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Little Liar
The perfect family... or the perfect lie?
When a child’s scream pierces the night, Mira does what any good neighbour would she calls the police. She wants to make sure that Rosie, the little girl next door, is safe.
Opening her front door to the police the next morning, Gemma’s picture-perfect family is forced under scrutiny of social services.
As her flawless life begins to crumble around her, Gemma must fight to defend the family she loves and protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.
But who has Rosie been confiding in when Gemma’s back is turned? And why has she lied to the police?
When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…
If you loved The Couple Next Door and Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this razor-sharp, tense and utterly engrossing page turner about the people we choose to trust and the secrets we keep behind closed doors.
When a child’s scream pierces the night, Mira does what any good neighbour would she calls the police. She wants to make sure that Rosie, the little girl next door, is safe.
Opening her front door to the police the next morning, Gemma’s picture-perfect family is forced under scrutiny of social services.
As her flawless life begins to crumble around her, Gemma must fight to defend the family she loves and protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.
But who has Rosie been confiding in when Gemma’s back is turned? And why has she lied to the police?
When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…
If you loved The Couple Next Door and Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this razor-sharp, tense and utterly engrossing page turner about the people we choose to trust and the secrets we keep behind closed doors.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2018
1603 people are currently reading
1572 people want to read
About the author
Clare Boyd
10 books138 followersClare Boyd lives with her husband and their two daughters in Surrey, where her little green shed at the bottom of the garden provides a haven for her writing life.
Before becoming a writer, she enjoyed a career in television, as a researcher in documentaries and then as a script editor in drama at the BBC and Channel Four, where her love of storytelling took hold.
Before becoming a writer, she enjoyed a career in television, as a researcher in documentaries and then as a script editor in drama at the BBC and Channel Four, where her love of storytelling took hold.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
January 20, 2018
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
3.5 Stars!
As soon as I read the description for “Little Liar” I was itching to get my hands on it. When writing my reviews, I usually use a book’s description as a sort of guide as to how much I say in my review. However, the description for this book actually mentions things that happen quite late in the novel. If you haven’t read the entire description, don’t worry I won’t ruin anything.
“The perfect family... or the perfect lie?”
Gemma Bradley has just gotten home but she doesn’t want to go inside her house yet. She needs a few minutes. Just a few minutes before her ten-year old daughter, Rosie and six-year-old son, Noah demand the rest of her time. Gemma is exhausted after a long day at work and she doesn't know how she'll get through what's likely to be a drama filled evening. Of course she feels guilty for these thoughts. She imagines all other mothers are perfect. That they handle all things calmly and patiently.
She feels like she's doing it all wrong.
The moment she walks in the door the children are there clamoring for her attention. Work may be stressful but at work she knows what's going to happen. At home all bets are off. It doesn’t help that her husband is often late coming home. Bedtime is usually a struggle and often ends with Rosie having a tantrum. Rosie has even started getting physical with her mother. Gemma feels like she’s losing control and it’s terrifying her.
How will Gemma get control of Rosie? What will happen if she can’t?
Meanwhile their next-door neighbor, Mira Entwistle is trying to relax in her bath, but she can't with the screaming coming from next-door. Mira works with children and is used to being around them, but she can't handle the sound of a child screaming. Mira’s devoted husband, Barry tries to reassure her about the noise from next-door. He says it's just family life. But Mira’s not so sure…
She feels like she needs to protect the girl from next door. She thinks Rosie needs her. What should she do? What will she do?
As the screaming continues, Mira feels it bringing up feelings from her past that she doesn’t understand. She’s not exactly sure what her memory is trying to retrieve….and she’s not so sure she wants to know.
“This horrible business next door had triggered something deep down inside her, and it was bringing to the surface things she’s rather forget.”
Where the thoughts real? Or were they nightmares?
Was she going mad?
We all know that secrets from the past always have a way of coming out….
This was an intriguing read. I'm not sure I would classify this as a thriller, although it had its moments. It's like a very intense family drama with a few good twists. The author does know how to crank up the tension. I do wish that there was a bit more to the ending as I felt like a few things were sort of glossed over.
I’ve seen mixed reviews of this novel and just like with any other book, some people will enjoy it and some won’t. I thought it was an interesting read and look forward to seeing what Clare Boyd comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 Stars!
As soon as I read the description for “Little Liar” I was itching to get my hands on it. When writing my reviews, I usually use a book’s description as a sort of guide as to how much I say in my review. However, the description for this book actually mentions things that happen quite late in the novel. If you haven’t read the entire description, don’t worry I won’t ruin anything.
“The perfect family... or the perfect lie?”
Gemma Bradley has just gotten home but she doesn’t want to go inside her house yet. She needs a few minutes. Just a few minutes before her ten-year old daughter, Rosie and six-year-old son, Noah demand the rest of her time. Gemma is exhausted after a long day at work and she doesn't know how she'll get through what's likely to be a drama filled evening. Of course she feels guilty for these thoughts. She imagines all other mothers are perfect. That they handle all things calmly and patiently.
She feels like she's doing it all wrong.
The moment she walks in the door the children are there clamoring for her attention. Work may be stressful but at work she knows what's going to happen. At home all bets are off. It doesn’t help that her husband is often late coming home. Bedtime is usually a struggle and often ends with Rosie having a tantrum. Rosie has even started getting physical with her mother. Gemma feels like she’s losing control and it’s terrifying her.
How will Gemma get control of Rosie? What will happen if she can’t?
Meanwhile their next-door neighbor, Mira Entwistle is trying to relax in her bath, but she can't with the screaming coming from next-door. Mira works with children and is used to being around them, but she can't handle the sound of a child screaming. Mira’s devoted husband, Barry tries to reassure her about the noise from next-door. He says it's just family life. But Mira’s not so sure…
She feels like she needs to protect the girl from next door. She thinks Rosie needs her. What should she do? What will she do?
As the screaming continues, Mira feels it bringing up feelings from her past that she doesn’t understand. She’s not exactly sure what her memory is trying to retrieve….and she’s not so sure she wants to know.
“This horrible business next door had triggered something deep down inside her, and it was bringing to the surface things she’s rather forget.”
Where the thoughts real? Or were they nightmares?
Was she going mad?
We all know that secrets from the past always have a way of coming out….
This was an intriguing read. I'm not sure I would classify this as a thriller, although it had its moments. It's like a very intense family drama with a few good twists. The author does know how to crank up the tension. I do wish that there was a bit more to the ending as I felt like a few things were sort of glossed over.
I’ve seen mixed reviews of this novel and just like with any other book, some people will enjoy it and some won’t. I thought it was an interesting read and look forward to seeing what Clare Boyd comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 5, 2018
4 Page turning stars for the book🌟2 stars for the blurb🌟🌟
This book was very good, kept me turning those pages to see what was going to happen next.... although I would classify this more as a domestic thriller rather than a psychological thriller.... The book did a fantastic job touching on family dynamics....
Gamma was such a relatable character, living out every mothers nightmare.... as a Mom myself, I know there have been times I’ve thought to myself ~I hope nobody was walking by hearing my child scream like that, they’d probably call the authorities~..... well this is what happens to Gamma when her nosy neighbor Mira calls the authorities, after hearing 10-year-old Rosie screaming at night.....
