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Love Lie Repeat
Three girls, loyal to each other - that never happens. All the groups of three implode eventually. Two in, one out. Change. Betrayal. Again. And again.
But not us. I make sure of it. I make Ash and Ruby see that our power is in our three-ness. We can do what no other trio can.
Together, we’re strong.
Thick, thin, boys, mothers, divorce, other girls, secrets, lies, all of it.
I'll keep us together.
Watch me.
Intoxicating and intense, lush and chilling, LOVE LIE REPEAT is the unmissable debut novel from Catherine Greer.
But not us. I make sure of it. I make Ash and Ruby see that our power is in our three-ness. We can do what no other trio can.
Together, we’re strong.
Thick, thin, boys, mothers, divorce, other girls, secrets, lies, all of it.
I'll keep us together.
Watch me.
Intoxicating and intense, lush and chilling, LOVE LIE REPEAT is the unmissable debut novel from Catherine Greer.
336 pages, Paperback
Published March 5, 2019
20 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Greer
8 books44 followersHello, I'm Catherine Greer. Thank you for being here, and for taking the time and care to share your thoughts on the books that I write with love and put out into the world. If you're a reader and / or a writer, you'll know that it takes years to write and bring a book into the world -- and our greatest hope is to find readers who enjoy resonate with a story.
My debut YA novel was sophisticated and felt very Atwood-esque, based on her compelling poem "Siren Song". I'm sorry that I didn't redeem the main character, Annie, who is an unreliable narrator and also a girl living with quite a lot of pain. I love her still, and all she went through in Love, Lie, Repeat.
My new novel is for adult women like me. It's called The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe, and I poured everything I am into this book. Baking, recipes, community, love, grit, determination and a willingness to keep going...no matter what the odds are. If you love UpLit or Feel Good Fiction, you might love this one. If you're a crime or thriller reader, or want to read on the dark side, it's probably not one for you.
But if you love to curl up in bed and read about a spirited woman who wins...and who learns to fall in love with HERSELF, then you might just love The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe. Please do try the family recipes in the book. They are all fantastic...my favourites are the chocolate cake and the classic carrot cake. And the cinnamon buns! You'll see quite a lot of readers making these recipes on Instagram, and I've loved seeing that.
If you want to hear from me every week, I write a free, upbeat and simple Sunday newsletter at LoveOurAge dot com.
Thank you for being here. Writers want to share their stories and their hearts with the world. I hope you feel that my books are "for you". If you want to share a critique of what I could be doing better, please do email me at my website. I'm a human learning how to improve, like all the rest of us, and probably a lot like you. Thank you for your support of my work in the world. Catherine x
My debut YA novel was sophisticated and felt very Atwood-esque, based on her compelling poem "Siren Song". I'm sorry that I didn't redeem the main character, Annie, who is an unreliable narrator and also a girl living with quite a lot of pain. I love her still, and all she went through in Love, Lie, Repeat.
My new novel is for adult women like me. It's called The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe, and I poured everything I am into this book. Baking, recipes, community, love, grit, determination and a willingness to keep going...no matter what the odds are. If you love UpLit or Feel Good Fiction, you might love this one. If you're a crime or thriller reader, or want to read on the dark side, it's probably not one for you.
But if you love to curl up in bed and read about a spirited woman who wins...and who learns to fall in love with HERSELF, then you might just love The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe. Please do try the family recipes in the book. They are all fantastic...my favourites are the chocolate cake and the classic carrot cake. And the cinnamon buns! You'll see quite a lot of readers making these recipes on Instagram, and I've loved seeing that.
If you want to hear from me every week, I write a free, upbeat and simple Sunday newsletter at LoveOurAge dot com.
Thank you for being here. Writers want to share their stories and their hearts with the world. I hope you feel that my books are "for you". If you want to share a critique of what I could be doing better, please do email me at my website. I'm a human learning how to improve, like all the rest of us, and probably a lot like you. Thank you for your support of my work in the world. Catherine x
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 5, 2019
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
I’ve recently discovered an appreciation for the work of Margaret Atwood, so when Love Lie Repeat landed on my review desk, I was heavily intrigued by a book that has been inspired by the poetry of this modern literary icon. Catherine Greer imagines the voice of “Siren Song”, an Atwood poem from 1974 in her new novel. Greer works to tell the story behind the poem, with particular focus on the narrator, within the context of modern day Sydney and the north shore social set. A world of immense wealth, class and distinction, Greer’s main focal subject, Annie, reminds us that beneath the facade of perfection, lies guilt, anxiety, secrets, insecurities and loneliness.
Meet the Sirens, three teenage girls who have grown up together in the affluent suburbs of Sydney’s north shore. The trio are beautiful, talented, smart and successful. However, their loyalty to one another is tested when a change strikes at the core of their friendship. The girls must negotiate first love, heartbreak, betrayal, loneliness, rejection, replacement, separation and much more. It is a power struggle and the girls find they must dig deep to ensure they stay strong and connected in their testing experiences.
The perfect melting flower symbol that adorns the cover of Love Lie Repeat by Catherine Greer, provides the audience with an indication of what is to come once they settle into the pages of this modern young adult fiction novel. This image goes a long way, explaining that the perfect rosy life we think others that are in a class above us have is far from the truth. We all have fear, anxieties, secrets and pain, no matter your class or creed.
