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The Truth is a Theory
How do you define the truth? Is it what you see? Is it what you are told by a beloved partner, a best friend, a trusted parent? Is it the whispers you hear in the halls of your life?
However you define it, Allie Sexton is terrified of the truth.
Twenty-eight years ago, Allie’s mother disappeared; never to be heard from again. Allie survived by becoming the toast of the party—any party—and never looking back. But as a thirty-two-year-old mother of two, parties have morphed into playdates, and the closest she gets to Dom Pérignon is watered-down Mott’s. Even her once golden marriage has tarnished into a “How was your day” fly-by. When her husband storms out, Allie knows that this time, she can’t just bury her pain. This time, she needs to sift through it, knowing that the key to her future lies at rock bottom, in the truth about her mother.
Allie’s story weaves through a friendship of four women, a no-holds-barred camaraderie that ferries them through the adventure of dates and deadlines, husbands and babies, and cradles them through the heartbreak of date-rape, infidelity, and alcoholism. As they each grapple with what life has thrown at them, they wrestle with the question: if you ever find the truth, does it heal you or destroy you?
However you define it, Allie Sexton is terrified of the truth.
Twenty-eight years ago, Allie’s mother disappeared; never to be heard from again. Allie survived by becoming the toast of the party—any party—and never looking back. But as a thirty-two-year-old mother of two, parties have morphed into playdates, and the closest she gets to Dom Pérignon is watered-down Mott’s. Even her once golden marriage has tarnished into a “How was your day” fly-by. When her husband storms out, Allie knows that this time, she can’t just bury her pain. This time, she needs to sift through it, knowing that the key to her future lies at rock bottom, in the truth about her mother.
Allie’s story weaves through a friendship of four women, a no-holds-barred camaraderie that ferries them through the adventure of dates and deadlines, husbands and babies, and cradles them through the heartbreak of date-rape, infidelity, and alcoholism. As they each grapple with what life has thrown at them, they wrestle with the question: if you ever find the truth, does it heal you or destroy you?
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2019
33 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
July 7, 2019
Love is an incredible feeling, but it's one of many, and marriage is the container for them all.
The Truth is a Theory is a deeply introspective glimpse at the lives of four college friends: Allie, Megan, Zoe, and Tess. Beginning in the mid-80s, and working it's way to 2001, we slowly learn about each woman's successes and failures, trials and tribulations.
The character development was on point...at times, I found them all relatable. In fact, I frequently felt as though I was reading about my own friends. Unfortunately, the timeline is quite wonky and occasionally confusing. There are multiple points of view, sometimes crammed into one chapter. Spaced between these chapters are Allie's journal entries, which frankly, felt more like excerpts from college research papers. She was clearly searching for her version of the truth, but it all felt so clinical and dry. Honestly, I could have done without the journal entries.
Karyn Bristol, the author, definitely doesn't shy away from the realities of marriage and parenthood. She dives right in and paints a very authentic picture. While I'm not sure I'd want to read something so gritty at the beach, I do think this would work beautifully as a book club pick.
3.5 stars rounded down
Many thanks to NetGalley, Wooden Dock Press, and Karyn Bristol for the ARC.
July 3, 2019
I just finished reading this book and loved it! I cried at the end & now I want to read it again!
I can think of so many different types of people who would find pieces of themselves in the characters...we can all relate in some way because we've all searched for truths many times and in many places in our lives.
It's a book for men and women, married or single, kids or no kids, good relationships/bad ones, in your 20's and all the way into your 90's!!!
Perfect for book club or summer vacation!
I can think of so many different types of people who would find pieces of themselves in the characters...we can all relate in some way because we've all searched for truths many times and in many places in our lives.
It's a book for men and women, married or single, kids or no kids, good relationships/bad ones, in your 20's and all the way into your 90's!!!
Perfect for book club or summer vacation!