Rosie quite honestly is every mothers nightmare as well.... I have a daughter who has some sass, but things that came out of Rosie’s mouth and her actions were so cringe worthy.... I seriously wanted to reach into the pages and smack the girl myself, she just was a piece of work that girl!
Mira has some major issues of her own.... The woman is so miserable and she has a husband who brings her champagne and chocolate while she is in the bath....who does this? So miserable Mira with the doting husband takes it upon herself to save bratty Rosie.....
Really felt awful for Gamma she was a good person just trying to be a good mother and just put into such a horrible situation.... she did have a pretty good support system with her husband, her mother and her best friend, but even their faith in her dwindles at times....
My only problem with this book was the ending.... there were some lessons to be learned, because lots of things went sideways because people were lying.... also nobody suffered any consequences in the end from behaving badly.... it was a little too much of a fairytale ending with a slight twist....
I would absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy a good domestic drama filled thriller with well-developed characters....
PS: the blurb..... don’t read the blurb..... it really has nothing to do with the book, and it mentions something that happens well after 60 percent of the book is over.... I often wonder who writes the blurbs for these books? Because this blurb does not fit this book.... and it is a good book that deserves a better blurb!
*** i’d like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review***
This book was very good, kept me turning those pages to see what was going to happen next.... although I would classify this more as a domestic thriller rather than a psychological thriller.... The book did a fantastic job touching on family dynamics....
Gamma was such a relatable character, living out every mothers nightmare.... as a Mom myself, I know there have been times I’ve thought to myself ~I hope nobody was walking by hearing my child scream like that, they’d probably call the authorities~..... well this is what happens to Gamma when her nosy neighbor Mira calls the authorities, after hearing 10-year-old Rosie screaming at night.....
Rosie quite honestly is every mothers nightmare as well.... I have a daughter who has some sass, but things that came out of Rosie’s mouth and her actions were so cringe worthy.... I seriously wanted to reach into the pages and smack the girl myself, she just was a piece of work that girl!
Mira has some major issues of her own.... The woman is so miserable and she has a husband who brings her champagne and chocolate while she is in the bath....who does this? So miserable Mira with the doting husband takes it upon herself to save bratty Rosie.....
Really felt awful for Gamma she was a good person just trying to be a good mother and just put into such a horrible situation.... she did have a pretty good support system with her husband, her mother and her best friend, but even their faith in her dwindles at times....
My only problem with this book was the ending.... there were some lessons to be learned, because lots of things went sideways because people were lying.... also nobody suffered any consequences in the end from behaving badly.... it was a little too much of a fairytale ending with a slight twist....
I would absolutely recommend this to people who enjoy a good domestic drama filled thriller with well-developed characters....
PS: the blurb..... don’t read the blurb..... it really has nothing to do with the book, and it mentions something that happens well after 60 percent of the book is over.... I often wonder who writes the blurbs for these books? Because this blurb does not fit this book.... and it is a good book that deserves a better blurb!
*** i’d like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review***
February 11, 2018
EXCERPT: What had she actually seen next door? Her heartbeat escalated. What had she seen? She had seen guilt in Gemma's eyes. She had seen fear in Rosie's.
THE BLURB: The perfect family... or the perfect lie?
When a child’s scream pierces the night, Mira does what any good neighbour would do: she calls the police. She wants to make sure that Rosie, the little girl next door, is safe.
Opening her front door to the police the next morning, Gemma’s picture-perfect family is forced under scrutiny of social services.
As her flawless life begins to crumble around her, Gemma must fight to defend the family she loves and protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.
But who has Rosie been confiding in when Gemma’s back is turned? And why has she lied to the police?
When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…
If you loved The Couple Next Door and Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this razor-sharp, tense and utterly engrossing page turner about the people we choose to trust and the secrets we keep behind closed doors.
MY THOUGHTS: Another brilliant debut novel! I just loved Little Liar.
Clare Boyd captivated me with her firm grasp of family dynamics and personal characteristics in Little Liar. We have supermum Gemma, juggling a demanding career, pregnancy, a volatile ten year old, and keeping a secret, determined to 'have it all'. Rosie is the ten year old daughter. She throws tantrums like I eat chocolate, and is quite adept at manipulating people. Add to the mix one nosey neighbour, Mira or 'Mrs E' as Rosie calls her. Mira has her own problems, her own secrets, her own unfulfilled needs.
Little Liar is a slow burner, an onion. By 25% in, I was hooked and read most of the night, captivated, mesmerized and agog! And the revelations just kept coming.
I also really liked how, at the end, it wasn't tied up all neat and tidy. There are a lot of things that I was left wondering about, but in a pleasant way. I think that perhaps I wasn't quite ready to let this family go. 4.5☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Little Liar by Clare Boyd for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: The perfect family... or the perfect lie?
When a child’s scream pierces the night, Mira does what any good neighbour would do: she calls the police. She wants to make sure that Rosie, the little girl next door, is safe.
Opening her front door to the police the next morning, Gemma’s picture-perfect family is forced under scrutiny of social services.
As her flawless life begins to crumble around her, Gemma must fight to defend the family she loves and protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.
But who has Rosie been confiding in when Gemma’s back is turned? And why has she lied to the police?
When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…
If you loved The Couple Next Door and Big Little Lies, you’ll adore this razor-sharp, tense and utterly engrossing page turner about the people we choose to trust and the secrets we keep behind closed doors.
MY THOUGHTS: Another brilliant debut novel! I just loved Little Liar.
Clare Boyd captivated me with her firm grasp of family dynamics and personal characteristics in Little Liar. We have supermum Gemma, juggling a demanding career, pregnancy, a volatile ten year old, and keeping a secret, determined to 'have it all'. Rosie is the ten year old daughter. She throws tantrums like I eat chocolate, and is quite adept at manipulating people. Add to the mix one nosey neighbour, Mira or 'Mrs E' as Rosie calls her. Mira has her own problems, her own secrets, her own unfulfilled needs.
Little Liar is a slow burner, an onion. By 25% in, I was hooked and read most of the night, captivated, mesmerized and agog! And the revelations just kept coming.
I also really liked how, at the end, it wasn't tied up all neat and tidy. There are a lot of things that I was left wondering about, but in a pleasant way. I think that perhaps I wasn't quite ready to let this family go. 4.5☆
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Little Liar by Clare Boyd for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Read
January 5, 2018DNF
I've tried to pick it up and finish several times, but it is just not working for me. It is confusing and I am not liking the references or any of these characters.
Better to give up and move on..
February 3, 2018
4☆ Every Mothers Worst Nightmare - Gripping domestic thriller.
Little Liar is a gripping domestic thriller that could potentially be very real.
It's unnerving, clever, Minipulative, lil subtle twists and hints, chilling and simply every mothers worst nightmare.
What I loved about this story was that not only was it written in Gemma's (the mother) point of view.
But you was also treated to the inner thoughts of Rosie herself. As she enters her feelings and secrets into her magic diary... I also loved the little invisible ink passages.
It really highlighted her vulnerability, her age, how she perceives the world and her parents. But also her angry, Minipulative side.
We also have the nosey neighbour Mira's story.