I admit that I have a difficult relationship with young adult books. As a reader closer in age to the parent figures of this tale, I knew I was going to find it difficult to connect with the main narrator of this tale, sixteen year old Annie. I did experience a little of the age and generation gap issue, however, I was able to see beyond this and appreciate the implicit messages Love Lie and Repeat was able to express to the reader. This novel provides an insightful commentary on modern society, culture and class. It also provides us with a glimpse into the social world of our present day teens, as well as their parents. I was able to connect with the problems and fears experienced by the mother figures in this story, despite being from a totally different background to these women. I think Greer does a fine job of encapsulating the preoccupations of these young women and their mothers. I came away feeling much more sympathetic about their situation than I would have expected! It just goes to show that many of these people are just like us, hiding behind a mask of pain and multitude of other problems.
Love Lie Repeat takes a set of characters that many will struggle to understand in the beginning. They may appear unlikable, selfish and self centred, but gradually, Greer unfurls their back stories. The progression of character was what I enjoyed about this story. I also appreciated being planted directly into the minds of a seemingly privileged teenager, friends and parents. I think Greer does a very good job of situating her reader in the shroud of her complicated protagonists.
Greer’s writing is sharp and edgy. I found myself literally sprinting through this book. This was a refreshing change, as the previous couple of books I read were much slower pace wise. Greer’s writing is a less is more approach. It is bold and innovative. The plotting was intense and fulfilling. I think this book will be easily appreciated by an audience from the mid to late teen years upwards.
In our modern pursuit for perfection and acceptance, Love Lie Repeat is a novel that very much situates the reader in this present day conundrum. It looks carefully and almost scathingly at feelings of power, guilt, risk, fear, rejection, sadness and pain. A novel that reminds us of the fragile nature of our inner selves, Love Lie Repeat is a great alternative addition to the young adult fiction market.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Love Lie Repeat is book #26 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
I’ve recently discovered an appreciation for the work of Margaret Atwood, so when Love Lie Repeat landed on my review desk, I was heavily intrigued by a book that has been inspired by the poetry of this modern literary icon. Catherine Greer imagines the voice of “Siren Song”, an Atwood poem from 1974 in her new novel. Greer works to tell the story behind the poem, with particular focus on the narrator, within the context of modern day Sydney and the north shore social set. A world of immense wealth, class and distinction, Greer’s main focal subject, Annie, reminds us that beneath the facade of perfection, lies guilt, anxiety, secrets, insecurities and loneliness.
Meet the Sirens, three teenage girls who have grown up together in the affluent suburbs of Sydney’s north shore. The trio are beautiful, talented, smart and successful. However, their loyalty to one another is tested when a change strikes at the core of their friendship. The girls must negotiate first love, heartbreak, betrayal, loneliness, rejection, replacement, separation and much more. It is a power struggle and the girls find they must dig deep to ensure they stay strong and connected in their testing experiences.
The perfect melting flower symbol that adorns the cover of Love Lie Repeat by Catherine Greer, provides the audience with an indication of what is to come once they settle into the pages of this modern young adult fiction novel. This image goes a long way, explaining that the perfect rosy life we think others that are in a class above us have is far from the truth. We all have fear, anxieties, secrets and pain, no matter your class or creed.
I admit that I have a difficult relationship with young adult books. As a reader closer in age to the parent figures of this tale, I knew I was going to find it difficult to connect with the main narrator of this tale, sixteen year old Annie. I did experience a little of the age and generation gap issue, however, I was able to see beyond this and appreciate the implicit messages Love Lie and Repeat was able to express to the reader. This novel provides an insightful commentary on modern society, culture and class. It also provides us with a glimpse into the social world of our present day teens, as well as their parents. I was able to connect with the problems and fears experienced by the mother figures in this story, despite being from a totally different background to these women. I think Greer does a fine job of encapsulating the preoccupations of these young women and their mothers. I came away feeling much more sympathetic about their situation than I would have expected! It just goes to show that many of these people are just like us, hiding behind a mask of pain and multitude of other problems.
Love Lie Repeat takes a set of characters that many will struggle to understand in the beginning. They may appear unlikable, selfish and self centred, but gradually, Greer unfurls their back stories. The progression of character was what I enjoyed about this story. I also appreciated being planted directly into the minds of a seemingly privileged teenager, friends and parents. I think Greer does a very good job of situating her reader in the shroud of her complicated protagonists.
Greer’s writing is sharp and edgy. I found myself literally sprinting through this book. This was a refreshing change, as the previous couple of books I read were much slower pace wise. Greer’s writing is a less is more approach. It is bold and innovative. The plotting was intense and fulfilling. I think this book will be easily appreciated by an audience from the mid to late teen years upwards.
In our modern pursuit for perfection and acceptance, Love Lie Repeat is a novel that very much situates the reader in this present day conundrum. It looks carefully and almost scathingly at feelings of power, guilt, risk, fear, rejection, sadness and pain. A novel that reminds us of the fragile nature of our inner selves, Love Lie Repeat is a great alternative addition to the young adult fiction market.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Love Lie Repeat is book #26 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
December 7, 2018
This is a solid five stars from me. I’ve not been this excited about an upcoming ya debut in such a long time. The compulsive teen read of my dreams. Why do I love this so much? I think the way Greer has articulated the behaviours of the pretty, talented, competitive, manipulative and mean girls of upper north shore Sydney resonates, I’m delighted we have 16 year old characters with not a leaving year in sight, and she’s created a plot that throws plenty of curve balls. There’s a lot going on in Love Lie Repeat and Greer hasn’t let her big story line overshadow the way she gently unwraps her main characters’ behaviours. A book that will stick to you like glue
January 16, 2019
This is a delicious morsel of a book. You won't want to put it down. Catherine Greer has a gift for creating interesting characters and building suspense. Beyond that, the writing is lovely and masterful. The characters are complex and multi-faceted, and will keep you wondering until the end. Who can you trust? I love books like this that seduce you into another world-- a world of raw beauty and whispered secrets, new loves and hidden fears. Catherine Greer, when can I read the sequel?
