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The Lies We Hide
Thirty years ago, Nicola Watson lived with her parents and older brother in a respectable suburb. At ten years old, she didn’t yet understand why her stomach tightened when she heard her father’s heavy tread as he returned home late at night, or why it made her brother Graham’s stammer get worse, or why one night her mother Carol woke them both, wide-eyed and whispering, and took them out of their home and into the unknown.
Now a successful lawyer in the city, with a life poles apart from her dark beginnings, Nicola has returned home for her mother’s funeral. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder.
All Carol wanted was to protect her children, but escaping her husband was only the beginning of the story. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
A gripping, emotional story of family secrets, and the strength of a mother’s love in the darkest times.
Now a successful lawyer in the city, with a life poles apart from her dark beginnings, Nicola has returned home for her mother’s funeral. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder.
All Carol wanted was to protect her children, but escaping her husband was only the beginning of the story. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
A gripping, emotional story of family secrets, and the strength of a mother’s love in the darkest times.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 29, 2019
677 people are currently reading
4031 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Lynes
20 books829 followersS. E. Lynes is the #1 Amazon best selling author of THE HOUSEWARMING, and 'intelligent and haunting' psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT, THE PROPOSAL, THE WOMEN, THE LIES WE HIDE, CAN YOU SEE HER? and HER SISTER'S SECRET
Formerly a BBC producer, after gaining an MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.
Formerly a BBC producer, after gaining an MA in Creative Writing, she became a Creative Writing Tutor at Richmond Adult Community College and now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published three children's books in Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
December 7, 2019
Preservation
The Lies We Hide is a disturbing, heart-breaking and cleverly observed story of abuse and its repercussions on a family. This family drama delves into the moments that constitute the obvious physical abuse from a cruel husband, but also the malignant psychological torment and fear that affects the whole family.
Carol is married to Ted and they have a son Graham and daughter Nicola (Nicky). Their childhood has been spent witnessing their mother being beaten, leaving home and returning, into a cycle of violence, distress and fear. While this theme is common, Susie Lynes creates a story that wraps a poignant narrative around the impact abuse has on each member of the family and how they fought to escape their damaged existence and build a better life.
One night Carol is held underwater in the bath and as she feels her life slipping away, she makes a promise to herself, that if she survives this attack, she will leave that very night and never return. She survives, she leaves, she moves into a refuge and she starts to rebuild her and her children's lives, although not without extreme difficulties and setbacks.
S.E. Lynes structures her book to provide a perspective from Carol, Nicola and Richard. There are time shifts from Carol living through the misery and recovering in the 1980s. As a qualified barrister in 2019, Nicola returns to the family home for the funeral of her mother and reflects back on her time as a child.
The narrative is keenly observed as it explores the various directions Graham and Nicky take from their damaged upbringing and a mother that fought every inch to keep her children safe. How Carol made some very difficult choices and sacrifices to try and give her children a chance of happiness and a better quality of life. There are interactions and relationships that add depth to the characters and illustrate how their past haunts them and affects the perceptions they have of the world. Balance is provided in the novel with moments of humour and the selfless acts of love that come from genuine caring. In many respects, this is a story of love overcoming adversity.
I worried about most of the characters, but considering the theme, I had expected to be more consumed with their well-being. Trying to maintain multiple threads and time shifts felt laboured at times and seemed to affect the flow of the story.
I recommend reading this book and I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
The Lies We Hide is a disturbing, heart-breaking and cleverly observed story of abuse and its repercussions on a family. This family drama delves into the moments that constitute the obvious physical abuse from a cruel husband, but also the malignant psychological torment and fear that affects the whole family.
Carol is married to Ted and they have a son Graham and daughter Nicola (Nicky). Their childhood has been spent witnessing their mother being beaten, leaving home and returning, into a cycle of violence, distress and fear. While this theme is common, Susie Lynes creates a story that wraps a poignant narrative around the impact abuse has on each member of the family and how they fought to escape their damaged existence and build a better life.
One night Carol is held underwater in the bath and as she feels her life slipping away, she makes a promise to herself, that if she survives this attack, she will leave that very night and never return. She survives, she leaves, she moves into a refuge and she starts to rebuild her and her children's lives, although not without extreme difficulties and setbacks.
S.E. Lynes structures her book to provide a perspective from Carol, Nicola and Richard. There are time shifts from Carol living through the misery and recovering in the 1980s. As a qualified barrister in 2019, Nicola returns to the family home for the funeral of her mother and reflects back on her time as a child.
“I remember my brother withdrawing into himself. His stutter made it hard for him. He constructed a new identity: silent, since speaking was difficult; violent, since no one speaks out against a fist; mean, since kindness got you nowhere.”Richard is a prison chaplain and has developed an interest in trying to help and bring some resolution to Graham, as he hardly ever speaks and is serving time for murder.
The narrative is keenly observed as it explores the various directions Graham and Nicky take from their damaged upbringing and a mother that fought every inch to keep her children safe. How Carol made some very difficult choices and sacrifices to try and give her children a chance of happiness and a better quality of life. There are interactions and relationships that add depth to the characters and illustrate how their past haunts them and affects the perceptions they have of the world. Balance is provided in the novel with moments of humour and the selfless acts of love that come from genuine caring. In many respects, this is a story of love overcoming adversity.
I worried about most of the characters, but considering the theme, I had expected to be more consumed with their well-being. Trying to maintain multiple threads and time shifts felt laboured at times and seemed to affect the flow of the story.
I recommend reading this book and I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version in return for an honest review.
December 4, 2019
This is such a moving story and one I would highly recommend. In fact, thanks to the author, I stayed awake far longer than was sensible in order to keep reading and today passed on going to the gym just to finish it. So now I’m tired and unfit!! It’s hard to sum up what this story is about as it covers so many things but let’s say that it starts with the horror of domestic abuse but then shows that does not have to define you. That with love there is hope, that with a strong sense of family there is redemption, that with unburdening there is forgiveness and with taking responsibility there is healing.
This is the story of Carol who marries Ted in 1968 after she learns she is pregnant. Ted is abusive and utterly vile, he makes Carol’s life a misery and that of their children Graham and Nicola. In 1984 at a wedding, Carol meets Jim and the connection is immediate. What unfolds is told mostly by Carol and Nicola and is a deeply moving story at times. There are several revelations that made me gasp out loud as I most definitely didn’t see those coming. There are some truly wonderful characters that we meet along this life journey. Nicola and Carol ,who I root for throughout, whose determination to rise above everything is commendable and her love for her children and desire to protect them, is overwhelming. Jim who is one of the kindest people you could wish to meet and Pauline and Tommy the next door neighbours who are always there for Carol. Graham is the most damaged by Ted and for a long time he is off the rails but through chaplain Richard Crown (another wonderful character) he learns to unburden himself and live again and goes on to lead a fulfilling life. Throughout it all, Carol and Graham want Nicola to be the one to fly and that she does by becoming a barrister.
There is so much I like about this book. There are some lovely descriptions and you get a real sense of how the characters are feeling. There is menace oozing out of Ted’s pores which leads to Carol living in a state of fear and with a permanent feeling of anxiety as a consequence of his evil. There is occasional humour usually coming from lovely Jim, there are heartbreaking situations and self destruction but the overall message you get is love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this fantastic ARC.
This is the story of Carol who marries Ted in 1968 after she learns she is pregnant. Ted is abusive and utterly vile, he makes Carol’s life a misery and that of their children Graham and Nicola. In 1984 at a wedding, Carol meets Jim and the connection is immediate. What unfolds is told mostly by Carol and Nicola and is a deeply moving story at times. There are several revelations that made me gasp out loud as I most definitely didn’t see those coming. There are some truly wonderful characters that we meet along this life journey. Nicola and Carol ,who I root for throughout, whose determination to rise above everything is commendable and her love for her children and desire to protect them, is overwhelming. Jim who is one of the kindest people you could wish to meet and Pauline and Tommy the next door neighbours who are always there for Carol. Graham is the most damaged by Ted and for a long time he is off the rails but through chaplain Richard Crown (another wonderful character) he learns to unburden himself and live again and goes on to lead a fulfilling life. Throughout it all, Carol and Graham want Nicola to be the one to fly and that she does by becoming a barrister.