From early on you can tell something isn't quiet right with Mira.
She unnerved me a lil. As we divulge into her past, we are treated to flashbacks that uncover the secrets and truth about Mira's past.
I must say I disliked Mira, I found her story to be somewhat confusing as all of a sudden she would drift off into the past. Which at times seemed irrelevant.
You see Gemma has been accused of Child abuse towards Rosie.
It's actually scarey as you can see Rosie pushing Gemma to her limits... her parenting is all over the place. Both Rosie and Gemma have alot of rage.
Gemma is also keeping a big secret that is quiet clearly effecting her relationship with Rosie.
Rosie really isn't the easiest of children. Her behaviour did unnerve me at times. She's very angry, she lies, keeps secrets, A lil Minipulative & controlling.
I can't go into too much detail but I'm sure if you read this fab book I hope you will see what I mean.
Little Liar will toy with your morals and emotions as you try to uncover the truth behind the accusations. This is more of a Domestic Thriller rather than a psychological thriller. But still enjoyable and very real.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Little Liar.
Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Little Liar is a gripping domestic thriller that could potentially be very real.
It's unnerving, clever, Minipulative, lil subtle twists and hints, chilling and simply every mothers worst nightmare.
What I loved about this story was that not only was it written in Gemma's (the mother) point of view.
But you was also treated to the inner thoughts of Rosie herself. As she enters her feelings and secrets into her magic diary... I also loved the little invisible ink passages.
It really highlighted her vulnerability, her age, how she perceives the world and her parents. But also her angry, Minipulative side.
We also have the nosey neighbour Mira's story.
From early on you can tell something isn't quiet right with Mira.
She unnerved me a lil. As we divulge into her past, we are treated to flashbacks that uncover the secrets and truth about Mira's past.
I must say I disliked Mira, I found her story to be somewhat confusing as all of a sudden she would drift off into the past. Which at times seemed irrelevant.
You see Gemma has been accused of Child abuse towards Rosie.
It's actually scarey as you can see Rosie pushing Gemma to her limits... her parenting is all over the place. Both Rosie and Gemma have alot of rage.
Gemma is also keeping a big secret that is quiet clearly effecting her relationship with Rosie.
Rosie really isn't the easiest of children. Her behaviour did unnerve me at times. She's very angry, she lies, keeps secrets, A lil Minipulative & controlling.
I can't go into too much detail but I'm sure if you read this fab book I hope you will see what I mean.
Little Liar will toy with your morals and emotions as you try to uncover the truth behind the accusations. This is more of a Domestic Thriller rather than a psychological thriller. But still enjoyable and very real.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Little Liar.
Thank you to Bookouture for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
January 29, 2018
Little Liar by Clare Boyd is being marketed as a psychological thriller but to me it read more like a domestic drama during the majority of the book with a slight hint at a psychological thriller to it. Regardless of what you want to call this one I did find it incredibly compelling to read.
Gemma is a mother that is doing the best that she can for her kids but her daughter, Rosie, has started acting out. Rosie’s attitude can go from 0 to 100 in a split second with tantrums becoming the norm for the family. When Rosie is amidst one of her outbursts the neighbors can overhear her screams which leads to a call to the police.
This story had my attention right from the start and I wasn’t really sure why other than plain curiosity of where it would lead. The neighbor, Mira, was one that really drove me crazy sticking her nose into other’s business without much reasoning. And then I also went back and forth on Gemma since it seemed that obviously her tactics with Rosie weren’t working. But don’t even get me started on what a terror Rosie actually seemed to be. What A Mess!
The further the book got the more engaged I became when things start escalating for Gemma. There are secrets and lies uncovered from about everyone in the story and even times the POV would change to young Rosie as she writes in her diary. Even though this one really bordered more on drama than thriller it still kept my attention waiting to see just how far thing would go. I will say though they did a horrible job with the synopsis on this one though as it gives away things incredibly far into the story but not enough that I knew the outcome.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Gemma is a mother that is doing the best that she can for her kids but her daughter, Rosie, has started acting out. Rosie’s attitude can go from 0 to 100 in a split second with tantrums becoming the norm for the family. When Rosie is amidst one of her outbursts the neighbors can overhear her screams which leads to a call to the police.
This story had my attention right from the start and I wasn’t really sure why other than plain curiosity of where it would lead. The neighbor, Mira, was one that really drove me crazy sticking her nose into other’s business without much reasoning. And then I also went back and forth on Gemma since it seemed that obviously her tactics with Rosie weren’t working. But don’t even get me started on what a terror Rosie actually seemed to be. What A Mess!
The further the book got the more engaged I became when things start escalating for Gemma. There are secrets and lies uncovered from about everyone in the story and even times the POV would change to young Rosie as she writes in her diary. Even though this one really bordered more on drama than thriller it still kept my attention waiting to see just how far thing would go. I will say though they did a horrible job with the synopsis on this one though as it gives away things incredibly far into the story but not enough that I knew the outcome.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
January 31, 2018
In my humble opinion, this book was well written but much, much too long. I feel it could have been edited down significantly - it wouldn’t have affected plot development and would have tremendously helped with pacing.
I very much enjoyed learning about Mira’s back story and the ending was strong, but it took awhile to get there.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I very much enjoyed learning about Mira’s back story and the ending was strong, but it took awhile to get there.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2018
Another title with "lie"in it. This book was very veryyy long. This book took me two weeks to finish and that's a big time frame for me. Unfortunately, this one did not live up to my expectations and was disappointed.
This book could have been better with at least 100-150 pages edited. I was bored throughout the entire novel and could not connect with any of the characters nor the plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 2/1/18
Published on GR: 2/21/18
This book could have been better with at least 100-150 pages edited. I was bored throughout the entire novel and could not connect with any of the characters nor the plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 2/1/18
Published on GR: 2/21/18
February 1, 2018
A child's scream pierces the night, Mira does what any good neighbour would do: she calls the police. She wants to make sure that Rosie, the little girl next door was safe. Opening her door to the police the next morning, Gemma's picture perfect family is forced under the scrutiny of social services. Gemma must fight to defend the family she loves and protect her daughter from the terrible secret she's been keeping. Then Rosie disappears without trace, Gemma thinks she is to blame. But then she finds a pink diary containing the truth.
Rosie is not a likeable child. She tells lies and keeps secrets. In fact one of the characters in this book are likeable. Thie first part of the book is well written but then it seems to fall flat and stays like that to the end. The book was not really my cup of tea but there will be lots more readers who will really enjoy this story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Clare Boyd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
Rosie is not a likeable child. She tells lies and keeps secrets. In fact one of the characters in this book are likeable. Thie first part of the book is well written but then it seems to fall flat and stays like that to the end. The book was not really my cup of tea but there will be lots more readers who will really enjoy this story.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Clare Boyd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
December 7, 2017
Wow! What a book! A thrilling, tense, roller-coaster of a story! So very believable and all the more scary for it! Once I started reading this, everything else was set aside as the gripping story swept me along, not letting go until I had reached the absolutely mind-blowing end! One of the best psychological thrillers I have read this year!
February 24, 2018
LITTLE LIAR is a debut gripping domestic thriller by Clare Boyd.
The perfect family... or the perfect lie?