February 5, 2020
The most addicting read ever. I couldn’t put it down.
Oh and revenge stories are my absolute favourites so I just knew I would like this book
Oh and revenge stories are my absolute favourites so I just knew I would like this book
January 6, 2019
Catherine Greer's debut novel is modern fiction at its finest. This teenage thriller is fast-paced, grabbing and is just dying to be made into a movie. Despite being pitched at young adults, the book would honestly find a home in any avid reader's lap. No sensible person could deny that Catherine Greer is a master of plot development, precise character work, and a true veteran of the English language. She hopefully has many novels yet to write, but even now her prose is without a doubt worthy of the Margaret Atwood and F. Scott Fitzgerald she alludes to so deftly throughout the book. Love Lie Repeat is a truly exemplary novel.
September 3, 2024
I feel bad rating this so low but this books just really wasn’t for me. By no means is it a bad book, I just didn’t connect with it. I didn’t like the characters and I wasn’t connecting with the story.
It’s short and it’s easy to read. There were definitely some really nicely written passages. However, it felt like I was just waiting for something to happen and realistically a lot did happen, but it felt like nothing really did.
It’s short and it’s easy to read. There were definitely some really nicely written passages. However, it felt like I was just waiting for something to happen and realistically a lot did happen, but it felt like nothing really did.
May 30, 2019
Writing style: 5
Plot: 3
Characters & their development: 5
Originality: 3
Pacing: 4
Personal enjoyment: 4
Overall average: 4
What I liked
-the morally grey characters
-the plot twists
-the writing style
What I was meh about
-the plot lacked originality
Plot: 3
Characters & their development: 5
Originality: 3
Pacing: 4
Personal enjoyment: 4
Overall average: 4
What I liked
-the morally grey characters
-the plot twists
-the writing style
What I was meh about
-the plot lacked originality
March 8, 2019
Thankyou to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of Love Lie Repeat in exchange for an honest review.
Annie, Ash and Ruby are the very best of friends. Three sirens who do everything together and will be 'friends forever'. Annie is determined to make it that way, no matter what she has to do and how many secrets she needs to keep.
Ok, so first of all, I know that everyone is always screaming for pure hearted, strong friendships in books, and it's a wonderful thing, but I often find them a bit unrelatable myself to be honest. 🙈 I was never big on friendship groups or the idea of 'friends for life' when I was younger. Does that sound awful? It probably does. The issues faced in the friendships in Love Lie Repeat seemed more 'real' to me. As an adult looking back, I know I basically cared very little about anyone but myself when I was a teenager. Manipulation, backstabbing and secrets were common amongst groups of friends, as were the types of issues the girls faced in their families, and love lives - such as abandonment, grief, jealousy, mental health, fractured families, pressure to be perfect etc. Are they the type of friendships I hope my daughter will have? No. Are they everyone's experience? No. But are they often part of a teenage reality? Yes.
This was a fantastic dark, suspenseful thriller and I loved the way it gave us snippets of information on certain plot points through the story, and then tied them all together at the end.
Annie is a troubled girl who can't forgive her father for leaving their family and nor can she forgive her mother for 'letting it happen'. She struggles so much with her feelings of abandonment that it clearly affects the way she desires an 'unbreakable' bond with her friends. Her fathers actions WERE despicable and the mothers' of all the girls needed a stern talking to when it came to body image talk with their daughters, but I also find I struggle to keep seeing everything from the point of view of the teenager in a lot of YA contemporary books now - especially when it comes to them showing no consideration for their parents and what they're going through. I have to try and remember that IS how 16 year olds often feel and it's only because I am an adult (and a parent) myself now that I truly understand we struggle through life just as much as our kids sometimes (I really did think once I was in my 30's that I'd have it all together. Rude shock for me )
I really enjoyed this book, the characters and story were so intriguing and I couldn't put it down!
MY BLOG ~ INSTAGRAM
Annie, Ash and Ruby are the very best of friends. Three sirens who do everything together and will be 'friends forever'. Annie is determined to make it that way, no matter what she has to do and how many secrets she needs to keep.
Ok, so first of all, I know that everyone is always screaming for pure hearted, strong friendships in books, and it's a wonderful thing, but I often find them a bit unrelatable myself to be honest. 🙈 I was never big on friendship groups or the idea of 'friends for life' when I was younger. Does that sound awful? It probably does. The issues faced in the friendships in Love Lie Repeat seemed more 'real' to me. As an adult looking back, I know I basically cared very little about anyone but myself when I was a teenager. Manipulation, backstabbing and secrets were common amongst groups of friends, as were the types of issues the girls faced in their families, and love lives - such as abandonment, grief, jealousy, mental health, fractured families, pressure to be perfect etc. Are they the type of friendships I hope my daughter will have? No. Are they everyone's experience? No. But are they often part of a teenage reality? Yes.
This was a fantastic dark, suspenseful thriller and I loved the way it gave us snippets of information on certain plot points through the story, and then tied them all together at the end.