There is so much I like about this book. There are some lovely descriptions and you get a real sense of how the characters are feeling. There is menace oozing out of Ted’s pores which leads to Carol living in a state of fear and with a permanent feeling of anxiety as a consequence of his evil. There is occasional humour usually coming from lovely Jim, there are heartbreaking situations and self destruction but the overall message you get is love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this fantastic ARC.
November 27, 2019
Returning home for her Mother's funeral, Nicola Watson, now a successful lawyer, looks back on the life she led with her Mother and older brother, Graham. She remembers the sacrifices her mother made for her children. She especially recalled how her Mother made sure she did everything she could to ensure her daughter received a good education. She also recalls how her older brother changed after the night they fled from their father - the man who abused their Mother. That night changed everything for them.
I found this book a hard book to rate as I thought the author did a tremendous job showing how domestic violence impacts every member of the family. How starting over, takes time, the thoughts of returning home, hoping things would change, relying on the kindness of others, the fear, the doubt, the confidence, and the way it changes relationships. I also appreciated how this book portrayed how domestic violence affected the children involved and their responses to their mother leaving their father. This book isn't just about domestic violence, it is also about love, friendship, sacrifices, family secrets, guilt, addiction, etc.
Although I found this Author did a great job showing how lives are changed and affected by domestic violence and the sacrifices a mother makes for her children, I also found that I did not care for the POV changes. They took away from my enjoyment of the book. For a book dealing with such a serious subject, I wasn't as invested in the characters or emotionally moved by them. I wasn't surprised about the reveals. I guessed most of what happened in the book (but not all). Having said that, I was not put off by figuring things out, I liked how the reveal was told. It was in a quiet subtle way and worked very well. But I was left still waning more.
I found this book to be enjoyable and extremely thought provoking. I'm in the minority with my rating. Many are enjoying this more than I did.
I think this book would work quite well as a movie. I have a feeling I would enjoy it more in movie form than I did in book form.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found this book a hard book to rate as I thought the author did a tremendous job showing how domestic violence impacts every member of the family. How starting over, takes time, the thoughts of returning home, hoping things would change, relying on the kindness of others, the fear, the doubt, the confidence, and the way it changes relationships. I also appreciated how this book portrayed how domestic violence affected the children involved and their responses to their mother leaving their father. This book isn't just about domestic violence, it is also about love, friendship, sacrifices, family secrets, guilt, addiction, etc.
Although I found this Author did a great job showing how lives are changed and affected by domestic violence and the sacrifices a mother makes for her children, I also found that I did not care for the POV changes. They took away from my enjoyment of the book. For a book dealing with such a serious subject, I wasn't as invested in the characters or emotionally moved by them. I wasn't surprised about the reveals. I guessed most of what happened in the book (but not all). Having said that, I was not put off by figuring things out, I liked how the reveal was told. It was in a quiet subtle way and worked very well. But I was left still waning more.
I found this book to be enjoyable and extremely thought provoking. I'm in the minority with my rating. Many are enjoying this more than I did.
I think this book would work quite well as a movie. I have a feeling I would enjoy it more in movie form than I did in book form.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 24, 2019
EXCERPT: A creak on the landing. She curls up. The water swishes loud in the tub; she cringes at the noise. Ted. He's woken up. He's woken up and he's-
The bathroom door flies open. Ted. Eyes bloodshot and wild, blind but seeing, a look full of hate aimed only at her. His nose wrinkles, his hand shoots out in front of him, a starfish of fingers. She shrieks, folds herself smaller still, arms over her head, eyes closed. The smell of whisky goes up her nose, whisky and smoke, sweat and pubs. This is it. She has not got away with it. The punishment is now.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Thirty years ago, Nicola Watson lived with her parents and older brother in a respectable suburb. At ten years old, she didn’t yet understand why her stomach tightened when she heard her father’s heavy tread as he returned home late at night, or why it made her brother Graham’s stammer get worse, or why one night her mother Carol woke them both, wide-eyed and whispering, and took them out of their home and into the unknown.
Now a successful lawyer in the city, with a life poles apart from her dark beginnings, Nicola has returned home for her mother’s funeral. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder.
All Carol wanted was to protect her children, but escaping her husband was only the beginning of the story. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
MY THOUGHTS: Gripping, emotional and harrowing. This is not an easy read. And not an easy book to review. The setting is as alien to me as if I were to wake up on Mars. A large portion of the book is set on an estate.... now a housing estate in New Zealand is a completely different concept. Lovely homes with manicured lawns on wide tree lined streets rather than cheap housing crammed in together or manky tower blocks where despair is the prevalent emotion and a culture of drugs and violence reigns supreme.
But this is not just a story of abuse and despair. It is a story of a mother's love for her children, her determination that they will have a better life than hers, and the lengths she will go to to make that happen. It is a story of love and redemption, of learning to grieve, to forgive ourselves, and the lesson that what we see is not always the reality of a situation. It is also a story of how, despite our best intentions and efforts, things can still go terribly wrong.
I spent much of this read in tears. So be warned, a box of tissues is mandatory.
😪😲😳😟
#TheLiesWeHide #NetGalley
My favourite passage: Maybe love comes in different flavours, like ice-cream. And maybe she is allowed a second scoop.
THE AUTHOR: S.E. Lynes is the Amazon best selling author of psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT and THE PROPOSAL.
After graduating from Leeds University, Susie lived in London before moving to Aberdeen where she worked as a producer at the BBC before moving with her husband, Paul, and two young children to Rome.
In Rome, she began to write, snatching time where she could. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University.
She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published two children's books in Italy.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Lies We Tell by S.E. Lynes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The bathroom door flies open. Ted. Eyes bloodshot and wild, blind but seeing, a look full of hate aimed only at her. His nose wrinkles, his hand shoots out in front of him, a starfish of fingers. She shrieks, folds herself smaller still, arms over her head, eyes closed. The smell of whisky goes up her nose, whisky and smoke, sweat and pubs. This is it. She has not got away with it. The punishment is now.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Thirty years ago, Nicola Watson lived with her parents and older brother in a respectable suburb. At ten years old, she didn’t yet understand why her stomach tightened when she heard her father’s heavy tread as he returned home late at night, or why it made her brother Graham’s stammer get worse, or why one night her mother Carol woke them both, wide-eyed and whispering, and took them out of their home and into the unknown.
Now a successful lawyer in the city, with a life poles apart from her dark beginnings, Nicola has returned home for her mother’s funeral. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder.
All Carol wanted was to protect her children, but escaping her husband was only the beginning of the story. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
MY THOUGHTS: Gripping, emotional and harrowing. This is not an easy read. And not an easy book to review. The setting is as alien to me as if I were to wake up on Mars. A large portion of the book is set on an estate.... now a housing estate in New Zealand is a completely different concept. Lovely homes with manicured lawns on wide tree lined streets rather than cheap housing crammed in together or manky tower blocks where despair is the prevalent emotion and a culture of drugs and violence reigns supreme.
But this is not just a story of abuse and despair. It is a story of a mother's love for her children, her determination that they will have a better life than hers, and the lengths she will go to to make that happen. It is a story of love and redemption, of learning to grieve, to forgive ourselves, and the lesson that what we see is not always the reality of a situation. It is also a story of how, despite our best intentions and efforts, things can still go terribly wrong.
I spent much of this read in tears. So be warned, a box of tissues is mandatory.
😪😲😳😟
#TheLiesWeHide #NetGalley
My favourite passage: Maybe love comes in different flavours, like ice-cream. And maybe she is allowed a second scoop.
THE AUTHOR: S.E. Lynes is the Amazon best selling author of psychological thrillers, VALENTINA, MOTHER, THE PACT and THE PROPOSAL.