July 12, 2019
The Truth is a Theory…
…Life is a theory. That’s what I kept thinking, in the moments after this compelling book ended and I tried to leave its haunting pages and get back to my real life. Author Karyn Bristol has written a provocative, and evocative book. Other reviewers have also used the word “introspective” to describe the story. This book makes you think, ponder and look at life from the inside-out.
“It’s a rare thing to truly understand another person’s experience.”
And even our own stories are hard to understand and process, aren’t they? “We alone decide their significance. Is it a paragraph or the whole story?”
This book tells us the stories of four young women who meet their first week of college and become friends. Their stories begin September 1986: Erikson College, Freshman Year.
The book actually begins fifteen years after that first week, with Allie’s Journal Entry #1 Saturday Night, June 10, 2000. Allie’s husband Dana has left her and their two children.
Allie looks at her life through periodic journal entries, and we are told her current life in the third-person. We also follow her and her friends through third-person flashbacks that progress from the 1970’s and ‘80’s to 2001. I had no problem following all the storylines.
The four friends are like the friends we all had in college or when we first married, there’s sincere Meghan, shy Tess, and the exotic and larger-than life Zoe. Allie seems straight-forward until we learn about her childhood. Do you remember the ups and downs of college and dating, the early years of marriage and young children? Did you feel awkward at frat parties, or did you hit the bars every night after work? What about your family? Were you from an All-American family or a family that struggled with issues? Did you and your spouse change after marriage? Was life challenging , did you have to face serious problems such as illness? And if you can relate to these scenarios, did you also need your friends to discuss life with, long conversations to help you anchor yourself? That’s what this book is about.
“She was a failure: a wretched daughter, a witch of a mother.”
“He had been so careless with her, with the one person in his life who didn’t expect him to be anything other than who he was.
Journal Entry #13, July 11, 2001 is Allie’s last entry of the book. The friends have gathered for a vacation. Fifteen years have passed and there have been enough stories now to form a foundation for their lives. I wonder if the author ended the book so close to September 11, 2001, to show us that sometimes are own stories are swept away by a life-changing story.
I highly recommend this book. If you can’t wait to call your friends and talk, if you lay awake at night and think about your life- that’s what this book is about.
Thanks to Net Galley and AuthorBuzz for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
…Life is a theory. That’s what I kept thinking, in the moments after this compelling book ended and I tried to leave its haunting pages and get back to my real life. Author Karyn Bristol has written a provocative, and evocative book. Other reviewers have also used the word “introspective” to describe the story. This book makes you think, ponder and look at life from the inside-out.
“It’s a rare thing to truly understand another person’s experience.”
And even our own stories are hard to understand and process, aren’t they? “We alone decide their significance. Is it a paragraph or the whole story?”
This book tells us the stories of four young women who meet their first week of college and become friends. Their stories begin September 1986: Erikson College, Freshman Year.
The book actually begins fifteen years after that first week, with Allie’s Journal Entry #1 Saturday Night, June 10, 2000. Allie’s husband Dana has left her and their two children.
Allie looks at her life through periodic journal entries, and we are told her current life in the third-person. We also follow her and her friends through third-person flashbacks that progress from the 1970’s and ‘80’s to 2001. I had no problem following all the storylines.
The four friends are like the friends we all had in college or when we first married, there’s sincere Meghan, shy Tess, and the exotic and larger-than life Zoe. Allie seems straight-forward until we learn about her childhood. Do you remember the ups and downs of college and dating, the early years of marriage and young children? Did you feel awkward at frat parties, or did you hit the bars every night after work? What about your family? Were you from an All-American family or a family that struggled with issues? Did you and your spouse change after marriage? Was life challenging , did you have to face serious problems such as illness? And if you can relate to these scenarios, did you also need your friends to discuss life with, long conversations to help you anchor yourself? That’s what this book is about.
“She was a failure: a wretched daughter, a witch of a mother.”
“He had been so careless with her, with the one person in his life who didn’t expect him to be anything other than who he was.