Annie is a troubled girl who can't forgive her father for leaving their family and nor can she forgive her mother for 'letting it happen'. She struggles so much with her feelings of abandonment that it clearly affects the way she desires an 'unbreakable' bond with her friends. Her fathers actions WERE despicable and the mothers' of all the girls needed a stern talking to when it came to body image talk with their daughters, but I also find I struggle to keep seeing everything from the point of view of the teenager in a lot of YA contemporary books now - especially when it comes to them showing no consideration for their parents and what they're going through. I have to try and remember that IS how 16 year olds often feel and it's only because I am an adult (and a parent) myself now that I truly understand we struggle through life just as much as our kids sometimes (I really did think once I was in my 30's that I'd have it all together. Rude shock for me )
I really enjoyed this book, the characters and story were so intriguing and I couldn't put it down!
MY BLOG ~ INSTAGRAM
April 30, 2019
[I received an ARC of this through my bookseller job. Thanks, Penguin!]
Have you ever thought “Oh, I’ll read a couple of pages and see how I like it” and then emerged feeling slightly drunk and having finished the book in one sitting?
Love Lie Repeat sucked me in from the first few pages. I often find with contemporary YA that the teenagers behave unrealistically but Annie and her friends took me back (though it’s not that far!) to my own high school days and the constant machinations of girls trying to establish their place in the high school hierarchy.
Have you ever thought “Oh, I’ll read a couple of pages and see how I like it” and then emerged feeling slightly drunk and having finished the book in one sitting?
Love Lie Repeat sucked me in from the first few pages. I often find with contemporary YA that the teenagers behave unrealistically but Annie and her friends took me back (though it’s not that far!) to my own high school days and the constant machinations of girls trying to establish their place in the high school hierarchy.
February 16, 2019
This book was sent to me by the publisher for my honest review.
I ate this book up in a day. For me it was completely captivating. I simply could not put this book down. Talk about a page turner! The Sirens are intense girls wrapped up in beautiful packaging. The story completely had me hooked. This was exactly the book I needed to read today. Loved it!
I ate this book up in a day. For me it was completely captivating. I simply could not put this book down. Talk about a page turner! The Sirens are intense girls wrapped up in beautiful packaging. The story completely had me hooked. This was exactly the book I needed to read today. Loved it!
February 2, 2019
I really like the fact that this book is set in Sydney. I can relate to and imagine the places they go to. I also really love the characters and I kind of like love-hated Annie but then I really felt sorry for her, too. My opinion 100% changed on her and I was sort of shocked by the book. I learned a lot of new words like heterochromia and stuff.
Definitely a book for someone in or near high school. My mum liked it but didn't quite grip her because she is old, like 45 or something. She was right that I would love it.
Definitely a book for someone in or near high school. My mum liked it but didn't quite grip her because she is old, like 45 or something. She was right that I would love it.
February 2, 2019
Got the book from a friend whose mum gave her an early reader copy (!!). I was super surprised by the ending. I liked how creepy the whole Margaretta thing was! Seriously, chills. I couldn’t figure it out for a long time. Frankly I am tired of "vampire school girls" and at least this was realistic and felt like Greer was in my school watching.
April 1, 2019
why do i have the worst taste
August 10, 2019
It was a good read, it reminded me of pretty little liars and some books from Virginia Andrews. It had suspense, lies, mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, self harm and more. I would definitely read this book and recommended it to someone
May 22, 2019
This was completely messed up, but in the best possible way.
Trigger warning: eating disorder, self harm
Trigger warning: eating disorder, self harm
April 4, 2019
Young twisted minds.
Struggle.
Friendship.
Heartache.
The Sirens.
The Sirens is a small group of friends, formed by three girls who have grown up together in what I like to call a snobby area of Sydney. The talented, show stopping, smart and beautiful girls are drawn together for their loyalty of one another and when a newcomer and history begins to throw them in the ocean without any floaties, they have to band together to remain strong and loyal during the tough times.
From the start, you glimpse the struggles and pain the young girls will face, but you won’t understand the magnitude of this until you read the final page of the books. I found that it also proves that no matter how much money you have, it cannot resolve your anxiety, fear of rejection and buy your life choices for you. Only you can decide what the best thing to do is.
I raise my hand to admit that at the start I thought these young girls were arrogant, spoilt, self-centred and privileged young girls that needed nothing more than a wooden spoon to the arse and all their future clothing and accessories purchased from Kmart. Though as I kept reading my mind soon began to change and grasp the desperation that the Sirens found themselves in. At small parts their story was relatable (obviously not the rich and wealthy part) and I began to change my mind about them and almost had a feeling of sorrow for their situation… almost.
Greer has a sharp and edgy style of writing that does that you a while to find the rhythm and pace of the story before you begin to tap your feet along to the beat. Now don’t get me wrong when I say that the pace took some time to get used to in a bad, by all means it is in fact the opposite. It has been a while since I have read a book that held the same fast pace consistently from start to finish. This is why Love Lie Repeat is the perfect book for anyone of any age to devour.
I usually proudly say that I am not a fan of contemporary because I always find myself doubting the actions of the characters, they are unlikeable and the plot is sooo unrealistic that I roll my eyes. Love Lie Repeat has changed my mind and I hope to find more contemporary books out there that match Greer’s work.
If you are a fan of backstabbing, secrets that tear at your heart and friendships that have the salty edge, then this is the kind of book that you should be picking up. After all we all need a little darkness to get you through the day…
Struggle.
Friendship.
Heartache.
The Sirens.