After graduating from Leeds University, Susie lived in London before moving to Aberdeen where she worked as a producer at the BBC before moving with her husband, Paul, and two young children to Rome.
In Rome, she began to write, snatching time where she could. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University.
She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. She has also published two children's books in Italy.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Lies We Tell by S.E. Lynes for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 4, 2019
I am a big fan of S E Lynes books but this one for me was very different. Not to say that I didn't enjoy it but this was a change of genre for this author. Her usual psychological thrillers have me hooked straight away and desperate to know how it ends. In The Lies We Hide the story was more emotional and character driven. I did enjoy it but it was much slower than I am used to.
The Lies We Hide is the story of a family and how they suffer a life with domestic violence. After Carol, the mother passes away, her daughter Nicola has to put the pieces back together and find out her mothers deepest secrets. We learn how Caol and her children escaped a violent husband and father physically, but mentally the pain never goes. How can they start again and have a normal life after living through that?
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
The Lies We Hide is the story of a family and how they suffer a life with domestic violence. After Carol, the mother passes away, her daughter Nicola has to put the pieces back together and find out her mothers deepest secrets. We learn how Caol and her children escaped a violent husband and father physically, but mentally the pain never goes. How can they start again and have a normal life after living through that?
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
October 29, 2019
An evocative family drama!
The author writes stand alone brilliant psychological thrillers so was interested to read this and see if a change in direction would alter the writing or indeed the poignancy of this book
It didn’t!
This book ( and I am finding this review difficult as don’t want to give too much away ) is a derailed almost forensic account of, in basic terms, what domestic abuse can do to a family, not only the victim but the extended family and indeed the perpetrator and how one persons actions can cause repercussions for a long long time
The book spans 30 years and we meet the family wife Carol, husband Ted, daughter Nicola and son Graham and we go back and forth from the past to the present and see just how life changing events affected them all, the situations are at times dire and dark and the writing put me there experiencing the terrible things this family endured, all told in the authors own, genuinely brilliant, style of writing
All the characters are fascinating even when mundane and all are ‘imaginable’ instantly, there is the authors occasional dark humour that was welcome and 2 endings that made me have a feeling between sadness and grim understanding
Its a well researched, well thought out book that made me think and can only highly recommend it
10/10
5 Stars
December 3, 2019
Carol lived with her abusive husband and their two children, Nicole and Graham. Ted was a drunk, a bully and he liked to use her as a punch bag. Carol tried to hide her abuse from her children, friends and family. She eventually manages to escape with her children. Nicole is now a lawyer. Shes returned home for her mother's funeral. Graham has inherited his father's temper as well as the substance abuse. He now in prison.
The story is told from three peoples perspectives: Carol, the mother. Richard, the clergyman who tried to help Graham while he was in prison and Nicole who found out the truth. It also goes back and forward in time. There is quite a lot of characters to keep track off. I was quickly drawn in to this story. You would need to have a heart of stone not to feel sorry for Carol. Everything she did was to aid the protection of her children. The characters are well rounded and the plotline believable. There is a few twists. This is a gripp6and heartwrenching read. Tale of a families struggle for survival.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author S.E. Lynes
The story is told from three peoples perspectives: Carol, the mother. Richard, the clergyman who tried to help Graham while he was in prison and Nicole who found out the truth. It also goes back and forward in time. There is quite a lot of characters to keep track off. I was quickly drawn in to this story. You would need to have a heart of stone not to feel sorry for Carol. Everything she did was to aid the protection of her children. The characters are well rounded and the plotline believable. There is a few twists. This is a gripp6and heartwrenching read. Tale of a families struggle for survival.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author S.E. Lynes
December 20, 2019
Compelling, complex, disturbing, and deeply emotional. S. E. Lynes has written an evocative story about love, strength, resilience, in the aftermath of domestic abuse. As someone who was married to and emotionally abusive alcoholic this book was both realistic and heart wrenching. A lot of the book dealt with the impact abuse has on the children and this is something I personally struggle with and feel guilty about every day. This book really stripped things down and took a real and authentic look at a family recovering from abuse. I thought this was done in a very gentle but honest way. The character’s emotions were palpable as well as their desperation. As deep and bleak as the subject matter of this book was there was also a peppering of humor and a generous amount of hope. At its core this is a story about family, love, and survival.
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
October 22, 2019
Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of the novel in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: December 4, 2019
“The Lies We Hide” by S.E Lynes is a little bit women’s fiction mixed with a little bit of suspense, with some family drama to wash it all down.
Thirty years ago, Carol woke up her sleeping children and packed up their lives, leaving her abusive husband behind. Now, Nicola is a lawyer trying to seek justice, and her brother Graham is trying to rebuild his life after years behind bars. When Carol passes away, the siblings begin to share their feelings of guilt and loss, and when a deeply kept secret comes to light, both Graham and Nicola are forced to look at their mother, and themselves, in a new light.
This story is told in multiple pieces, from multiple points of view. Each chapter of the story is told from the perspective of Nicola, Carol, or Richard (the prison chaplain- who tells his own story but also adds Graham’s points of view) and each shares their version of events from before, when Carol leave with her children in the middle of the night, to after, when Graham is being released from jail. The suspense builds throughout the novel as the crime, and its motivations, are slowly revealed.
The characters in this novel are so brave and flawed, and their honesty shines through. I related to Richard, with his strong desire to want to have appropriate conversations with people but being unable to find the right words, but there is empathy to be had for all of Lynes’ characters. In this case, I was able to predict most of the ending, but that did not stop me from enjoying this novel.
Well-told, with just the right amount of suspense-fueled drama, this novel brings to light the heartbreaking truth of escaping an abusive relationship, the rebuilding that comes after great loss, and the powerful love of a Mother.
Publication date: December 4, 2019
“The Lies We Hide” by S.E Lynes is a little bit women’s fiction mixed with a little bit of suspense, with some family drama to wash it all down.
Thirty years ago, Carol woke up her sleeping children and packed up their lives, leaving her abusive husband behind. Now, Nicola is a lawyer trying to seek justice, and her brother Graham is trying to rebuild his life after years behind bars. When Carol passes away, the siblings begin to share their feelings of guilt and loss, and when a deeply kept secret comes to light, both Graham and Nicola are forced to look at their mother, and themselves, in a new light.
This story is told in multiple pieces, from multiple points of view. Each chapter of the story is told from the perspective of Nicola, Carol, or Richard (the prison chaplain- who tells his own story but also adds Graham’s points of view) and each shares their version of events from before, when Carol leave with her children in the middle of the night, to after, when Graham is being released from jail. The suspense builds throughout the novel as the crime, and its motivations, are slowly revealed.
The characters in this novel are so brave and flawed, and their honesty shines through. I related to Richard, with his strong desire to want to have appropriate conversations with people but being unable to find the right words, but there is empathy to be had for all of Lynes’ characters. In this case, I was able to predict most of the ending, but that did not stop me from enjoying this novel.
Well-told, with just the right amount of suspense-fueled drama, this novel brings to light the heartbreaking truth of escaping an abusive relationship, the rebuilding that comes after great loss, and the powerful love of a Mother.
May 5, 2020
S.E. Lynes has taken a departure from her usual thriller genre with this powerful work of literary fiction. When I was just barely half-way through this novel I knew it would be on my 'Best of 2019' list for sure. Brilliant!
It was the outstanding characterization that makes this novel a five star read. Told from three different points of view, each is told with such empathy and deep understanding that you feel you know the characters personally.
Carol's story was heartbreaking, and all too real. Although this is a book about domestic abuse and its aftermath, it was told in such a compelling way that it had a unique impact.
Though the book is set in the Liverpool area, it could be set anywhere. It is the characters and their often tragic story that shines in this book. I was so mesmerized and engaged with these characters that I couldn't put the book down until the final page was read. And then... already I missed the characters. I thought I'd list my favourite characters, then I stopped myself because really I loved them all with a special mention to Carol Watson, Jim MacKay, and Graham Watson. Oh, and I cannot fail to mention the heartwarming friendship between Carol and her next-door neighbour and best-friend, Pauline.