Gemma is married to Peter with two children: ten- year old daughter, Rosie, and six- year old son, Noah, with another one coming. But things are not what they seem…and not really the Perfect family. Gemma and Rosie do not get along, as Rosie is smart, cunning, rebellious, and doesn’t listen or follow her mother’s instructions…always lying to get her own way. And in a fit of rage, screaming Rosie attacked Gemma, who while trying to get away from her out of control daughter, Gemma accidentally left a mark on Rosie’s wrist.
And a nosey neighbor, Mira, a teaching assistant hears a child’s scream…and calls the police…and then social services gets involved. What a mess!
As everything starts falling apart, Gemma must fight to protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.
But why has Rosie lied to the police?
When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…
I thought it was an interesting read, but could be a little shorter in length, but look forward to her next book.
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy.
The perfect family... or the perfect lie?
Gemma is married to Peter with two children: ten- year old daughter, Rosie, and six- year old son, Noah, with another one coming. But things are not what they seem…and not really the Perfect family. Gemma and Rosie do not get along, as Rosie is smart, cunning, rebellious, and doesn’t listen or follow her mother’s instructions…always lying to get her own way. And in a fit of rage, screaming Rosie attacked Gemma, who while trying to get away from her out of control daughter, Gemma accidentally left a mark on Rosie’s wrist.
And a nosey neighbor, Mira, a teaching assistant hears a child’s scream…and calls the police…and then social services gets involved. What a mess!
As everything starts falling apart, Gemma must fight to protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.
But why has Rosie lied to the police?
When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…
I thought it was an interesting read, but could be a little shorter in length, but look forward to her next book.
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy.
January 26, 2018
This book was not what I was expecting. A nosey neighbour who calls the police when she overhears an argument between Gemma and her daughter Rosie.
Rosie is not a nice child, keeping secrets and lying to get her own way. Gemma and her husband work long hours. They have a secret that they are keeping from Rosie too.
I did like this book but not as much as I had hoped. There are a lot of unlikeable characters and some of the story felt unrealistic.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions
Rosie is not a nice child, keeping secrets and lying to get her own way. Gemma and her husband work long hours. They have a secret that they are keeping from Rosie too.
I did like this book but not as much as I had hoped. There are a lot of unlikeable characters and some of the story felt unrealistic.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions
December 24, 2017
*I received this arc from Net Galley in an exchange for an honest review*
Due to be released: 1/2/2018
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I couldn't wait to start reading it. Sadly, I was disappointed. As a lover of Thrillers, I expected so much more from this, especially after being captivated by the synopsis. I actually didn't realize this was Clare Boyd's debut novel until after I finished reading this book, although I don't think that makes much of a difference as I have read other debut novels without realizing and I enjoyed them immensely.
Mira has been battling making the call for a while, the child next door Rosie has been screaming her lungs out for numerous nights when she finally decides to pick up the phone and call the police, fearing that Rosie is being abused by her mother Gemma.
Gemma has the picture perfect family, but when the police arrive wanting to make sure there are no signs of abuse, her world and the family she has built begins crumbling around her.
Gemma must fight to keep her family together and keep Rosie from the secret she has been keeping from her.
When Rosie disappears, a little pink diary may just be the key to the secrets Rosie herself has been keeping.
I think where I struggled with this novel is that to me it wasn't 'thrilling', there was nothing that made me go OMG, or creep me out or really make me feel much of anything. It wasn't that it was predictable as such, more that it just didn't have enough WOW factor for me. Now I have read ALOT of Thrillers and maybe that's why I wasn't too captivated by it, but in all honesty part of me was bored while reading it.
I also didn't connect with the characters, which for me is a really important part when it comes to caring about what happens to them.
The ending was also very meh. It was one of those cases where things are resolved but there's no retribution as such. And I think a book like this needed that little bit of that towards the end because even though a book itself might not be the greatest if the ending can persuade you or change your mind on the book as a whole, it makes a bigger impact on the reader. Especially if it's memorable.
In all honesty, I think this will be a book I will quickly forget about.
In all, I didn't enjoy this book. I kept reading on waiting for something to grab me and yet nothing did. I didn't connect with the characters. The plot fell kind of flat after the interesting synopsis that led me to want to read this book. And the ending wasn't my cup of tea.
I would be willing to give Clare Boyd another go, as first books aren't always 100% and writing and plots do improve.
Recommended for: Thriller
Due to be released: 1/2/2018
As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I couldn't wait to start reading it. Sadly, I was disappointed. As a lover of Thrillers, I expected so much more from this, especially after being captivated by the synopsis. I actually didn't realize this was Clare Boyd's debut novel until after I finished reading this book, although I don't think that makes much of a difference as I have read other debut novels without realizing and I enjoyed them immensely.
Mira has been battling making the call for a while, the child next door Rosie has been screaming her lungs out for numerous nights when she finally decides to pick up the phone and call the police, fearing that Rosie is being abused by her mother Gemma.
Gemma has the picture perfect family, but when the police arrive wanting to make sure there are no signs of abuse, her world and the family she has built begins crumbling around her.
Gemma must fight to keep her family together and keep Rosie from the secret she has been keeping from her.
When Rosie disappears, a little pink diary may just be the key to the secrets Rosie herself has been keeping.
I think where I struggled with this novel is that to me it wasn't 'thrilling', there was nothing that made me go OMG, or creep me out or really make me feel much of anything. It wasn't that it was predictable as such, more that it just didn't have enough WOW factor for me. Now I have read ALOT of Thrillers and maybe that's why I wasn't too captivated by it, but in all honesty part of me was bored while reading it.
I also didn't connect with the characters, which for me is a really important part when it comes to caring about what happens to them.
The ending was also very meh. It was one of those cases where things are resolved but there's no retribution as such. And I think a book like this needed that little bit of that towards the end because even though a book itself might not be the greatest if the ending can persuade you or change your mind on the book as a whole, it makes a bigger impact on the reader. Especially if it's memorable.
In all honesty, I think this will be a book I will quickly forget about.
In all, I didn't enjoy this book. I kept reading on waiting for something to grab me and yet nothing did. I didn't connect with the characters. The plot fell kind of flat after the interesting synopsis that led me to want to read this book. And the ending wasn't my cup of tea.
I would be willing to give Clare Boyd another go, as first books aren't always 100% and writing and plots do improve.
Recommended for: Thriller
January 10, 2018
Wow ! That was tense ! For a while, I didn't know if I was okay with the way the story was progressing. It was getting way to twisted for my comfort. In a way, what was most disturbing is that the innocence and naivety of childhood was portrayed in a twisted sense !!
So, the crux of the story is :
What if you are judged in your weakest moments by an outsider who only has a glimpse of the story ??
Gemma is so misjudged, and all because of one nosy neighbor's twisted thoughts. As a mother myself, I found that I was putting myself in all of Gemma's situations and thinking. And while it's easy to frown at her frustration, we cannot judge anyone from the outside. Gemma's love for her family was unconditional and she just had some breakdowns, which is definitely allowed for all parents. Parenting can become tiresome sometimes. To top it she was pregnant and had a stressful job. And by God !! That kid of hers is a nightmare !!