Journal Entry #13, July 11, 2001 is Allie’s last entry of the book. The friends have gathered for a vacation. Fifteen years have passed and there have been enough stories now to form a foundation for their lives. I wonder if the author ended the book so close to September 11, 2001, to show us that sometimes are own stories are swept away by a life-changing story.
I highly recommend this book. If you can’t wait to call your friends and talk, if you lay awake at night and think about your life- that’s what this book is about.
Thanks to Net Galley and AuthorBuzz for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
July 8, 2019
This is a captivating story of the lives of four girls who meet in college. The author takes on a journey experiencing each girl’s trials and tribulations as they progress into and through adulthood. But, this crafty author does more than just tell a story, she makes it become a very introspective experience.
Each of the four girls has issues that affect how they live and love. It is a self-discovery process for each of them and not only are we along for the ride, but we find ourselves making some reflections and self-discoveries too.
The girls will have to discover that to be truly loved they need to trust others. Even when it means to show their weaknesses and offer up their vulnerable hearts and insecurities.
“The sad irony is that yes, a deep moat around your heart keeps you safe, but it also keeps you alone.”
The author doesn’t shy away from the realities of life or marriage. And forces us to face the truths in the reality of everyday nitty gritty. She shows us how quickly relationships lose communication and fall into patterns of only discussing the mundane and surface issues, demonstrating how easily space can widen over the years creating deep gulfs in relationships. But the author also shows us that with love, determination, and solid friendships life can be exceptional.
I enjoyed the journey this book provided. I appreciated that the author gave us characters with strength. It’s so easy to give up and many of us do. But her characters didn’t give up, they fought for what they loved. They made us realize that there is beauty and strength in being vulnerable. This is a well written story I highly recommend.
I read an ARC of this story via NetGalley. My honest and fair review is voluntary.
Each of the four girls has issues that affect how they live and love. It is a self-discovery process for each of them and not only are we along for the ride, but we find ourselves making some reflections and self-discoveries too.
The girls will have to discover that to be truly loved they need to trust others. Even when it means to show their weaknesses and offer up their vulnerable hearts and insecurities.
“The sad irony is that yes, a deep moat around your heart keeps you safe, but it also keeps you alone.”
The author doesn’t shy away from the realities of life or marriage. And forces us to face the truths in the reality of everyday nitty gritty. She shows us how quickly relationships lose communication and fall into patterns of only discussing the mundane and surface issues, demonstrating how easily space can widen over the years creating deep gulfs in relationships. But the author also shows us that with love, determination, and solid friendships life can be exceptional.
I enjoyed the journey this book provided. I appreciated that the author gave us characters with strength. It’s so easy to give up and many of us do. But her characters didn’t give up, they fought for what they loved. They made us realize that there is beauty and strength in being vulnerable. This is a well written story I highly recommend.
I read an ARC of this story via NetGalley. My honest and fair review is voluntary.
July 9, 2019
You will relate to many “truths” in this engaging first novel. I found the characters to be very compelling and agree that the author’s writing style is similar to Moriarty’s, complete with a few surprise reveals that remind us that “while it’s human nature to assume, to stereotype, it is also human nature to defy categorization.” The author deftly weaves into each character’s storyline insights about human psychology and the complicated dynamics of both friendships and romantic relationships. She is especially apt in her use of novel, spot-on metaphors to illuminate the emotional worlds of the 4 young women whose lives she follows. I highly recommend this book!
July 4, 2019
I could not put this book down, yet I did not want it to end. Allie, Megan, Tess, and Zoe quickly became my confidantes and companions, as the story of their lives became intertwined with my memories of my own. A tale of joy, heartache, deceit and redemption, The Truth Is A Theory captivated me until the very last page.