A novel about bravery, cowardliness, kindness, grief, loss, hope, contrition, self-sacrifice, shame, and endurance. It speaks to the resilience and love of family white at the same time lamenting how precious time is with the ones we love - and who love us.
Just because this novel is not a thriller does not mean that it can't have plot twists. There are a few near the end that will satisfy most readers. Not shocking as such, just secrets revealed slowly over time, like peeling back the layers of an onion.
Highly recommended, memorable, literary fiction!
It was the outstanding characterization that makes this novel a five star read. Told from three different points of view, each is told with such empathy and deep understanding that you feel you know the characters personally.
Carol's story was heartbreaking, and all too real. Although this is a book about domestic abuse and its aftermath, it was told in such a compelling way that it had a unique impact.
Though the book is set in the Liverpool area, it could be set anywhere. It is the characters and their often tragic story that shines in this book. I was so mesmerized and engaged with these characters that I couldn't put the book down until the final page was read. And then... already I missed the characters. I thought I'd list my favourite characters, then I stopped myself because really I loved them all with a special mention to Carol Watson, Jim MacKay, and Graham Watson. Oh, and I cannot fail to mention the heartwarming friendship between Carol and her next-door neighbour and best-friend, Pauline.
A novel about bravery, cowardliness, kindness, grief, loss, hope, contrition, self-sacrifice, shame, and endurance. It speaks to the resilience and love of family white at the same time lamenting how precious time is with the ones we love - and who love us.
Just because this novel is not a thriller does not mean that it can't have plot twists. There are a few near the end that will satisfy most readers. Not shocking as such, just secrets revealed slowly over time, like peeling back the layers of an onion.
Highly recommended, memorable, literary fiction!
December 18, 2019
The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes is a a work of fiction.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
On the night of her girlfriend's wedding, Carol meets Jim, a kind and decent man. Jim will be in and out of Carol's life for a long time.
On that same night, Carol takes her two children, 16 year-old Graham and 10 year-old Nicola and runs from Ted, her abusive husband. The shelter helps her get back on her feet, but it seems no one can help with her fears, or insecurities, her trust, or the damage already done to her and her children.
Graham was always a troubled boy, but after moving away from his father, his behaviour deteriorates. He makes his mother's life miserable. His stutter gets worse, and he withdraws into himself, barely speaking. He turns to drugs. He ends up in prison for murder, where he meets the new chaplain Richard.
Richard is a kind man who is struggling with his sexuality, and the loss of his mother. He receives just as much help from Graham, as that which he provides.
Nicola's life was so different than her brother Graham's. She studied hard, and became a lawyer. She remembers her childhood through rose-colored glasses, as most of us do...self-absorbed, and often not seeing the battles around us.
My Opinions:
The story is told in different time-lines by different people, and unfolds wells.
It is a rather sad tale of physical and emotional abuse, of secrets, of lies, and how domestic violence affects the whole family. How one thing just leads to another. It is also a tale of redemption, of unselfish acts, of family, of hope, of love. How a family can rebuild.
It seemed like a slow moving story, but I didn't want to rush it...and I really didn't want to get to Graham's story of the murder, knowing I would hate it. The suspense just built until I felt I couldn't breathe, and just wanted it over with. When I finally reached his confession, I could breathe again, because it was not what I had anticipated. Then additional twists came, which I actually had already guessed. However that didn't detract from the story. The writing was amazing...Susie Lynes gets into your head, your heart, your soul.... Well, mine, anyway.
I have read a number of books by this author, all psychological thrillers. She stepped away from those with this book....and proved she could.
This book got to me.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 14, 2019
The Lies we Hide is an emotional, twisty and intensely gripping read! this is a book you'll find very difficult to put down. Deeply rooted in family drama this book takes us through the life of the Watson family- a normal family according to anyone else but Carol Watson and her kids. It's an emotive and powerful read that touches your heart and has the power to get you thinking.
When Carol Watson bundled up her kids Nicola and older son Graham one night and set out into the unknown, she didn't know the things she set into motion. Carol and the kid's life instantly changed from comfortably luxurious to surviving on charity and making ends meet with much difficulty. So why did Carol run?
Returning to her home after 30 years has Nicola thinking of the night Carol left and changed their lives forever. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
The last time I read an S.E. Lynes book I went in expecting a twisty psychological thriller. That is probably where I went wrong. And I'm not making the same mistake again. However, I was in for a surprise as the end had this super twist that I never saw coming! I loved all the characters in this book especially Carol Watson and Richard. Certain sections of this book had me stop and digest what was being told. The plot is strong, powerful and almost believable. This one is a perfect balance of mystery, emotion, and grit. I would recommend this reading this book even if you're not into the typical S.E. Lynes books.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and S.E. Lynes for an arc!
When Carol Watson bundled up her kids Nicola and older son Graham one night and set out into the unknown, she didn't know the things she set into motion. Carol and the kid's life instantly changed from comfortably luxurious to surviving on charity and making ends meet with much difficulty. So why did Carol run?
Returning to her home after 30 years has Nicola thinking of the night Carol left and changed their lives forever. But as she stands in her mother’s house, remembering the woman who sacrificed everything for her children, Nicola has to confront the guilt that she feels for leaving her family behind. And the belief that she played a part in the events that led to her brother going to prison for murder. And when Nicola learns the truth of what her mother did, it will change everything she thought she knew about herself and her family.
The last time I read an S.E. Lynes book I went in expecting a twisty psychological thriller. That is probably where I went wrong. And I'm not making the same mistake again. However, I was in for a surprise as the end had this super twist that I never saw coming! I loved all the characters in this book especially Carol Watson and Richard. Certain sections of this book had me stop and digest what was being told. The plot is strong, powerful and almost believable. This one is a perfect balance of mystery, emotion, and grit. I would recommend this reading this book even if you're not into the typical S.E. Lynes books.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and S.E. Lynes for an arc!
October 28, 2019
I don't have the words to say how much I loved this story. I know it's not a thriller but it felt like it to me, and more. I got the same nervous feelings, the butterflies in my tummy I would if I was reading a thriller. I connected with the characters from the very beginning, they felt real!
The story is based on domestic abuse but it's got so much more - grief, fear, friendship, kindness and most of all love and family.
I don't want to go into too much of the story in fear of giving away spoilers but want to say this story will have you wondering what's going to happen to everyone until the very end with lots of omg moments, I didn't see that coming, throughout the book. Amazing and very clever writing.
The story is based on domestic abuse but it's got so much more - grief, fear, friendship, kindness and most of all love and family.
I don't want to go into too much of the story in fear of giving away spoilers but want to say this story will have you wondering what's going to happen to everyone until the very end with lots of omg moments, I didn't see that coming, throughout the book. Amazing and very clever writing.
December 5, 2019
A story about domestic abuse, strength and survival told from multiple perspectives and timeframes. I felt compassion for Carol, the mother of two children and victim of domestic violence and held my breath when Ted, her abusive husband entered the picture. I was hopeful all would turn out well for Carol and her children.
December 4, 2019
Almost three years ago to this day, I read S.E. Lynes' debut novel, Valentina. Since then, I've read and loved every one of the four books that followed, but none of them quite managed to tip Valentina from the top spot. Until today. The Lies We Hide is probably one of - no, scratch that - it's probably THE best book I've read this year. It has everything. An amazing writing style, a realistic and fantastic storyline, characters you will absolutely love and absolutely loathe, characters you will feel real empathy for and want to hug, and characters you will cheer on, rooting for them all the way. I have to admit, I wasn't sure how I'd take to this book. S.E. Lynes is an out and out genius at writing psychological thrillers, and that's the genre that really gets me going. I knew this book was going to be a completely different kettle of fish, and I did wonder if she could pull it off. I can now honestly say nothing would surprise me as far as her writing is concerned. This book really drives home the lengths families will go to to protect the ones they love, even if that means having to lie, and then live with the consequences of those lies, continuing to stand by each other even when they've fallen apart. Absolutely bloody brilliant. MASSIVE thanks not only to the author, but also to her publisher, Bookouture, for publishing it and bringing it to the masses.
