and soon gets the entire student body to ostracize the new girl.
During this traumatic and difficult time, Abby feels she has no one to turn to, except her big sister Beth who has always been her best friend. Beth has been there for her all her life, and Abby has relied on her sister to help her by talking sense to her. Abby texts and emails her for the advice she needs.
As the book progresses and more and more people take sides and become meaner to her, she seeks refuge in walking. Soon she comes upon an old church with a graveyard and a bench. She spends much of her free time sitting on that bench and reading alone, until one night she comes upon a stranger in "her" graveyard. Here she meets Archie who seems to really understand what she's going through as he too was an outsider in high school. They strike up a friendship and he too begins to help her cope.
I felt that the character of Abby was so well thought out and believable. The author deals with many issues that teens deal with all the time: self-esteem, bullying, mental health, peer pressure and eating disorders, in a realistic way all through the book. I was swept up in this gothic, darkly foreboding novel. Every time I thought I had things figured out, Markham threw in a twist that pulled me right in and then completely surprised me by the plot twist at the end.
I highly recommend this book if you like to read YA fiction with a dark, gothic feel, that will keep you guessing right up until the very end.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 11, 2016
This review was first published at M's Bookshelf - http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.com
Abby was a great main character to follow around the treacherous world of boarding schools and teenage drama. I liked her from the start and Zoë Markham's excellent writing and story telling even succeeded in making me physically uncomfortable when Abby was confronted by lies and deceit. I even liked that there was a bit of a dark side to her. It made her easy to relate to, in a way, even without really being able to understand what exactly her "dark side" was (yet).
I'm not sure the story was entirely what I expected it to be. For some reason it didn't really feel as a "thriller" to me, haunting as it was though. I think I'd describe it more as a psychological drama? But that's just labeling. It was indeed a haunting read and Zoë Markham really surprised me a few times: White Lies is anything but predictable and has many more layers to it than you'd first expect. (Although I must confess that it took me a while to discover some of the big, hidden layers to Abby's story/character. But then again, that made the thrilling 'showdown' even more surprising and shocking.)
I can definitely recommend White Lies to anyone who loves a bit of a dark-twist in the amazing setting of a boarding school, full of gossip and unwritten hierarchy.
Abby was a great main character to follow around the treacherous world of boarding schools and teenage drama. I liked her from the start and Zoë Markham's excellent writing and story telling even succeeded in making me physically uncomfortable when Abby was confronted by lies and deceit. I even liked that there was a bit of a dark side to her. It made her easy to relate to, in a way, even without really being able to understand what exactly her "dark side" was (yet).
I'm not sure the story was entirely what I expected it to be. For some reason it didn't really feel as a "thriller" to me, haunting as it was though. I think I'd describe it more as a psychological drama? But that's just labeling. It was indeed a haunting read and Zoë Markham really surprised me a few times: White Lies is anything but predictable and has many more layers to it than you'd first expect. (Although I must confess that it took me a while to discover some of the big, hidden layers to Abby's story/character. But then again, that made the thrilling 'showdown' even more surprising and shocking.)
I can definitely recommend White Lies to anyone who loves a bit of a dark-twist in the amazing setting of a boarding school, full of gossip and unwritten hierarchy.
March 15, 2016
White Lies by Zoe Markham
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
All I can say is WOW - I started this book - a little less than 24 hours ago - and granted I don't read very fast - this was one that I could not put down.
The story is told in the first person - Abby a 15 year old girl who is starting overnight boarding school. Both of her parents are serving in the English military overseas - in a Middle Eastern country.
We know she has a sister Beth, and a male friend Jase - a picture she treasures and we read her texts to and from Beth. At first things are going well - she is in with the in crowd - until Scarlet decides to do her in - and Scar is going through her own issues. Basically makes Abby's life a living hell.
Then she meets, Archie, in a graveyard of all places. The last half of the book is like what - and no -
It totally will blow your mind away. I think this is one of my favorite books I've read so far. I don't know if there will be a sequel - can there even be one - but if so I would love to read it.
Thank you so much Readingdeals - Mrs. Markham and Harper Collins!
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
All I can say is WOW - I started this book - a little less than 24 hours ago - and granted I don't read very fast - this was one that I could not put down.
The story is told in the first person - Abby a 15 year old girl who is starting overnight boarding school. Both of her parents are serving in the English military overseas - in a Middle Eastern country.
We know she has a sister Beth, and a male friend Jase - a picture she treasures and we read her texts to and from Beth. At first things are going well - she is in with the in crowd - until Scarlet decides to do her in - and Scar is going through her own issues. Basically makes Abby's life a living hell.
Then she meets, Archie, in a graveyard of all places. The last half of the book is like what - and no -
It totally will blow your mind away. I think this is one of my favorite books I've read so far. I don't know if there will be a sequel - can there even be one - but if so I would love to read it.
Thank you so much Readingdeals - Mrs. Markham and Harper Collins!
January 16, 2016
Abigail has never been in with the "in crowd." With her parents in the Army she has done her fair share of school hopping. Now that both Abby's parents will be away on deployment, she's starting another school, a boarding school. Abby just wanted to fit in and a new school could mean a new start. All she has to do is tell one little white lie, but Abby isn't the only one hiding behind a lie.
This wasn't at all what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing to catch my attention was Zoe's writing style. Every word seemed to flow with the next making me want to keep reading. Zoe does an incredible job of bringing the character's alive. I found my self empathizing with Abigail and getting mad over her injustices. There were aspects of the book that were very predictable, but the story comes together wonderfully at the end.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
This wasn't at all what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing to catch my attention was Zoe's writing style. Every word seemed to flow with the next making me want to keep reading. Zoe does an incredible job of bringing the character's alive. I found my self empathizing with Abigail and getting mad over her injustices. There were aspects of the book that were very predictable, but the story comes together wonderfully at the end.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
January 26, 2016
I had pre-ordered White Lies, it felt like eons ago so I was keen to get into this book as soon as I could!
Set in school, it makes a very creepy trip down memory lane! I'm not a 'young' adult', but my 13 year old daughter is now reading this and is hooked :)
I particularly liked the magpie, its not the norm and certainly make me imagine other endings. Non of which happened! no spoilers! The way the book ended, was extremely emotional for me somehow, Zoe is a fab writer and brings scenarios to life.
Creepy and like an old black and white Hitchcock film.
Set in school, it makes a very creepy trip down memory lane! I'm not a 'young' adult', but my 13 year old daughter is now reading this and is hooked :)
I particularly liked the magpie, its not the norm and certainly make me imagine other endings. Non of which happened! no spoilers! The way the book ended, was extremely emotional for me somehow, Zoe is a fab writer and brings scenarios to life.
Creepy and like an old black and white Hitchcock film.
January 18, 2016
Started this book this morning, and got nothing accomplished all day while I read it obsessively. Such a gripping story and sympathetic protagonist, I couldn't stop till the end, and the only downside is that it left me wanting more!
February 1, 2016
I think of Abby every time I see a magpie now, and I get chills.
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