“When this happens, when a fundamental truth of your life is shattered, do the unique characteristics that make up who you are – the freckles, the wrinkles, the gray of your life – lose their meaning as well?” A gifted writer, Bristol gives us a welcome change from the typical “beach book” with her creative use of dialogue, imagery, and alternating between narrators and time periods. There is intrigue, suspense, romance, and unexpected twists – something to hook and carry every reader to the final word.
I hope this is the first of many books from a great new author!
“When this happens, when a fundamental truth of your life is shattered, do the unique characteristics that make up who you are – the freckles, the wrinkles, the gray of your life – lose their meaning as well?” A gifted writer, Bristol gives us a welcome change from the typical “beach book” with her creative use of dialogue, imagery, and alternating between narrators and time periods. There is intrigue, suspense, romance, and unexpected twists – something to hook and carry every reader to the final word.
I hope this is the first of many books from a great new author!
July 5, 2019
The book was captivating from the first chapter through the last. The character development was fantastic. It drew me into the lives of these four friends and the ups and downs of their lives through friendship, love, and family. As the main character, Allie, reflects on her relationships throughout the story, she offers interesting insights that made me stop and think. One of my favorites - "Mental archives are like folded notes in pockets... Each thumb-through modifies them somehow, so that eventually, the facts become irrelevant. Even at the base, memories, like conversations aren't exclusively factual. They're infused with emotion, colored with nonverbal nuance, and filtered through our unique perspective..."
August 7, 2019
I loved this book! At the beginning I thought it was going to be somewhat superficial, yet I was quickly hooked.. Soon enough, I realized I wasn't reading just a "beach read" (although light enough and easy to read), but a much deeper story with insight into the relatable emotions stemming from the relationships and experiences of the many characters. All this plus some twists, turns and surprises made for an excellent read! I hope the author writes a sequel!
August 6, 2019
I loved this book, and didn't want it to end! In addition to a compelling story and vulnerable, relatable characters, the author gives readers a LOT to think about. I found myself laughing, crying, and thinking long and hard about what defines the truth behind our realities. This story resonated with me long after turning the last page. This would make an excellent book club choice - highly recommend!
July 31, 2019
Phenomenal book, absolutely recommend reading. Incredibly relatable, thought-provoking, and endearing, the characters will touch your heart and make it difficult to put the book down. The flow of the book is fantastic, jumping from various dates and perspectives, but in a very clear and concise manner. The level of detail and description makes you feel like you are there, but isn't too over the top. The book is one that makes you feel like you have a personal relationship with each character and that you know them firsthand. 5 stars, absolutely recommend for anyone, but is an absolute must-read for women college-aged and older.
August 5, 2019
I loved this book and highly recommend it!!
July 17, 2019
I have to say honestly that I had a hard time starting this book. I almost gave up many times but I am very glad I didn’t. Once the story gets started and you begin to know each character’s personality and background, you become engrossed in their lives, their friendships, their problems and insecurities. It was very interesting to learn how the four main characters started, evolved and remained friends as well including their spouses and significant others in the mix. I would recommend this book and if it starts slow for you keep at it!! It is well worth it!!!
July 13, 2019
So good! This isn't just a book about four friends. It is a book about relationships - relationships with friends, parents, spouses and friend's spouses. It's about truth - what is truth? Why is my truth so different than my friend's or partner's truth? It's about the ups and downs, hurt and forgiveness, grief and elation of childhood, marriage, friendships and life. It's about being vulnerable within relationships.
At moments the switching of time periods confused me; when that happens, just keep reading as the author will brilliantly drop in a detail that identifies the time period and brings it all back into focus.
I read this while on a fantastic active vacation yet I always looked forward to getting back to my book. It reminded me a bit of Thomas Wolfe's books.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.
At moments the switching of time periods confused me; when that happens, just keep reading as the author will brilliantly drop in a detail that identifies the time period and brings it all back into focus.
I read this while on a fantastic active vacation yet I always looked forward to getting back to my book. It reminded me a bit of Thomas Wolfe's books.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for an honest and fair review.