And while I know children these days can be drama kings and queens, Rosie's behavior gave me chills. I don't know whether her behavior can be considered normal or even common. I wanted to reach within the book and shake her hard. "What's wrong with you, you silly girl?? " Why all this drama? Why all these lies ? Is it normal to think of teaching your mother a lesson ?? Phew, I really don't know how to feel about her.
And Mira ! Oh my God !! I don't know what to say about this character. Talk about being dark and twisted ! For a moment there, I was worried about the safety of the Bradley family.
So, overall, my mind is f*cked !! It was way too dark and twisted on so many levels.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for generously sharing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
So, the crux of the story is :
What if you are judged in your weakest moments by an outsider who only has a glimpse of the story ??
Gemma is so misjudged, and all because of one nosy neighbor's twisted thoughts. As a mother myself, I found that I was putting myself in all of Gemma's situations and thinking. And while it's easy to frown at her frustration, we cannot judge anyone from the outside. Gemma's love for her family was unconditional and she just had some breakdowns, which is definitely allowed for all parents. Parenting can become tiresome sometimes. To top it she was pregnant and had a stressful job. And by God !! That kid of hers is a nightmare !!
And while I know children these days can be drama kings and queens, Rosie's behavior gave me chills. I don't know whether her behavior can be considered normal or even common. I wanted to reach within the book and shake her hard. "What's wrong with you, you silly girl?? " Why all this drama? Why all these lies ? Is it normal to think of teaching your mother a lesson ?? Phew, I really don't know how to feel about her.
And Mira ! Oh my God !! I don't know what to say about this character. Talk about being dark and twisted ! For a moment there, I was worried about the safety of the Bradley family.
So, overall, my mind is f*cked !! It was way too dark and twisted on so many levels.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for generously sharing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2018
As a mother, I've definitely had those moments where chaos ensues at home with unruly kids, tantrums and a shouting match inevitably results as well as the unsettling thought of ' oh my word, what must the neighbours think, they're likely to call the authorities one of these days' crossing my mind. That is exactly what happens in this story, when Mira, an interfering neighbour with issues of her own, contacts the police when she hears 10 year old Rosie screaming next door, deciding to make it her mission to save her.
Poor Rosie's mother, Gemma, has her hands full as it is, trying to be a good mother to little Noah and to her unmanageable, terror of a child Rosie, without the interference of her neighbour and social services as well.
The situation soon spirals out of control, escalating at a rapid pace when secrets and lies come to light. I was curious to see how this would all turn out.
Unfortunately, the story ended too suddenly for my liking, without the satisfactory details I was waiting for, leaving me at a loss.
A side note regarding the blurb: I would not go as far as to classify this read as a thriller, rather, more like a domestic drama with a few twists and a good dose of tension at times. I also find it bothersome that the blurb reveals too much, giving away details that happen well into the story.
I see there are mixed opinions of this one. I rate it 3⭐️, the conclusion of the book having downgraded my rating of an otherwise good story. However everyone has different preferences. I urge you to give this one a try and let me know what you think.
I would sincerely like to thank the author, Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of it.
Poor Rosie's mother, Gemma, has her hands full as it is, trying to be a good mother to little Noah and to her unmanageable, terror of a child Rosie, without the interference of her neighbour and social services as well.
The situation soon spirals out of control, escalating at a rapid pace when secrets and lies come to light. I was curious to see how this would all turn out.
Unfortunately, the story ended too suddenly for my liking, without the satisfactory details I was waiting for, leaving me at a loss.
A side note regarding the blurb: I would not go as far as to classify this read as a thriller, rather, more like a domestic drama with a few twists and a good dose of tension at times. I also find it bothersome that the blurb reveals too much, giving away details that happen well into the story.
I see there are mixed opinions of this one. I rate it 3⭐️, the conclusion of the book having downgraded my rating of an otherwise good story. However everyone has different preferences. I urge you to give this one a try and let me know what you think.
I would sincerely like to thank the author, Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of it.
February 23, 2018
This was a stressful read for me. In the very beginning, it was hard for me to identify with the main character. She seemed like someone who had decided to have children but perhaps wasn't meant to. As the book progresses, I realized that wasn't the case. She's just been pushed to her breaking point by a very unusual little girl. Even when Gemma makes questionable decisions, you feel for her. I felt like I was feeling the stress the poor woman was under. The author does a great job of making you identify with the characters. As is common in books of this type, her family may look picture-perfect, but it's certainly not. I'm not quite sure why the blurb for this book gave away so much, so I'm going to neglect mentioning some plot points it gives away.
Mira is Gemma's neighbor, who loves kids but doesn't have any of her own to care for. She overhears a tantrum from Rosie, Gemma's little girl, and assumes the worst. She is terrified for the little girl with the long black hair, coming to think she's frightened of her mother and being abused. Doing her duty as a good neighbor, of course she calls the police. It sounds like the poor child needs help, and she can't ignore what she hears from the house next door. It isn't long before child services is involved.
Lives unravel quickly in this story. Everyone has secrets they try desperately not to let out. The characters are all complex and interesting, even (and one might say especially) little Rosie. Both ladies have husbands that feature in the story, but mostly this story is about the women: the mothers, daughters, and protectors, and how their lives have shaped them. It's not a short book, and I think it could have been edited down a little, but it had no problem holding my attention.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Mira is Gemma's neighbor, who loves kids but doesn't have any of her own to care for. She overhears a tantrum from Rosie, Gemma's little girl, and assumes the worst. She is terrified for the little girl with the long black hair, coming to think she's frightened of her mother and being abused. Doing her duty as a good neighbor, of course she calls the police. It sounds like the poor child needs help, and she can't ignore what she hears from the house next door. It isn't long before child services is involved.
Lives unravel quickly in this story. Everyone has secrets they try desperately not to let out. The characters are all complex and interesting, even (and one might say especially) little Rosie. Both ladies have husbands that feature in the story, but mostly this story is about the women: the mothers, daughters, and protectors, and how their lives have shaped them. It's not a short book, and I think it could have been edited down a little, but it had no problem holding my attention.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
February 5, 2018
If you are thinking about becoming a parent anytime soon a word of warning you may want to give Little Liar a wide berth! Motherhood is often portrayed unrealistically in fiction, full time working mum, always manages to balance work V home life perfectly, the children are the perfect “little cherubs”, but not in this book! Clare Boyd writes a very different and troubling tale of the challenges and the stormy side of being a mother.
Little Liar could be based on homes up and down the country, a child has a tantrum, (I’m sure every parent can relate to this at some point) screams the place down and a “kindly” neighbour reports the incident to the police, convinced the child is in danger. Unfortunately for Gemma, Mira a “helpful” neighbour hears Gemma’s daughter Rosie screaming and reports her concerns to the police, and so begins a train of events that will have far reaching and life changing consequences for both Gemma and Mira.
Essentially Little Liar is more Domestic Noir than a psychological thriller but don’t let that put you off, I personally enjoy this type of novel when it’s done well and considering this is the author’s debut novel I think she has done a remarkable job. The tension radiating from her characters is constant, rather like a cauldron you can feel the emotions bubbling away and at some point as the reader you know all these emotions are going to boil over, to the how and the why that’s for you as the reader to find out. At times I felt like like a voyeur watching Gemma’s family in crisis, some of Gemma’s actions towards her daughter made me feel uncomfortable, but that said it certainly helped to create a disquieting read. Little Liar is one of those books that couldn’t be considered fast paced, it’s more subtle, slowly building on the suspense and tension and drawing the reader in.