The Sirens is a small group of friends, formed by three girls who have grown up together in what I like to call a snobby area of Sydney. The talented, show stopping, smart and beautiful girls are drawn together for their loyalty of one another and when a newcomer and history begins to throw them in the ocean without any floaties, they have to band together to remain strong and loyal during the tough times.
From the start, you glimpse the struggles and pain the young girls will face, but you won’t understand the magnitude of this until you read the final page of the books. I found that it also proves that no matter how much money you have, it cannot resolve your anxiety, fear of rejection and buy your life choices for you. Only you can decide what the best thing to do is.
I raise my hand to admit that at the start I thought these young girls were arrogant, spoilt, self-centred and privileged young girls that needed nothing more than a wooden spoon to the arse and all their future clothing and accessories purchased from Kmart. Though as I kept reading my mind soon began to change and grasp the desperation that the Sirens found themselves in. At small parts their story was relatable (obviously not the rich and wealthy part) and I began to change my mind about them and almost had a feeling of sorrow for their situation… almost.
Greer has a sharp and edgy style of writing that does that you a while to find the rhythm and pace of the story before you begin to tap your feet along to the beat. Now don’t get me wrong when I say that the pace took some time to get used to in a bad, by all means it is in fact the opposite. It has been a while since I have read a book that held the same fast pace consistently from start to finish. This is why Love Lie Repeat is the perfect book for anyone of any age to devour.
I usually proudly say that I am not a fan of contemporary because I always find myself doubting the actions of the characters, they are unlikeable and the plot is sooo unrealistic that I roll my eyes. Love Lie Repeat has changed my mind and I hope to find more contemporary books out there that match Greer’s work.
If you are a fan of backstabbing, secrets that tear at your heart and friendships that have the salty edge, then this is the kind of book that you should be picking up. After all we all need a little darkness to get you through the day…
February 22, 2019
“It’s not your job to rescue us so that we keep on loving you.” ooft I felt that in my soul.
I was lucky enough to receive an arc of this book from Penguin. It took me a little bit to get into it, but maybe that’s because I started reading it when My mind was elsewhere. Once I was able to dedicate my whole brain to it I ate it up.
I didn’t think I’d have anything in common with a bunch of teenagers who live in Sydney mansions that have servants entries, who are thin and gorgeous. But as it turns out I have more in common with the main character, Annie, than I’d like to admit.
A book filled with lies, manipulation, and obsession. If this interests you then give it a go.
3.5 stars
P.S. at one point people were asking Annie if she was okay, the sentence “Annie! Annie! Are you okay, Annie!” Was said and now I have smooth criminal in my head for all of eternity.
I was lucky enough to receive an arc of this book from Penguin. It took me a little bit to get into it, but maybe that’s because I started reading it when My mind was elsewhere. Once I was able to dedicate my whole brain to it I ate it up.
I didn’t think I’d have anything in common with a bunch of teenagers who live in Sydney mansions that have servants entries, who are thin and gorgeous. But as it turns out I have more in common with the main character, Annie, than I’d like to admit.
A book filled with lies, manipulation, and obsession. If this interests you then give it a go.
3.5 stars
P.S. at one point people were asking Annie if she was okay, the sentence “Annie! Annie! Are you okay, Annie!” Was said and now I have smooth criminal in my head for all of eternity.
August 20, 2021
A completely underrated book, it was so freaking good, and I loved the writing style.
January 7, 2022
Ooooh this was a good read. I'd heard good things but wasn't sold from the blurb, but I'm so glad I gave it a go. Catherine Greer is such a clever writer, I enjoyed myself reading this book so much. I wasn't just a reader, I was in there putting pieces together, being wowed at what kind of character I was seeing everything through. I really recommend this book, especially for fans of E. Lockhart. 5 Stars.
March 16, 2019
What can I say. Loved this book and pretty much read it in one sitting - had to eat left overs because I could not put it down. What a great book. Riveting and laser focussed on the dysfunction that is slight not he surface and cuts deeply. Have to say that I even cried a few times. Worth every second you take to read it.
February 21, 2019
I really enjoyed this new YA read - a gripping thriller set in the world of upper north shore private school teens. Behind the glossy facades lies secrets (and lies!). It cleverly weaves in an incident from the past that unravels as the main plot progresses. The voice is compelling, the characters unsettling. Really well done!
August 25, 2019
What is this about?: Annie, Ash and Ruby are the Sirens. Three friends to the bitter end, who support each other through everything. And then a boy stumbles into their midst...but this story is hardly as simple as that.
What else is this about?: This book is inspired by this Margaret Atwood poem. It is about power, about young girls who are always looking for perfection, and in fact surrounded by people and parents who demand it.
I didn't quite know what to expect going in, but take a look at the poem by Margaret Atwood, which inspired the book. Love Lie Repeat is about three young girls -- Ash, Annie and Ruby -- who have been firm friends for ages. They are the type of girls who dress the best, wear the best clothes and are perfectly proportioned. They are great at sports, and at anything they take a liking to... or so it seems.
But, slowly Catherine Greer begins to share what their lives are really like, and so we are introduced to the reality of their lives as Sirens.
Annie, Ash and Ruby
Annie is the Queen Bee of the Sirens -- which btw, is what they have named themselves as they are, in addition to everything else they are good at, amazing singers. Her parents are divorced, and her father is busy making a new life, with a new wife and new perfect daughter that isn't Annie. Every word from her is filled with resentment and hate towards him -- and towards her mother for being so weak.
That last bit, the break up of her parents, is the running thread that ties everything Annie does together.