October 30, 2019
Carol is a victim of domestic abuse and runs away with her two children in the middle of the night as she fears for her life.
This story is told in different timelines and by different characters and I found it failed to keep my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told in different timelines and by different characters and I found it failed to keep my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2019
The Lies We Hide
We all have secrets, things we didn’t do, lies we told in all innocence or maybe not. Three stories, three secrets, twisted and braided together to form a perfect whole.
I won’t lie, I sobbed a good way through The Lies We Hide and for two days my life went on hold while the story of Carol, Graham and Nicola held me hostage, emerging red eyed, exhausted and elated - without a tissue left in the house. My initial response on finishing was an inarticulate, ‘Wow!'
This is an accomplished work, full of twists, turns, crossing generations and times and all handled with all the assurance we have come to expect from this author. A story deftly woven by the hands of a master craftswoman.
Carol struggling to keep her family together in the face of an abusive violent husband. Graham struggling with teenage hormones, the darker side of inner city council estate existence and no refuge to run to, and Nicola the one they must all protect at whatever cost, so that she can escape into the better life of the aspirational middle classes.
Days after finishing this book I am still thinking about it, still wondering about these characters as if they are people I know and love. A book that stays with you, that has you thinking about your own values, your own family, your own secrets, that haunts your dreams and fills your waking hours - now that’s a book to read, keep and read again. I will treasure this when I get my hands on a physical copy and over the years it will, I have no doubt, become a well worn and much loved favourite.
We all have secrets, things we didn’t do, lies we told in all innocence or maybe not. Three stories, three secrets, twisted and braided together to form a perfect whole.
I won’t lie, I sobbed a good way through The Lies We Hide and for two days my life went on hold while the story of Carol, Graham and Nicola held me hostage, emerging red eyed, exhausted and elated - without a tissue left in the house. My initial response on finishing was an inarticulate, ‘Wow!'
This is an accomplished work, full of twists, turns, crossing generations and times and all handled with all the assurance we have come to expect from this author. A story deftly woven by the hands of a master craftswoman.
Carol struggling to keep her family together in the face of an abusive violent husband. Graham struggling with teenage hormones, the darker side of inner city council estate existence and no refuge to run to, and Nicola the one they must all protect at whatever cost, so that she can escape into the better life of the aspirational middle classes.
Days after finishing this book I am still thinking about it, still wondering about these characters as if they are people I know and love. A book that stays with you, that has you thinking about your own values, your own family, your own secrets, that haunts your dreams and fills your waking hours - now that’s a book to read, keep and read again. I will treasure this when I get my hands on a physical copy and over the years it will, I have no doubt, become a well worn and much loved favourite.
November 27, 2019
This was a book which would stay with me for a long time. A gritty tale of domestic abuse and secrets. Some families had it tough and they made sacrifices. Love bound them even when they didn't know how to show it.
Carol was abused, she left her husband, Jim came into her life. But her son Graham was lost to her. Daughter Nicky made something out of herself.
In between these lines, there was a story of a family's journey from 1984 to 2019.
Author S. E. Lynes has surpassed herself, her previous books have nothing on her. This was by far the best. Her writing with its authentic words and accents pulled me in. It was hard hitting and raw. It bespoke of a truth with honesty underlying the words. I couldn't help but read it at one go.
The writing evoked a wealth of emotions as the story progressed. I couldn't help but empathize with the characters as they found their own niches in life. The hard knocks sure kept coming. But the frail string of love bound them together and kept them afloat. But this was a suspense novel, and the author has weaved it in such a way that throughout the book, I kept wondering what it would be.
I suspected one of them but the others were pretty shocking. One of the best reads, I would say!!
Carol was abused, she left her husband, Jim came into her life. But her son Graham was lost to her. Daughter Nicky made something out of herself.
In between these lines, there was a story of a family's journey from 1984 to 2019.
Author S. E. Lynes has surpassed herself, her previous books have nothing on her. This was by far the best. Her writing with its authentic words and accents pulled me in. It was hard hitting and raw. It bespoke of a truth with honesty underlying the words. I couldn't help but read it at one go.
The writing evoked a wealth of emotions as the story progressed. I couldn't help but empathize with the characters as they found their own niches in life. The hard knocks sure kept coming. But the frail string of love bound them together and kept them afloat. But this was a suspense novel, and the author has weaved it in such a way that throughout the book, I kept wondering what it would be.
I suspected one of them but the others were pretty shocking. One of the best reads, I would say!!
November 9, 2019
There is so much I want to say about this story but I don’t think even then, I could ever do it the justice it deserves.
The story itself flicks between present day and the past. In present day we meet Nicola as she comes to terms with the loss of her mum. In the past, we get to know Carol, the mum, as well as see what life was like when Nicola and her brother Graham were growing up.
For me the stand out characters in this book were Carol and Graham. Through Carol we get to see what life is like with an abusive partner and trying to do right by her children. Graham, was just someone I wanted to mother as soon as we are introduced to him. My emotions were going into over drive the further into the story I got.
This is so much deeper than the authors other books. This is about a family trying to make the best out of a bad situation. Living and dealing with decisions they have made. Their story quietly consumed me and I hated having to put my kindle down as I was so wrapped up in their world.
Having read previous books by the author, this is quite different in how it feels. It has a kind of drama/saga feel to it yet she still manages to take me totally unaware with some shocks and surprises.
The Lies We Hide is a story that will take hold of you. When I wasn’t reading it, I was constantly thinking about it. The novel on a whole was simply mesmerising but the ending is what knocked it out of the park for me. Absolutely outstanding! These are characters that will stay with me for a long time to come as well as their story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced reader’s copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story itself flicks between present day and the past. In present day we meet Nicola as she comes to terms with the loss of her mum. In the past, we get to know Carol, the mum, as well as see what life was like when Nicola and her brother Graham were growing up.
For me the stand out characters in this book were Carol and Graham. Through Carol we get to see what life is like with an abusive partner and trying to do right by her children. Graham, was just someone I wanted to mother as soon as we are introduced to him. My emotions were going into over drive the further into the story I got.
This is so much deeper than the authors other books. This is about a family trying to make the best out of a bad situation. Living and dealing with decisions they have made. Their story quietly consumed me and I hated having to put my kindle down as I was so wrapped up in their world.
Having read previous books by the author, this is quite different in how it feels. It has a kind of drama/saga feel to it yet she still manages to take me totally unaware with some shocks and surprises.
The Lies We Hide is a story that will take hold of you. When I wasn’t reading it, I was constantly thinking about it. The novel on a whole was simply mesmerising but the ending is what knocked it out of the park for me. Absolutely outstanding! These are characters that will stay with me for a long time to come as well as their story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced reader’s copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
January 25, 2020
★★★ 3.5 stars
I really should have paid more attention to the genre when requesting this book. But to be honest, all I saw was the name S.E. Lynes and quickly (and incorrectly) assumed it was another psychological thriller, that the author is synonymous for. Instead THE LIES WE HIDE is a somewhat dark family drama more in line with chick lit genre. But don't be fooled - it is not a "feel good" fiction story. It is dark, evocative and even a little gritty.
1968: The story opens with a young teenage couple, Carol and Ted, at fairground in Blackpool. It soon becomes clear that Carol is pregnant, judging from her refusal to accompany Ted on one of the more adrenaline-fueled rides, where Ted then dramatically yells out a proposal to her. And so Carol's story begins.
1984: Carol returns home from a friend's wedding to find her brother sleeping on the couch and her husband Ted in a drunken stupor on the bed. Her two children, Graham and Nicola (Nicky), are thankfully asleep. Carol takes the opportunity to enjoy a nice long soak in the bath after what turned out to be a rather eventful night. Then...