July 8, 2019
The Truth is a Theory follows Allie Sexton, her three best friends Zoe, Tess and Megan and her decades long romance to Dana. Each chapter begins in present day as Allie struggles to navigate her broken marriage, two children and lifelong feelings of pain and despair by a mother that left behind their family many years ago. As each chapter advances, readers are plunged into the past and a deeply moving story of friendships, careers, illness and romance that evolves as the characters age. At times, the story could be confusing as readers struggle to understand all the characters, but I found them to be all relatable, honest and artfully written. While the present day story/journal entries were, at times, long winded and complicated they were wonderful beautiful complex and accurate descriptions of what women, wives and mothers deal with on a regular basis. The Truth is a Theory was much more than I anticipated and I found myself disappointed when it ended, as I had grown to really care about these four women. I highly recommend this as your next summer read or book club pick!
A sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2019
Karyn Bristol's writing is nothing short of brilliant. It has been a while since I've read a book where I've so frequently stopped, re-read the paragraph, and reflected. The plot itself is lovely, heartbreaking, and interesting. I yearned to pick up my book each night and join the character's journey.
July 8, 2019
Four college girls become life-long friends in spite of, or because of, their differences in life experiences.
Supporting each other through dating, marriages, careers, children and all of the ups and downs of life provided the foundation for this novel.
A very emotionally stretching story.
I did get a bit bored at times but overall it was a good story. bouncing between the late 1980s and 2000-01.
Supporting each other through dating, marriages, careers, children and all of the ups and downs of life provided the foundation for this novel.
A very emotionally stretching story.
I did get a bit bored at times but overall it was a good story. bouncing between the late 1980s and 2000-01.
July 9, 2019
Discover new BFF’s as you meet Tess, Allie, Megan and Zoe. Navigate the twists and turns of life, love and friendship as the pages turn and the joys and stressors of each. This book will having you laughing, crying and wanting more
July 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I thought that there was good character development, the different POV's kept it interesting, the different themes, perception, memory, how the past can shape us, the up's and downs of married life and friendship. it was all there and very well written.
May 10, 2024
Not for me. I didn't enjoy the friendships, the main characters or their stories. This one was a miss for me right from the start. It starts with the girls in college and, instantly, as their friendships isn't really friendship, I knew this one wasn't going to work for me. As the POV grew and the character list got even longer, I was so tuned out because I never got fully pulled in. This was an absolute slog for me but only because I didn't connect right from the start.
If exploring female friendships from college to adults and really exploring the ups and downs of it, then this might be for you! It just wasn't for me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
If exploring female friendships from college to adults and really exploring the ups and downs of it, then this might be for you! It just wasn't for me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
July 11, 2019
This book needed another edit. The journal passages detracted from what could have been a somewhat sympathetic and interesting story of college friends moving into adulthood. A lot of really stretched metaphors and similes as well. (Also, for the character in law school: third year is the easiest and the summer after third year would have been spent studying for the bar...).
July 21, 2019
This truly is women’s fiction. The writing was good, with some beautiful descriptions, metaphors, and similes. But, I thought this story of young women so focused on having men in their lives to be tedious..in fact, as the book progressed, I found myself skimming more and more, especially for the journal entries.
September 30, 2019
An ARC from NetGalley. I felt the story dragged. the journal entries were unnecessary, and the timeline was confusing at times.
July 16, 2019
This story is about a woman called Allie who is 32-years old. She is the mother of two young children whose solid husband has recently walked out on her for reasons that remain ill-defined throughout the story. Allie’s life has been greatly shaped by her own mother’s abandonment. When Allie was just four years old, her mother left and never came back. Her and her two brothers were raised by an emotionally absent and largely uncommunicative father.
The story moves back and forth between Allie’s college years with her tightknit group of female friends along with her relationship with her high school sweetheart cum husband Dana, and present day, the year 2000-2001 where Allie regularly journals to piece together the path her life has taken. Her friends are still very much in the picture and the story is about their lives as well. There are plenty of secrets and drama as the chapters ping back and forth to cover the lives of the four women and the men they love.