Of all the things Ash knows, she is sure of one this: she will never be perfect enough for her mother. Never thin enough, never pretty enough ... just never enough. And her mother tends to remind her of that, comparing her to Annie and Ruby, and their eating habits, their weight and whatever else she can.
Ruby thrives on the comparison. She is quick to chime in to Ash and ask her why she's eating this and this and this when she knows it's not good for her. She wants to be a designer, and has roped her friends into being part of her fashion show this year. For all her criticisms though, she is there when Ash needs her, when she starts cutting again and the Sirens rally around her to help.
The boy
It is when Ash's step-brother, Trip, comes to live with her that the cracks begin to show in the girls' relationship, namely because Annie has decided she has to have Trip.
It happens soon enough, but then Greer takes things up a notch and Annie begins to take centre stage. She is ... vicious. And manipulative. Of everyone around her in her quest to become Trip's girlfriend (most especially of Trip at first).
It also shows just how brilliantly she knows the people around her, their weaknesses and their strengths, and that bit is kind of awe-inspiring to see.
However, she does not reckon on Trip not entirely being as manipulative as she liked, on a holiday to Canada and his old stomping grounds where she realises she might not have him entirely. Annie grows more determined and more manipulative, and at the same time, Greer begins to throw in her past more and more, the break up of her family and how that shaped Annie.
And to tell you more, would be to spoil some brilliant characterisation on Greer's part for Annie is mesmerising in her quest for what she wants, no matter who she has to go through to get it.
Yes, there are casualties in Annie's quest, and no she does not give a shit. That's what makes her all the more interesting and dangerous as a character. She's a master at showing the world what she wants them to see.
Trip himself is a character that is somewhat of an enigma because we know enough of him to understand why Annie desires him so, and enough to understand that he is not exactly loyal. But, the interesting thing is, he knows enough to (almost) see Annie for who she truly is. That made me want more of him. But I can say that in something that is Annie's story, he played a part that was just right for his part of this story.
Love Lie Repeat is utterly compelling a read for how it portrays Annie and the Sirens and their question for their own versions of perfection. It may be Annie's story in the end, Annie descent in manipulation to get what she wants that takes centre stage, but it's striking commentary on what teenage girls can experience.
What else is this about?: This book is inspired by this Margaret Atwood poem. It is about power, about young girls who are always looking for perfection, and in fact surrounded by people and parents who demand it.
I didn't quite know what to expect going in, but take a look at the poem by Margaret Atwood, which inspired the book. Love Lie Repeat is about three young girls -- Ash, Annie and Ruby -- who have been firm friends for ages. They are the type of girls who dress the best, wear the best clothes and are perfectly proportioned. They are great at sports, and at anything they take a liking to... or so it seems.
But, slowly Catherine Greer begins to share what their lives are really like, and so we are introduced to the reality of their lives as Sirens.
Annie, Ash and Ruby
Annie is the Queen Bee of the Sirens -- which btw, is what they have named themselves as they are, in addition to everything else they are good at, amazing singers. Her parents are divorced, and her father is busy making a new life, with a new wife and new perfect daughter that isn't Annie. Every word from her is filled with resentment and hate towards him -- and towards her mother for being so weak.
That last bit, the break up of her parents, is the running thread that ties everything Annie does together.
Of all the things Ash knows, she is sure of one this: she will never be perfect enough for her mother. Never thin enough, never pretty enough ... just never enough. And her mother tends to remind her of that, comparing her to Annie and Ruby, and their eating habits, their weight and whatever else she can.
Ruby thrives on the comparison. She is quick to chime in to Ash and ask her why she's eating this and this and this when she knows it's not good for her. She wants to be a designer, and has roped her friends into being part of her fashion show this year. For all her criticisms though, she is there when Ash needs her, when she starts cutting again and the Sirens rally around her to help.
The boy
It is when Ash's step-brother, Trip, comes to live with her that the cracks begin to show in the girls' relationship, namely because Annie has decided she has to have Trip.
It happens soon enough, but then Greer takes things up a notch and Annie begins to take centre stage. She is ... vicious. And manipulative. Of everyone around her in her quest to become Trip's girlfriend (most especially of Trip at first).
It also shows just how brilliantly she knows the people around her, their weaknesses and their strengths, and that bit is kind of awe-inspiring to see.
However, she does not reckon on Trip not entirely being as manipulative as she liked, on a holiday to Canada and his old stomping grounds where she realises she might not have him entirely. Annie grows more determined and more manipulative, and at the same time, Greer begins to throw in her past more and more, the break up of her family and how that shaped Annie.
And to tell you more, would be to spoil some brilliant characterisation on Greer's part for Annie is mesmerising in her quest for what she wants, no matter who she has to go through to get it.
Yes, there are casualties in Annie's quest, and no she does not give a shit. That's what makes her all the more interesting and dangerous as a character. She's a master at showing the world what she wants them to see.
Trip himself is a character that is somewhat of an enigma because we know enough of him to understand why Annie desires him so, and enough to understand that he is not exactly loyal. But, the interesting thing is, he knows enough to (almost) see Annie for who she truly is. That made me want more of him. But I can say that in something that is Annie's story, he played a part that was just right for his part of this story.
Love Lie Repeat is utterly compelling a read for how it portrays Annie and the Sirens and their question for their own versions of perfection. It may be Annie's story in the end, Annie descent in manipulation to get what she wants that takes centre stage, but it's striking commentary on what teenage girls can experience.
December 29, 2019
"But nobody really gets away with anything, do they? I mean, not in the end. The world makes them pay. It's only fair."