As the title suggests most of the characters have something to lie about, and it’s these lies that make the basis of a very intriguing plot. If I’m honest it was difficult to find any empathy for any of the characters including Rosie, but this did not distract from the read. At times I could sense Gemma’s frustration and Rosie like many ten year olds knew exactly how to push her mothers buttons to provoke a reaction. Little Liar explores the sometimes difficult relationship between mother and child, the emotions, the guilt and the constant pressure to be the “best mother”. Well written with drama aplenty Little Liar is a thought provoking read that encompasses moral dilemmas that are relevant to today’s society. I think Little Liar is one of those books that will divide readers, I think some will love it and others not so, but then that’s the beauty of books, no two opinions are the same, personally I enjoyed Little Liar and look forward to seeing what Clare Boyd comes up with next.
All my reviews can found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Little Liar could be based on homes up and down the country, a child has a tantrum, (I’m sure every parent can relate to this at some point) screams the place down and a “kindly” neighbour reports the incident to the police, convinced the child is in danger. Unfortunately for Gemma, Mira a “helpful” neighbour hears Gemma’s daughter Rosie screaming and reports her concerns to the police, and so begins a train of events that will have far reaching and life changing consequences for both Gemma and Mira.
Essentially Little Liar is more Domestic Noir than a psychological thriller but don’t let that put you off, I personally enjoy this type of novel when it’s done well and considering this is the author’s debut novel I think she has done a remarkable job. The tension radiating from her characters is constant, rather like a cauldron you can feel the emotions bubbling away and at some point as the reader you know all these emotions are going to boil over, to the how and the why that’s for you as the reader to find out. At times I felt like like a voyeur watching Gemma’s family in crisis, some of Gemma’s actions towards her daughter made me feel uncomfortable, but that said it certainly helped to create a disquieting read. Little Liar is one of those books that couldn’t be considered fast paced, it’s more subtle, slowly building on the suspense and tension and drawing the reader in.
As the title suggests most of the characters have something to lie about, and it’s these lies that make the basis of a very intriguing plot. If I’m honest it was difficult to find any empathy for any of the characters including Rosie, but this did not distract from the read. At times I could sense Gemma’s frustration and Rosie like many ten year olds knew exactly how to push her mothers buttons to provoke a reaction. Little Liar explores the sometimes difficult relationship between mother and child, the emotions, the guilt and the constant pressure to be the “best mother”. Well written with drama aplenty Little Liar is a thought provoking read that encompasses moral dilemmas that are relevant to today’s society. I think Little Liar is one of those books that will divide readers, I think some will love it and others not so, but then that’s the beauty of books, no two opinions are the same, personally I enjoyed Little Liar and look forward to seeing what Clare Boyd comes up with next.
All my reviews can found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
January 3, 2018
This was a fabulous escapist novel. 4.5 stars from me and full review on way!
January 12, 2018
Reading the initial bits gave me such a huge adrenaline kick that I was like a book junkie wanting to be stuck to the book. And Clare Boyd didn't disappoint me. Oh man, she took me on a rollercoaster ride. I generally can't tolerate rides, but this one, I didn't want to get off.
Till halfway through....
When I suddenly realized that the book has derailed, it didn't know where the it was going. The story is about a 10 year old child, Rosie, having tantrums to the point of hitting the mother and screeching her lungs out. The neighbor, Mira, hears this, calls the police, and the story rolls henceforth. The mother, Gemma, tries her level best to maintain a balance, till she starts losing her own mental balance. And then things go wrong, for both the characters and the readers.
The story which started strong should have ended strong. The author, Clare Boyd, promised me a journey with a thunderous finale, but all I got was.... Nothing.
I didn't like the answers given by the author as a finale to the story. It was too ambiguous. There were unanswered questions. I rushed through 80% of the book, leaving all other work, and I was left dejected... What I was promised in the blurb, didn't happen till the book reached the end. The blurb was misinforming. It put a damper on my reading mojo.
The first half of the book is excellent. There is a lot of action happening, the author maintains the tension throughout. But in this attempt to maintain a fast pace, tension biting atmosphere, the author loses control on the plot. I find it very ironic that the main character, Gemma, does not even like being a mother, but is pregnant with her third child. She is unable to find a work-life balance, yet takes on more and more responsibilities. And the most shocking was, she has a change of heart suddenly, after a few days of crying, she loves the responsibilities of motherhood. To me that is unbelievable... Both mother Gemma and daughter Rosie required extreme counseling, they are both extremely weird and they call that love. I am not even mentioning the other characters because they are insipid.
But instead of the neighbor reporting the mother, I think the child needed reporting for her night and day kind of moods. The mother had her own dangerous, dark thoughts...
Motherhood is overwhelming... But this is taking things too far. I read the book with an excitement and eagerness and I was left with a hollow feeling of wasted time.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
Till halfway through....
When I suddenly realized that the book has derailed, it didn't know where the it was going. The story is about a 10 year old child, Rosie, having tantrums to the point of hitting the mother and screeching her lungs out. The neighbor, Mira, hears this, calls the police, and the story rolls henceforth. The mother, Gemma, tries her level best to maintain a balance, till she starts losing her own mental balance. And then things go wrong, for both the characters and the readers.
The story which started strong should have ended strong. The author, Clare Boyd, promised me a journey with a thunderous finale, but all I got was.... Nothing.
I didn't like the answers given by the author as a finale to the story. It was too ambiguous. There were unanswered questions. I rushed through 80% of the book, leaving all other work, and I was left dejected... What I was promised in the blurb, didn't happen till the book reached the end. The blurb was misinforming. It put a damper on my reading mojo.
The first half of the book is excellent. There is a lot of action happening, the author maintains the tension throughout. But in this attempt to maintain a fast pace, tension biting atmosphere, the author loses control on the plot. I find it very ironic that the main character, Gemma, does not even like being a mother, but is pregnant with her third child. She is unable to find a work-life balance, yet takes on more and more responsibilities. And the most shocking was, she has a change of heart suddenly, after a few days of crying, she loves the responsibilities of motherhood. To me that is unbelievable... Both mother Gemma and daughter Rosie required extreme counseling, they are both extremely weird and they call that love. I am not even mentioning the other characters because they are insipid.
But instead of the neighbor reporting the mother, I think the child needed reporting for her night and day kind of moods. The mother had her own dangerous, dark thoughts...
Motherhood is overwhelming... But this is taking things too far. I read the book with an excitement and eagerness and I was left with a hollow feeling of wasted time.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion
December 11, 2017
Little Liar was a roller-coaster read for me. Up and down with how I felt about it. Gemma and her husband live next door to a busybody woman named Mira. Gemma is struggling to keep it together after she is accused of abusing her daughter Rosie. With a young son and another baby on the way, the last thing she expects is this accusation.
Little Rosie is...ugh seriously, that kid deserves a good spanking or something. I had a hard time feeling any remorse for any character....except Noah, because everyone around him is batshit crazy. Mira is a vindictive woman hell bent on making Gemma's life a living hell. Why is this?