"A creak on the landing. She curls up. The water swishes loud in the tub; she cringes at the noise. Ted. He's woken up. He's woken up and he's-
The bathroom door flies open. Ted. Eyes bloodshot and wild, blind but seeing, a look full of hate aimed only at her. His nose wrinkles, his hand shoots out in front of him, a starfish of fingers. She shrieks, folds herself smaller still, arms over her head, eyes closed. The smell of whisky goes up her nose, whisky and smoke, sweat and pubs. This is it. She has not got away with it. The punishment is now."
Carol made herself a promise to herself as Ted shoved her face underwater, holding here there until she was barely conscious. She has just enough strength to gather the thought - "If I survive tonight, this is it. We're leaving." When it was all over, trembling and in pain, Carol crawled out of the bath. Gathering her remaining strength, she then woke her sleeping children, packed up their lives and left Ted and his violent drunken abuse behind.
2019: Nicola is now a successful London barrister returning to her family home in Merseyside to attend her mother's funeral. In the ensuing days, she reflects back on the life she shared with her mother and older brother Graham. She remembers the sacrifices her mother made for them, ensuring her daughter received a good education even while her son had fallen through the cracks to become a stranger to them both.
The night they fled their father changed everything for them...but especially Graham. He became withdrawn, silent and moody...no longer stuttering because he hardly ever spoke to them. Nicola recalled how she missed her older brother in those dark days as he continued to withdraw from them. More and more he snuck out at night, taking up with a rough crowd, smoking weed until eventually even that wasn't enough and he needed the harder drugs to escape the guilt and the shadows that followed him. Even her mother sacrificing her own happiness with someone who truly loved her and wanted to take care of her, in the hope her son would somehow find his way back to them wasn't enough.
Jim Mackay, a lovable gentle giant of a man, first set eyes on Carol at that wedding decked out in full Scottish regalia. Carol immediately felt something deep within as she danced in Jim's arms...and felt a frisson of excitement at his touch. She knew he was different. But she also knew that what he wanted, what she wanted, was forbidden. Ted would kill her. As it happens, he very nearly did when she returned home that night...and in the days, weeks and months she wondered if Jim ever thought of her as she did him. So when he turned up a year later at their new home, Graham was furious at the intrusion and somehow perceived Jim as a threat. Jim stayed a week before Carol asked him to leave, in an attempt to reach out to her son.
Then one night shortly after Jim's departure, the police knocked at Carol's door. A body had been found beaten to death outside a pub frequented by her estranged husband. It was Ted. Torn in her grief for the man he used to be, Carol was relieved at no longer fearing he would find her and carry out his threat to kill her. Shortly after, Carol, Nicky and Graham moved back to the house that had been their home for so long.
But this is not the end. Carol's story, and Nicola's and Graham's - their stories were only just beginning.
Told from three different perspectives in the past and the present, we see into the very hidden depths of our three narrators' souls - Nicola in the present, with the earlier narratives by Carol and Richard, the prison chaplain who helped Graham find his wings so he could truly fly upon release. Each of them reveal secrets about themselves privy only to the reader, their guilt, their shame, their heartache, their grief. Parts of their narratives are incredibly raw and so emotional it is hard not to shed a tear. Each of them are flawed but that is what makes them so real.
Complex and evocative, THE LIES WE HIDE is about a family and their secrets, their suffering, their heartache and their pain. It is about the scars that domestic abuse leaves behind, long after the threat has gone. The story is riddled with guilt and shame which is at the forefront of much of this incredibly sad tale. Whilst also woven into the tapestry is grief. Reading Nicola's raw and heartbreaking grief at the loss of her mother, her guilt at not being there at the end, is so powerful so heartbreaking I was in tears. Her pain is so evident I could reach out and touch it myself.
A well-written heartbreaking tale, THE LIES WE HIDE is not a fast paced read but it is a good one. It evoked a wealth of emotions as the story progressed that it was so easy to relate to each of the characters. You sympathised and yet you felt anger amidst heartbreak and grief. By the end, I had suspected one of the twists all along and had an inkling about the other. But the biggest shock were the secrets (ok, so I suspected one) they each kept to themselves at the end in the lies that they hid from each other...that left me with a feeling of sadness interwoven with understanding.
I have to mention Graham's poem to Richard. Whilst it was a lighthearted attempt at deep heartfelt gratitude, I found myself in tears reading the depth of emotion within those few lines.
THE LIES WE HIDE is not just about abuse and despair, but about a mother's unconditional love for her children and her determination to give them a better life free of fear and dread. It's about love, redemption, forgiveness and moving on.
While I may have begun this book anticipating a psychological thriller, I was glad I read it. It certainly wasn't what I expected.
I would like to thank #SELynes, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiesWeHide in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I really should have paid more attention to the genre when requesting this book. But to be honest, all I saw was the name S.E. Lynes and quickly (and incorrectly) assumed it was another psychological thriller, that the author is synonymous for. Instead THE LIES WE HIDE is a somewhat dark family drama more in line with chick lit genre. But don't be fooled - it is not a "feel good" fiction story. It is dark, evocative and even a little gritty.
1968: The story opens with a young teenage couple, Carol and Ted, at fairground in Blackpool. It soon becomes clear that Carol is pregnant, judging from her refusal to accompany Ted on one of the more adrenaline-fueled rides, where Ted then dramatically yells out a proposal to her. And so Carol's story begins.
1984: Carol returns home from a friend's wedding to find her brother sleeping on the couch and her husband Ted in a drunken stupor on the bed. Her two children, Graham and Nicola (Nicky), are thankfully asleep. Carol takes the opportunity to enjoy a nice long soak in the bath after what turned out to be a rather eventful night. Then...
"A creak on the landing. She curls up. The water swishes loud in the tub; she cringes at the noise. Ted. He's woken up. He's woken up and he's-
The bathroom door flies open. Ted. Eyes bloodshot and wild, blind but seeing, a look full of hate aimed only at her. His nose wrinkles, his hand shoots out in front of him, a starfish of fingers. She shrieks, folds herself smaller still, arms over her head, eyes closed. The smell of whisky goes up her nose, whisky and smoke, sweat and pubs. This is it. She has not got away with it. The punishment is now."
Carol made herself a promise to herself as Ted shoved her face underwater, holding here there until she was barely conscious. She has just enough strength to gather the thought - "If I survive tonight, this is it. We're leaving." When it was all over, trembling and in pain, Carol crawled out of the bath. Gathering her remaining strength, she then woke her sleeping children, packed up their lives and left Ted and his violent drunken abuse behind.
2019: Nicola is now a successful London barrister returning to her family home in Merseyside to attend her mother's funeral. In the ensuing days, she reflects back on the life she shared with her mother and older brother Graham. She remembers the sacrifices her mother made for them, ensuring her daughter received a good education even while her son had fallen through the cracks to become a stranger to them both.
The night they fled their father changed everything for them...but especially Graham. He became withdrawn, silent and moody...no longer stuttering because he hardly ever spoke to them. Nicola recalled how she missed her older brother in those dark days as he continued to withdraw from them. More and more he snuck out at night, taking up with a rough crowd, smoking weed until eventually even that wasn't enough and he needed the harder drugs to escape the guilt and the shadows that followed him. Even her mother sacrificing her own happiness with someone who truly loved her and wanted to take care of her, in the hope her son would somehow find his way back to them wasn't enough.
Jim Mackay, a lovable gentle giant of a man, first set eyes on Carol at that wedding decked out in full Scottish regalia. Carol immediately felt something deep within as she danced in Jim's arms...and felt a frisson of excitement at his touch. She knew he was different. But she also knew that what he wanted, what she wanted, was forbidden. Ted would kill her. As it happens, he very nearly did when she returned home that night...and in the days, weeks and months she wondered if Jim ever thought of her as she did him. So when he turned up a year later at their new home, Graham was furious at the intrusion and somehow perceived Jim as a threat. Jim stayed a week before Carol asked him to leave, in an attempt to reach out to her son.