.
How do you feel about karma? Do you think that god or the universe even things out in a great cosmic balance book? Or do you think they need a helping hand? The protagonist of Catherine Greer's debut YA novel Love Lie Repeat thinks that nothing happens by accident and that we need to be the masters of our own fate. Annie is young, smart, beautiful, and the lynchpin of her trio of best friends. Calling themselves The Sirens for their talent in singing, the story unfolds as Annie tries to keep their friendship strong as they sail the choppy seas of adolescence. But this is no sappy, coming of age story of naive girls power and Greer's protagonist will go to any lengths to get what she thinks is hers, and to keep her friends together. Even if that means resorting to psychological manipulation, gaslighting, even a string of arsons. Annie is brutally efficient and cutthroat but not inhuman and her motivations are painfully clear. We all remember the fear of rejection and alienation that permeate the teenage years but add the extreme pressure of a bunch of trophy mums who live vicariously through their daughters and some conspicuously absent fathers and you have a nasty mix of poisons. While, as an adult, I may have exhibited a few eye rolls, the heightened emotions exhibited by the girls is something I see in my students and an experience we are quick to forget when we grow up. I think a lot of what we might dismiss as hyperbole would ring true for teenagers. The motif of the siren is deepened by the repeated references to the Margaret Atwood poem which creates a strong thematic backbone for the novel. In the end, while we are impressed by Annie's ability to harness her inherent power and make those around her dance like puppets on a string, Greer highlights the coldness of a world where we are only centered on protecting ourselves at any cost. Annie's lack of growth is disturbing and a clear warning not to follow in her footsteps.
.
How do you feel about karma? Do you think that god or the universe even things out in a great cosmic balance book? Or do you think they need a helping hand? The protagonist of Catherine Greer's debut YA novel Love Lie Repeat thinks that nothing happens by accident and that we need to be the masters of our own fate. Annie is young, smart, beautiful, and the lynchpin of her trio of best friends. Calling themselves The Sirens for their talent in singing, the story unfolds as Annie tries to keep their friendship strong as they sail the choppy seas of adolescence. But this is no sappy, coming of age story of naive girls power and Greer's protagonist will go to any lengths to get what she thinks is hers, and to keep her friends together. Even if that means resorting to psychological manipulation, gaslighting, even a string of arsons. Annie is brutally efficient and cutthroat but not inhuman and her motivations are painfully clear. We all remember the fear of rejection and alienation that permeate the teenage years but add the extreme pressure of a bunch of trophy mums who live vicariously through their daughters and some conspicuously absent fathers and you have a nasty mix of poisons. While, as an adult, I may have exhibited a few eye rolls, the heightened emotions exhibited by the girls is something I see in my students and an experience we are quick to forget when we grow up. I think a lot of what we might dismiss as hyperbole would ring true for teenagers. The motif of the siren is deepened by the repeated references to the Margaret Atwood poem which creates a strong thematic backbone for the novel. In the end, while we are impressed by Annie's ability to harness her inherent power and make those around her dance like puppets on a string, Greer highlights the coldness of a world where we are only centered on protecting ourselves at any cost. Annie's lack of growth is disturbing and a clear warning not to follow in her footsteps.
April 20, 2019
Love, Lie, Repeat was a compelling, intriguing and powerful read. It didn't take me long to read, as I was captivated by the plot. From the beginning, I questioned and felt empathy for the narrator, 16 year old Annie. She considers the bond with her friends to be unbreakable and insists that she has the power to keep her friends together no matter what they go through. The girls experience love, feelings of abandonment from family members, struggles with mental health and finding out who they truly are. Many issues raised in the novel would be close to home for many teenagers, whether experienced by a friend or themselves.
There are sections of the novel that explore very personal teenage issues. As a teacher, this book was an emotional read in parts, as I considered the grief, neglect, anxiety and depression felt by the characters. This could be any one of my students. In my profession, I hope to provide life lessons and help students at school whenever they need someone to listen to them.
I also saw this book from the perspective of a parent and at times did not connect well with the narrator due to the lack of consideration she had for her mother.
Overall, this was a great young adult suspense thriller that I couldn't put down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
There are sections of the novel that explore very personal teenage issues. As a teacher, this book was an emotional read in parts, as I considered the grief, neglect, anxiety and depression felt by the characters. This could be any one of my students. In my profession, I hope to provide life lessons and help students at school whenever they need someone to listen to them.
I also saw this book from the perspective of a parent and at times did not connect well with the narrator due to the lack of consideration she had for her mother.
Overall, this was a great young adult suspense thriller that I couldn't put down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 6, 2019
Definitely would recommend it if you like angsty romance, drama and relationships with friends/parents.
I think I got to page like 200 when I REALLY couldn't put it down.
Like I kept telling myself to put it down, finish my homework and then get back to it but then I was like "Who am I kidding?" So I just kept on reading.
There are some things in the book that aren't revealed until the very end which keeps you going and it's also filled with the characters where you one second love and the other second hate them, the characters that you keep questioning and it even gets to a point when you start to question the main character.
What I REALLY enjoyed reading though was the fact that so many awful things happened and the three best friends did fight but in the end, their relationship was the most solid one.
It also has romance in it soooooooooooooo I liked it!
I only wish some parts were actually in the book. Like the main character finally fixes her relationship with someone and then they plan on going somewhere, but we never really see it. So at some point, I got confused whether I missed a chapter or not.
The other good thing was the short chapters: made it easy to read whenever I can.