Themes such as long term relationships, marriage, friendship, infidelity, and suicide are ambitiously covered, sometimes well though there is a lot going on at once. The author did a good job of tying up the story for each of the women and not leaving loose ends however, the tidiness of the ending belies the chaotic nature of life. The novel struggles to find a place to settle. Overall, it is a quick and entertaining read, nothing that will leave a lasting impression but a decent choice for a lazy summer day.
BRB Rating: Read It.
The story moves back and forth between Allie’s college years with her tightknit group of female friends along with her relationship with her high school sweetheart cum husband Dana, and present day, the year 2000-2001 where Allie regularly journals to piece together the path her life has taken. Her friends are still very much in the picture and the story is about their lives as well. There are plenty of secrets and drama as the chapters ping back and forth to cover the lives of the four women and the men they love.
Themes such as long term relationships, marriage, friendship, infidelity, and suicide are ambitiously covered, sometimes well though there is a lot going on at once. The author did a good job of tying up the story for each of the women and not leaving loose ends however, the tidiness of the ending belies the chaotic nature of life. The novel struggles to find a place to settle. Overall, it is a quick and entertaining read, nothing that will leave a lasting impression but a decent choice for a lazy summer day.
BRB Rating: Read It.
September 18, 2019
Overall, I enjoyed the book, the story was engaging and kept me wanting to read this. This is a deeper story at times, but does have an air of lightness especially when the story revolves the female friendships. This book will also give you a lot to think about and even discuss.
For my full review, please visit my blog at: http://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/09...
Thank you NetGalley and Wooden Dock Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For my full review, please visit my blog at: http://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/09...
Thank you NetGalley and Wooden Dock Press for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2019
Alternating between being told in the present, and the past, The Truth is a Theory is a story of love and heartbreak, and the friendships that last through anything.
Told primarily from the perspective of Allie, we are introduced to her friend group, Megan, Tess, and Zoe, husband Dana, and her friend’s various love interest, as Dana and Allie are going through a separation. Allie’s story begins with her separation, before taking the reader back to when she met Dana, and her friends in college. She recounts their tumultuous journey through college in different towns, of their separation when she graduated and moved to New York for work, while Dana attended law school in Massachusetts. Of their reunion. We feel Zoe’s heartbreak as her boyfriend chooses her friend over her, feel Tess’s jealousy and suspicion that her husband is cheating on her, and her reaction.
The way Karyn Bristol brings this story to life is beautiful, giving the reader the feeling that they are there, on the fringe as the story unravels in real-time. Often stories like this are written to be hyperbole, as if to be deliberately so far-fetched that the reader feels as if there’s no way this many unfortunate events could possibly happen to one friend group. But Bristol walks that fine line between the far-fetched and the believable, staying just this side of believable in the best way. Her characters are well-developed and I really enjoyed the way the story alternated between past and present to give a full understanding of the events as they unfolded.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and it will be a perfect summer beach read.
Told primarily from the perspective of Allie, we are introduced to her friend group, Megan, Tess, and Zoe, husband Dana, and her friend’s various love interest, as Dana and Allie are going through a separation. Allie’s story begins with her separation, before taking the reader back to when she met Dana, and her friends in college. She recounts their tumultuous journey through college in different towns, of their separation when she graduated and moved to New York for work, while Dana attended law school in Massachusetts. Of their reunion. We feel Zoe’s heartbreak as her boyfriend chooses her friend over her, feel Tess’s jealousy and suspicion that her husband is cheating on her, and her reaction.