Then one night shortly after Jim's departure, the police knocked at Carol's door. A body had been found beaten to death outside a pub frequented by her estranged husband. It was Ted. Torn in her grief for the man he used to be, Carol was relieved at no longer fearing he would find her and carry out his threat to kill her. Shortly after, Carol, Nicky and Graham moved back to the house that had been their home for so long.
But this is not the end. Carol's story, and Nicola's and Graham's - their stories were only just beginning.
Told from three different perspectives in the past and the present, we see into the very hidden depths of our three narrators' souls - Nicola in the present, with the earlier narratives by Carol and Richard, the prison chaplain who helped Graham find his wings so he could truly fly upon release. Each of them reveal secrets about themselves privy only to the reader, their guilt, their shame, their heartache, their grief. Parts of their narratives are incredibly raw and so emotional it is hard not to shed a tear. Each of them are flawed but that is what makes them so real.
Complex and evocative, THE LIES WE HIDE is about a family and their secrets, their suffering, their heartache and their pain. It is about the scars that domestic abuse leaves behind, long after the threat has gone. The story is riddled with guilt and shame which is at the forefront of much of this incredibly sad tale. Whilst also woven into the tapestry is grief. Reading Nicola's raw and heartbreaking grief at the loss of her mother, her guilt at not being there at the end, is so powerful so heartbreaking I was in tears. Her pain is so evident I could reach out and touch it myself.
A well-written heartbreaking tale, THE LIES WE HIDE is not a fast paced read but it is a good one. It evoked a wealth of emotions as the story progressed that it was so easy to relate to each of the characters. You sympathised and yet you felt anger amidst heartbreak and grief. By the end, I had suspected one of the twists all along and had an inkling about the other. But the biggest shock were the secrets (ok, so I suspected one) they each kept to themselves at the end in the lies that they hid from each other...that left me with a feeling of sadness interwoven with understanding.
I have to mention Graham's poem to Richard. Whilst it was a lighthearted attempt at deep heartfelt gratitude, I found myself in tears reading the depth of emotion within those few lines.
THE LIES WE HIDE is not just about abuse and despair, but about a mother's unconditional love for her children and her determination to give them a better life free of fear and dread. It's about love, redemption, forgiveness and moving on.
While I may have begun this book anticipating a psychological thriller, I was glad I read it. It certainly wasn't what I expected.
I would like to thank #SELynes, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLiesWeHide in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 4, 2019
"Motivations are mysterious things; what we do and why."
Just finished this and must say that my thoughts are all over the place. First of all, as I am used to S.E. Lynes writing psychological thrillers, I was not at all expecting this dark domestic drama full of sadness that permeated through the narrative as it dealt with spousal abuse, drug addiction, imprisonment and death. A bright light that did shine through, however, was the stress on the importance of family love and the certainty that family can provide redemption as well as it can slowly kill a person by degrees. It's not luck that puts you in one type or the other. Our own choices and the decisions made can affect where we end up, or with whom, but that doesn't answer the big question -- if you marry and/or stay with the wrong kind of person, is that on you -- and if it is, then what does that mean for the children born into such a bad relationship? Because they certainly suffer and, worst of all, they have no control over the situation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this book deals with those issues and will elicit a lot of your own introspection as you read.
This novel is told in shifting point of view and in past and present time shifts. The different narratives allow the reader a glimpse into the minds of the main characters and their reactions to the different events that occur. Carol is married to a drunken abuser named Ted. When she's had enough, she leaves him -- stealing away into the night with her two children, Graham and Nicola. You'd think that getting away would allow her to rebuild her life, but life with Ted has left scars on them all. Graham turns to drugs and Nicola buries herself in schoolwork with ambitions to get to University. Things go from bad to worse and it doesn't look like there is going to be any sort of happy ending for this poor family. Help comes in unexpected ways, however. A listening ear. A kind friend. A gentle soul. NO SPOILERS.
I loved the writing and the way the author puts a thought out there for the reader to consider. I both empathized with Carol, and like many women who've never experienced domestic violence, I suspect sometimes you'll want to shake her when you see her do something -- but that's only because you'll fear for her. Since the story is somewhat reflective given the way it's written, you'll likely have to pause a few times as the revelations come. Though none of it really surprised me, I can say that it felt right and wasn't a "shocking twist" per se. I did enjoy this though it's really not the type of book that I gravitate toward for entertainment but I'm glad I read it.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 just because there was this incredible sweetness to it despite all the difficulty this family experienced.
Just finished this and must say that my thoughts are all over the place. First of all, as I am used to S.E. Lynes writing psychological thrillers, I was not at all expecting this dark domestic drama full of sadness that permeated through the narrative as it dealt with spousal abuse, drug addiction, imprisonment and death. A bright light that did shine through, however, was the stress on the importance of family love and the certainty that family can provide redemption as well as it can slowly kill a person by degrees. It's not luck that puts you in one type or the other. Our own choices and the decisions made can affect where we end up, or with whom, but that doesn't answer the big question -- if you marry and/or stay with the wrong kind of person, is that on you -- and if it is, then what does that mean for the children born into such a bad relationship? Because they certainly suffer and, worst of all, they have no control over the situation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this book deals with those issues and will elicit a lot of your own introspection as you read.
This novel is told in shifting point of view and in past and present time shifts. The different narratives allow the reader a glimpse into the minds of the main characters and their reactions to the different events that occur. Carol is married to a drunken abuser named Ted. When she's had enough, she leaves him -- stealing away into the night with her two children, Graham and Nicola. You'd think that getting away would allow her to rebuild her life, but life with Ted has left scars on them all. Graham turns to drugs and Nicola buries herself in schoolwork with ambitions to get to University. Things go from bad to worse and it doesn't look like there is going to be any sort of happy ending for this poor family. Help comes in unexpected ways, however. A listening ear. A kind friend. A gentle soul. NO SPOILERS.
I loved the writing and the way the author puts a thought out there for the reader to consider. I both empathized with Carol, and like many women who've never experienced domestic violence, I suspect sometimes you'll want to shake her when you see her do something -- but that's only because you'll fear for her. Since the story is somewhat reflective given the way it's written, you'll likely have to pause a few times as the revelations come. Though none of it really surprised me, I can say that it felt right and wasn't a "shocking twist" per se. I did enjoy this though it's really not the type of book that I gravitate toward for entertainment but I'm glad I read it.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 just because there was this incredible sweetness to it despite all the difficulty this family experienced.
November 27, 2019
When Nicola returns to her mother's home to sort out her possessions, after she had died, she comes across things that jolt her memories from childhood. She had only been 10 years old when her mum woke her and her brother up to leave in the middle of the night. The memories that her mum Carol had shared with her, began to fit together like a jigsaw, her innocence of childhood was going to crumble around her the more she dug into the past.
Susie Lynes captured the late 1960s and 70s perfectly as the story drops back to the night Ted asked Carol to marry him. She was expecting their first child, Graham, then Nicola came along later. They lived in a really nice place but Ted had a quick temper and heavy hand which made Carol a punch bag and left Graham with a stammer.
The story follows the family and how it affected all of them through their lives. Escaping wasn't the end of it for the family it was the beginning of a completely different life for them all. The fear had been in the house where they lived but now it was straight outside their door as their lives moulded into their environment. Graham particularly had been affected the most of the two children.
There are some salt of the earth people in the story, life long friends and men that are true gentlemen but the story has a much deeper darker side, heartbreaking, tragic and desperate. This isn't an easy story to read for its content. It is unforgettable. It is an era captured perfectly. It is what love is, unconditionally protection.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
Susie Lynes captured the late 1960s and 70s perfectly as the story drops back to the night Ted asked Carol to marry him. She was expecting their first child, Graham, then Nicola came along later. They lived in a really nice place but Ted had a quick temper and heavy hand which made Carol a punch bag and left Graham with a stammer.
The story follows the family and how it affected all of them through their lives. Escaping wasn't the end of it for the family it was the beginning of a completely different life for them all. The fear had been in the house where they lived but now it was straight outside their door as their lives moulded into their environment. Graham particularly had been affected the most of the two children.