I think I got to page like 200 when I REALLY couldn't put it down.
Like I kept telling myself to put it down, finish my homework and then get back to it but then I was like "Who am I kidding?" So I just kept on reading.
There are some things in the book that aren't revealed until the very end which keeps you going and it's also filled with the characters where you one second love and the other second hate them, the characters that you keep questioning and it even gets to a point when you start to question the main character.
What I REALLY enjoyed reading though was the fact that so many awful things happened and the three best friends did fight but in the end, their relationship was the most solid one.
It also has romance in it soooooooooooooo I liked it!
I only wish some parts were actually in the book. Like the main character finally fixes her relationship with someone and then they plan on going somewhere, but we never really see it. So at some point, I got confused whether I missed a chapter or not.
The other good thing was the short chapters: made it easy to read whenever I can.
February 15, 2019
This book took a bit to get going, but once it did, oh boy was I in for a treat.
Annie Sharpe is a 16-year-old girl who lives on the North Shore of Sydney, where all the mums are gorgeous and fighting against ageing, and the dads have moved out of home to take up with their much younger assistants and their new children.
Annie has two best friends, Ruby and Ashlin, and they call themselves the Sirens. They sing beautifully, and they lead everyone to their doom.
When Ashlin's step-brother Trip moves to Australia from Canada after a string of suspicious fires, he ensnares the Sirens in the way only a good looking boy can. But Annie is determined for the girls to stick together, to not let a boy come between them, and for this boy to not steal and trample her heart the way her dad did.
All the while, Annie is running from her past. She is being crushed by her mother to be a perfect paragon of a child, all the while hiding her deepest, darkest secrets. Secrets that will begin coming to light once Trip starts worming his way into her soul.
A brilliant psychological thriller that digs its way into your skin and refuses to leave.
Annie Sharpe is a 16-year-old girl who lives on the North Shore of Sydney, where all the mums are gorgeous and fighting against ageing, and the dads have moved out of home to take up with their much younger assistants and their new children.
Annie has two best friends, Ruby and Ashlin, and they call themselves the Sirens. They sing beautifully, and they lead everyone to their doom.
When Ashlin's step-brother Trip moves to Australia from Canada after a string of suspicious fires, he ensnares the Sirens in the way only a good looking boy can. But Annie is determined for the girls to stick together, to not let a boy come between them, and for this boy to not steal and trample her heart the way her dad did.
All the while, Annie is running from her past. She is being crushed by her mother to be a perfect paragon of a child, all the while hiding her deepest, darkest secrets. Secrets that will begin coming to light once Trip starts worming his way into her soul.
A brilliant psychological thriller that digs its way into your skin and refuses to leave.
February 25, 2019
High school is an experience to which most people can relate to. It’s a complicated and messy time in a teenagers life, with a lot of feelings to unpack.
For Ash, Annie and Ruby (‘the Sirens’), best friends from inner North Shore Sydney navigating through high school means dealing with love, heartbreak, parental divorce, abandonment, mental health and sexual identity issues, just to name a few.
Ruby has vanity insanity and is overcoming heartbreak from her ex Will, Annie holds secrets of her dads affair and her aunts death, and Ash is struggling in the pursuit of perfection to please her mother.
Love Lie Repeat is a light and easy read, full of drama, suspense and mystery. Alternating between the past and the present, the books quick pace allowed me to keep the pages turning and devour it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down until I tied up all the loose ends of the story.
This young adult psychological thriller, is not only for the young adult audience but can be enjoyed by anyone over the age of 15.
For Ash, Annie and Ruby (‘the Sirens’), best friends from inner North Shore Sydney navigating through high school means dealing with love, heartbreak, parental divorce, abandonment, mental health and sexual identity issues, just to name a few.
Ruby has vanity insanity and is overcoming heartbreak from her ex Will, Annie holds secrets of her dads affair and her aunts death, and Ash is struggling in the pursuit of perfection to please her mother.
Love Lie Repeat is a light and easy read, full of drama, suspense and mystery. Alternating between the past and the present, the books quick pace allowed me to keep the pages turning and devour it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down until I tied up all the loose ends of the story.
This young adult psychological thriller, is not only for the young adult audience but can be enjoyed by anyone over the age of 15.
July 6, 2019
What could be more compelling than a story of three sirens who also happen to be beautiful teenage girls? Ruby, Ashlin & Annie are the Sirens – black, brown and blond, and their friendship is tight and powerful, or at least it appears to be until Trip arrives and causes them to question everything, including their loyalty to each other. In Love Lie Repeat, Greer tells a story that is engaging and real; while you may not always like these characters or understand their motivations, you will be mesmerized by them. Moving between Australia and Canada, this novel showcases a world of entitlement and yet allows us see the fragility and insecurity of those who live within it. The acts of loving, lying, and then repeating those patterns come to life in a gripping tale of friendship and betrayal.
April 20, 2019
I haven’t cocooned myself up for a whole day in ages but I did today with this book! It was intense and scary. I think I had my mum hat on, wanting to jump into the pages and get this girl some help ... every chapter was tearing at my heart! I didn’t want to read on for fear of revealing more that I did not want to know about the main character but I couldn’t help but take a deep breathe and just keep reading. Well done Catherine Greer. Great debut!!
My head spun with all the characters at the beginning, to the point that I mind mapped them out lol but that is totally because my brain requires visuals so much more lately 🤔
My head spun with all the characters at the beginning, to the point that I mind mapped them out lol but that is totally because my brain requires visuals so much more lately 🤔
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