This book did make me upset with what Gemma dealt with, but it was a bit exaggerated to me. A pretty decent read, but overall 3.5 stars for me.
Little Rosie is...ugh seriously, that kid deserves a good spanking or something. I had a hard time feeling any remorse for any character....except Noah, because everyone around him is batshit crazy. Mira is a vindictive woman hell bent on making Gemma's life a living hell. Why is this?
This book did make me upset with what Gemma dealt with, but it was a bit exaggerated to me. A pretty decent read, but overall 3.5 stars for me.
January 4, 2018
What a fantastic 1st read of the year. Brilliant book. Started off high paced and remained that way all through which was great. Loved the writers style of writing. Lies once there out there how can they be taken back. The plot was great, couldn't see how things could be turned around. What would you do if your daughter lied to social work about you hitting her? Poor Gemma faced this hell and rather than getting better things just seem to be spiraling out of control at a race of naughts. It was so true to life it made it all that more scary reading it.
March 25, 2018
3.5 rounded up. Not very twisty or turny and no real ‘wow!’ But very good none the less. Really kept me engaged and I throughly enjoyed the drama. I wouldn’t categorize it as a psychological thriller. It was all in all a very good domestic drama.
December 18, 2017
This book seriously had me thinking...... like days after, I would find myself going over the scenario.
Gemma does her best to be a good mother. But being the breadwinner of the family, work has its priorities. She had her doubts in her abilities to keep her children happy and disciplined, which we iknow all mothers do.. So, when s nosy neighbor named Mira interferes in her personal life, things get pretty crazy, but totally believable in this day and age.
I really liked the book. It was different. Taking place in the UK with all its slang and lingo is something I hard to get used to (being in the US), but it was vey well written.
Inn the end, the tables turn and I wad not expecting that ending.
Gemma does her best to be a good mother. But being the breadwinner of the family, work has its priorities. She had her doubts in her abilities to keep her children happy and disciplined, which we iknow all mothers do.. So, when s nosy neighbor named Mira interferes in her personal life, things get pretty crazy, but totally believable in this day and age.
I really liked the book. It was different. Taking place in the UK with all its slang and lingo is something I hard to get used to (being in the US), but it was vey well written.
Inn the end, the tables turn and I wad not expecting that ending.
December 6, 2017
This was a pretty intense (and tense) read.
It’s just all too easy to put yourself in Gemma’s place, accused of horrific actions against her child – actions that she swears she didn’t commit.
The read is heartrending. I didn’t know if Rosie was some sort of bad seed or just dreadfully immature. I didn’t know if perhaps Gemma was darker than she (and the reader) believed. And Mira…oh, Mira. She was such a strange and unlikeable character – but what if she was right?
Now, this isn’t one of those twisty thrillers that are all the rage right now. It’s strictly a suspense thriller - the kind where things just get worse and worse until you wonder how on earth the characters (and you, yourself) can take it.
I didn’t love the ending. I wanted some sort of righteous retribution, but didn’t really get it.
But a good, solid read that made me very uncomfortable!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
Merged review:
This was a pretty intense (and tense) read.
It’s just all too easy to put yourself in Gemma’s place, accused of horrific actions against her child – actions that she swears she didn’t commit.
The read is heartrending. I didn’t know if Rosie was some sort of bad seed or just dreadfully immature. I didn’t know if perhaps Gemma was darker than she (and the reader) believed. And Mira…oh, Mira. She was such a strange and unlikeable character – but what if she was right?
Now, this isn’t one of those twisty thrillers that are all the rage right now. It’s strictly a suspense thriller - the kind where things just get worse and worse until you wonder how on earth the characters (and you, yourself) can take it.
I didn’t love the ending. I wanted some sort of righteous retribution, but didn’t really get it.
But a good, solid read that made me very uncomfortable!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
It’s just all too easy to put yourself in Gemma’s place, accused of horrific actions against her child – actions that she swears she didn’t commit.
The read is heartrending. I didn’t know if Rosie was some sort of bad seed or just dreadfully immature. I didn’t know if perhaps Gemma was darker than she (and the reader) believed. And Mira…oh, Mira. She was such a strange and unlikeable character – but what if she was right?
Now, this isn’t one of those twisty thrillers that are all the rage right now. It’s strictly a suspense thriller - the kind where things just get worse and worse until you wonder how on earth the characters (and you, yourself) can take it.
I didn’t love the ending. I wanted some sort of righteous retribution, but didn’t really get it.
But a good, solid read that made me very uncomfortable!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
Merged review:
This was a pretty intense (and tense) read.
It’s just all too easy to put yourself in Gemma’s place, accused of horrific actions against her child – actions that she swears she didn’t commit.
The read is heartrending. I didn’t know if Rosie was some sort of bad seed or just dreadfully immature. I didn’t know if perhaps Gemma was darker than she (and the reader) believed. And Mira…oh, Mira. She was such a strange and unlikeable character – but what if she was right?
Now, this isn’t one of those twisty thrillers that are all the rage right now. It’s strictly a suspense thriller - the kind where things just get worse and worse until you wonder how on earth the characters (and you, yourself) can take it.
I didn’t love the ending. I wanted some sort of righteous retribution, but didn’t really get it.
But a good, solid read that made me very uncomfortable!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
December 13, 2017
Children push their parents’ buttons like no one else. Gemma Bradley’s trying her best to deal with Rosie’s daily and often loud tantrums, but things do not always work out the way she wants. When a neighbor’s misplaced concern brings the police and the child services to their house, the Bradley family’s timed-to-the-minute, “perfect” life comes crashing down. Mira believes Gemma is physically abusing Rosie, but is Mira really interested in Rosie’s wellbeing or is she just looking out for herself?
As a mother, some of the scenes dealing with Gemma’s despair were a bit too hard to read. Without doubt, Clare Boyd’s Little Liar is easily one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. Fast-paced, intense, and riveting – you won’t be able to put it down until you find out how it all ends. I will definitely look out for more books from this writer!
*Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a mother, some of the scenes dealing with Gemma’s despair were a bit too hard to read. Without doubt, Clare Boyd’s Little Liar is easily one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. Fast-paced, intense, and riveting – you won’t be able to put it down until you find out how it all ends. I will definitely look out for more books from this writer!
*Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2018
When a child's scream from the house next door cuts through Mira's heart like a spear, she sees no other option but to call the police and make sure eleven year old Rosie is safe. Before Rosie's mother, Gemma, can even blink, the police and social services are involved and her seemingly picture perfect family life falls to pieces. But things are not quite as they seem.
I don't have kids (thank goodness), nor do I have the meddling kind of neighbours and yet it's incredibly easy to imagine this frightening scenario, while you sit in your cosy living room reading this story and watch things spiral completely out of control. I'm sure all parents are familiar with temper tantrums thrown by their offspring. My sister's youngest suffered from the hysterical (and embarrassing) throwing-self-across-the-floor ones, which I thought only happened on television. But now imagine a neighbour or a bystander involving the police. Easily done. Sadly not so easily fixed.