The way Karyn Bristol brings this story to life is beautiful, giving the reader the feeling that they are there, on the fringe as the story unravels in real-time. Often stories like this are written to be hyperbole, as if to be deliberately so far-fetched that the reader feels as if there’s no way this many unfortunate events could possibly happen to one friend group. But Bristol walks that fine line between the far-fetched and the believable, staying just this side of believable in the best way. Her characters are well-developed and I really enjoyed the way the story alternated between past and present to give a full understanding of the events as they unfolded.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and it will be a perfect summer beach read.
July 28, 2019
Nope. Can’t. Won’t.
First chapter+ had me rereading the marketing copy- surely this isn’t the same book. I was drawn in by the promise of a thoughtful fictional exploration of women’s friendships over turbulent years. Instead there was a wooden account of college freshmen doing what (many) college freshmen do, and then a journal entry containing the types of things that people do not write to themselves.
Right book for someone (who is not me).
First chapter+ had me rereading the marketing copy- surely this isn’t the same book. I was drawn in by the promise of a thoughtful fictional exploration of women’s friendships over turbulent years. Instead there was a wooden account of college freshmen doing what (many) college freshmen do, and then a journal entry containing the types of things that people do not write to themselves.
Right book for someone (who is not me).
July 27, 2019
Total honesty here, I downloaded this book on NetGalley after its publication date, started reading it and knew I was going to like so I ordered the paperback. Continued reading from the paperback and wasn't loving it, but determined to finish, I sat down with it and read like 50-60 pages and realized I had only been reading a few pages here and there. Once I got fully immersed in Allie and her friend's stories, I was hooked!
My favorite part of the book was Allie's journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. You can really see how Allie's mindset evolves and you understand why she did/said the thing things she did/said as a young woman, a wife and a mother as she works through her truths.
I marked many quotes in the book, but the one that really resonated with me was this one...quoting from the finished copy, page 280..."A heart can only be broken so many times. At some point, you learn to self-protect. I realize now that the ways I tried to protect myself, to keep Dana from finding out the truth as I knew it-that I wasn't worth it-just pushed him away. And as he stepped back, my truth was confirmed."
"The sad irony is that yes, a deep moat around your heart keeps you safe, but it also keeps you alone."
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital copy; Paperback also purchased; all opinions are my own.
My favorite part of the book was Allie's journal entries at the beginning of each chapter. You can really see how Allie's mindset evolves and you understand why she did/said the thing things she did/said as a young woman, a wife and a mother as she works through her truths.
I marked many quotes in the book, but the one that really resonated with me was this one...quoting from the finished copy, page 280..."A heart can only be broken so many times. At some point, you learn to self-protect. I realize now that the ways I tried to protect myself, to keep Dana from finding out the truth as I knew it-that I wasn't worth it-just pushed him away. And as he stepped back, my truth was confirmed."
"The sad irony is that yes, a deep moat around your heart keeps you safe, but it also keeps you alone."
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital copy; Paperback also purchased; all opinions are my own.
November 30, 2020
I loved this story!!!!! It is a story of friends, relationships, growing up as adults, & learning how to navigate the adult world with all its challenges. Having friends helps and these four women lean on each other & learn how to navigate life. I highly recommend this book.
July 26, 2019
The Truth is a Theory is an interesting study in perspectives. The story revolves around Allie - her husband has just moved out and she has started journaling as she struggles with what has become of her marriage. Interspersed with her journal entries are flashbacks chronicling the lives of Allie and her three best friends from college. These four women deal with many familiar issues over the course of their lives and relationships. All along the way, Karyn Bristol finds many opportunities to show us that the truth you thought you knew may not be the truth at all. This read started out a bit confusing for me, but once I got a handle on who was who I was invested and wanted to know more about what was going to happen with Allie and her friends. There’s a lot of food for thought in this book and everyone will find something to relate to in these characters.
July 31, 2019
I loved this book! Much deeper and more emotional than a typical chick-lit, but with all the fun and fast-paced banter. This novel will have you laughing and crying, and it will also make you stop, take a breath, and reflect on your own life and relationships. I highly recommend this book.
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