I had a hard time connecting with Gemma, although as the story went on and we learned a bit more about her background, I could see where she came from and understood her a bit more. For me though, Mira was the stand-out character. She's brilliantly complicated and while it would be completely understandable to see her as the "bad guy" in this scenario, her story is so heartbreaking and complex that I couldn't help but feel for her. I loved how the author included Rosie's diary entries, which put a totally different spin on things.
Clare Boyd has delivered a chilling, unnerving and thought-provoking story that makes you wonder. What would you do? Ultimately, you just never know what goes on behind closed doors, do you? Would you sit back and do nothing and maybe get it wrong? Or would you act? And maybe get it wrong as well? Little Liar may be a tad of a slow-burner but it had me hooked and I couldn't wait to see what the outcome in this gripping family drama would be. I very much look forward to reading more by Clare Boyd.
I don't have kids (thank goodness), nor do I have the meddling kind of neighbours and yet it's incredibly easy to imagine this frightening scenario, while you sit in your cosy living room reading this story and watch things spiral completely out of control. I'm sure all parents are familiar with temper tantrums thrown by their offspring. My sister's youngest suffered from the hysterical (and embarrassing) throwing-self-across-the-floor ones, which I thought only happened on television. But now imagine a neighbour or a bystander involving the police. Easily done. Sadly not so easily fixed.
I had a hard time connecting with Gemma, although as the story went on and we learned a bit more about her background, I could see where she came from and understood her a bit more. For me though, Mira was the stand-out character. She's brilliantly complicated and while it would be completely understandable to see her as the "bad guy" in this scenario, her story is so heartbreaking and complex that I couldn't help but feel for her. I loved how the author included Rosie's diary entries, which put a totally different spin on things.
Clare Boyd has delivered a chilling, unnerving and thought-provoking story that makes you wonder. What would you do? Ultimately, you just never know what goes on behind closed doors, do you? Would you sit back and do nothing and maybe get it wrong? Or would you act? And maybe get it wrong as well? Little Liar may be a tad of a slow-burner but it had me hooked and I couldn't wait to see what the outcome in this gripping family drama would be. I very much look forward to reading more by Clare Boyd.
January 31, 2018
My heart is still pounding from reading this book.
This story took me by surprise as I didn’t think a situation could escalate so quickly and have such awful consequences for a loving mother.
At times, two of the main characters made my blood boil and I really sympathised with Gemma.
The story is told mainly from Gemma’s point of view but there’s also chapters where Rosie has written in her secret diary. These really frustrated me as whilst I knew it was written by a child, I just wanted her to talk to her mother and not the interfering next door neighbour.
This is a great story but could put some people off motherhood! Joking aside, it does show the difficulties faced by parents and the expectation that people have that everything has to be ‘perfect.’
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
This story took me by surprise as I didn’t think a situation could escalate so quickly and have such awful consequences for a loving mother.
At times, two of the main characters made my blood boil and I really sympathised with Gemma.
The story is told mainly from Gemma’s point of view but there’s also chapters where Rosie has written in her secret diary. These really frustrated me as whilst I knew it was written by a child, I just wanted her to talk to her mother and not the interfering next door neighbour.
This is a great story but could put some people off motherhood! Joking aside, it does show the difficulties faced by parents and the expectation that people have that everything has to be ‘perfect.’
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
January 21, 2018
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Gemma has a perfect life, married to Peter with two children Rosie and Noah and another along the way. Behind closed doors is another matter, Gemma loves Rosie but the two cannot get along. Rosie is a clever girl but at times she can be woefully disobedient, deliberately ignoring her mother. One night after lights out Gemma catches Rosie writing in her pink diary. When Rosie refused to stop writing Gemma took it off her and put it on top of her wardrobe. In anger, Rosie attacked Gemma hitting her and screaming at the top of her voice. Trying to escape from Rosie, Gemma accidentally caught Rosie's wrist in the door leaving a mark.
Next door Mira is a teaching assistant and is married to the dependable but boring Barry. Mira had a tough upbringing and was abused, as an adult she tries to stop other children suffering as she did. When she hears Rosie screaming next door and decides to call the police.
The police come to visit Gemma and Rosie but no further action is taken. The following week after another tantrum Gemma decides to ignore Rosie and plays music with Noah. Upstairs Rosie's mirror smashes to the floor, showering Rosie in glass. Mira calls the police again and they question Rosie at school. The police arrest Rosie and she is bailed for child cruelty.
It made me realise how simple everyday noises and actions can be misconstrued by others. Although Mira did hear screaming she immediately thought Rosie was being physically abused because of her own childhood.
Rosie was definitely a little brat who needed a good smack. I wonder if her donor family had mental health issues. I wanted to feel sorry for Mira but she was definitely unhinged. The blue bucket she had to secret communications with Rosie was definitely weird.
I liked the twist involving Mira and Barry. I was not expecting it but it did not surprise me in the least. Like other readers I was disappointed with the ending, Rosie had definite anger issues which definitely needed resolving.
I enjoyed Little Liar with its dark characters, I could not stop reading. I look forward to Clare's next book.
Gemma has a perfect life, married to Peter with two children Rosie and Noah and another along the way. Behind closed doors is another matter, Gemma loves Rosie but the two cannot get along. Rosie is a clever girl but at times she can be woefully disobedient, deliberately ignoring her mother. One night after lights out Gemma catches Rosie writing in her pink diary. When Rosie refused to stop writing Gemma took it off her and put it on top of her wardrobe. In anger, Rosie attacked Gemma hitting her and screaming at the top of her voice. Trying to escape from Rosie, Gemma accidentally caught Rosie's wrist in the door leaving a mark.
Next door Mira is a teaching assistant and is married to the dependable but boring Barry. Mira had a tough upbringing and was abused, as an adult she tries to stop other children suffering as she did. When she hears Rosie screaming next door and decides to call the police.
The police come to visit Gemma and Rosie but no further action is taken. The following week after another tantrum Gemma decides to ignore Rosie and plays music with Noah. Upstairs Rosie's mirror smashes to the floor, showering Rosie in glass. Mira calls the police again and they question Rosie at school. The police arrest Rosie and she is bailed for child cruelty.
It made me realise how simple everyday noises and actions can be misconstrued by others. Although Mira did hear screaming she immediately thought Rosie was being physically abused because of her own childhood.
Rosie was definitely a little brat who needed a good smack. I wonder if her donor family had mental health issues. I wanted to feel sorry for Mira but she was definitely unhinged. The blue bucket she had to secret communications with Rosie was definitely weird.
I liked the twist involving Mira and Barry. I was not expecting it but it did not surprise me in the least. Like other readers I was disappointed with the ending, Rosie had definite anger issues which definitely needed resolving.
I enjoyed Little Liar with its dark characters, I could not stop reading. I look forward to Clare's next book.
June 4, 2018
This story had a lot of family drama in it. Between mothers and children, husbands and wives and neighbors. It was about secrets and shame and holding it together in the face of adversity. That being said, it mostly was about a little girl and lies. The characters were mostly annoying to me. A child whose behavior is out of control. A neighbor who sticks her nose where it doesn't belong. A mother who obviously needs some parenting classes. The ending for me missed the mark, being a little too wrapped up with an out of the blue twist. This was a debut novel for this author and I will read her next to see how she develops as a writer.
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