There are some salt of the earth people in the story, life long friends and men that are true gentlemen but the story has a much deeper darker side, heartbreaking, tragic and desperate. This isn't an easy story to read for its content. It is unforgettable. It is an era captured perfectly. It is what love is, unconditionally protection.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
February 3, 2020
What a haunting read. No, I don't mean that in the spooky sense, but rather the feelings it left me with. Carol is a wife and mother, in the grips of a emotionally and physically abusive relationship. After a last straw incident, she escapes with her children. But the things they saw and endured have shaped them, and they carry their fear and shame and guilt and pain with them into their future. Things don't suddenly get better just because they break away. In fact, this is where their real struggles begin. They have to figure out how to live their lives and make peace with each other and with themselves. My heart hurt for the son, Graham, the most. Quiet, but with a rage boiling just under the surface, he and his mother fear that he has his father's blood running through his veins. He ends up in prison, seeming to fulfill his prophecy. Nicola, the daughter, has taken a far opposite path. She is studious and determined to make a good life for herself. But, there are secrets to learn and lies to be discovered. Above anything else, there is a lot of love here. There are sacrifices they each made and everyone is just trying to do the right thing, but not always in the right way. It is messy and complicated, and it is genuine.
October 18, 2019
The Lies We Hide by S.E. Lynes is a powerful story of domestic abuse, the enduring and unbreakable bonds of family, and the lengths that we will go to for those we love. This is a domestic drama that will get under your skin, and will not soon be forgotten after the last page has been turned.
Nicola and her brother Graham are only children when their mother Carol wakes them in the night to flee the family home in order to escape the horrors of domestic abuse that Carol has long endured. In the years that follow, the family struggles to move forward, but always in the shadow of a dark and disturbing past. It is only when Carol dies, many years later, that Nicola learns the full extent of her mother's courage, and Graham is able to unburden himself with the secrets he has been forced to hide as he battled his own demons through the years.
This is an involving and emotional story that will evoke empathy in even the most hardened of hearts. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
Nicola and her brother Graham are only children when their mother Carol wakes them in the night to flee the family home in order to escape the horrors of domestic abuse that Carol has long endured. In the years that follow, the family struggles to move forward, but always in the shadow of a dark and disturbing past. It is only when Carol dies, many years later, that Nicola learns the full extent of her mother's courage, and Graham is able to unburden himself with the secrets he has been forced to hide as he battled his own demons through the years.
This is an involving and emotional story that will evoke empathy in even the most hardened of hearts. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
October 23, 2019
This book was really good. Anyone triggered by domestic abuse shouldn’t read this book. This book is told through the different characters. Nicola the daughter is a lawyer and seeks justice, Graham was in jail and learning t9 be “normal “after his jail time. It talks a lot about carol the mother who was married to Ted who was an alcoholic who constantly abused her. I would feel so much pain for carol and what she suffered. The twists and surprises in this book makes you think about it days after finishing reading it.
October 17, 2019
I really like S. E. Lynes’ books, and I loved The Lies We Hide, although I’m not wild about the bandwagon-jumping “lies” title (aren’t lies, by definition, generally hidden anyway?). By the end, it seemed to make slightly more sense, but I still feel there could’ve been a much better title for a book I otherwise really liked.
Anyway... in the present day Nicola, a London lawyer, is grieving the death of her mother, Carol, after receiving the news from her brother Graham. Although the “now” sections are narrated by Nicola, this is really Carol and Graham’s story, and while there are elements of suspense and mystery (and, yes, lies), for me it has more of a feel of family drama than psychological thriller. That’s far from being a criticism, by the way, because like I said at the top of the review, I loved it.
Carol, young and pregnant in 1968 (that’s the year I was born!) accepts Ted’s marriage proposal rather against her better judgement, and indeed it’s probably the worst move she could have made, because Ted is not about to win any husband of the year awards. Carol’s and later Graham’s story encompasses domestic abuse, drugs, violence and death - nobody, not even sheltered younger child Nicola, the repository of everyone’s hopes, will emerge unscathed.
Another strand is narrated by prison chaplain Richard, and the friendship which develops between him and Graham is genuinely touching and convincing.
An amazing read with superb characters, particularly Carol, who you are rooting for all the way.
(One *very* minor niggle - I’m not sure Carol would’ve had a mobile phone in 1993 - I don’t think I knew anybody who had one until the end of the ‘90s and Carol didn’t seem like the sort of person to be an early technology adopter!)
Anyway... in the present day Nicola, a London lawyer, is grieving the death of her mother, Carol, after receiving the news from her brother Graham. Although the “now” sections are narrated by Nicola, this is really Carol and Graham’s story, and while there are elements of suspense and mystery (and, yes, lies), for me it has more of a feel of family drama than psychological thriller. That’s far from being a criticism, by the way, because like I said at the top of the review, I loved it.
Carol, young and pregnant in 1968 (that’s the year I was born!) accepts Ted’s marriage proposal rather against her better judgement, and indeed it’s probably the worst move she could have made, because Ted is not about to win any husband of the year awards. Carol’s and later Graham’s story encompasses domestic abuse, drugs, violence and death - nobody, not even sheltered younger child Nicola, the repository of everyone’s hopes, will emerge unscathed.
Another strand is narrated by prison chaplain Richard, and the friendship which develops between him and Graham is genuinely touching and convincing.
An amazing read with superb characters, particularly Carol, who you are rooting for all the way.
(One *very* minor niggle - I’m not sure Carol would’ve had a mobile phone in 1993 - I don’t think I knew anybody who had one until the end of the ‘90s and Carol didn’t seem like the sort of person to be an early technology adopter!)
December 27, 2019
This is a departure for Lynes in terms of genre, but not in terms of the high standard of writing and the compelling way she weaves a story. These things were both here in abundance, and with the intense themes and complex characters, this made for a stunning and affecting book. It touched me profoundly, perhaps since I have experienced a lot of it. The intelligent and sensitive exploration of redemption, forgiveness and survival make this a truly unforgettable book.
December 9, 2019
I’m a huge fan of S.E. Lynes and I was a little worried when I realised that she had taken a slightly different approach with her newest book but I should have had more faith!! The Lies we Hide is a superb, highly emotional family drama that quite took my breath away at times. This book is a tough read at times as it focuses on domestic violence but it is so much more than that. It looks at how events shape everything and everyone that they touch and have a far reaching effect. Carol was such an amazing woman and I completely understand her. S.E. Lynes fleshed out her character from the inside out and she became a real person to me and I desperately wanted her to have a decent life with her children.
The book spans a number of years, starting with a marriage proposal back in the 1960s. We then flash forward to Nicola in the present day who gets a call from her brother Graham to say that her mother has passed away. Heading home for her mother’s funeral, Nicola is able to look back at her life and we flash back again to the 1980s. It’s here that we start to unravel the truth behind Carols marriage. And it is difficult to read at times. The night that Carol wakes her children to escape the violent prison that her life has become should be the start of a better life. But the damage has already been done. It was heartbreaking to watch how Carol and her children survived after their escape. Graham especially had been affected in more ways than one and we gradually come to realise just how much as his life starts to fall apart.
I loved that although this is more of a family drama, S.E. Lynes still manages to throw in some rather shocking twists. I was completely gripped by this tragic tale from start to finish and felt personally bereaved by Carols death myself by the time I turned the final page. The sense of time and place really brought this story to life for me as a lot of it was set in places I’m familiar with so I totally got the northern mentality towards family life and friendship that formed the basis of Carols character and disposition.
I can’t remember another book I’ve read this year that touched me as much as The Lies We Hide did. It is hard hitting but heartbreaking in equal measure and it became the sole focus of my world whilst I was reading it. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it highly enough.
The book spans a number of years, starting with a marriage proposal back in the 1960s. We then flash forward to Nicola in the present day who gets a call from her brother Graham to say that her mother has passed away. Heading home for her mother’s funeral, Nicola is able to look back at her life and we flash back again to the 1980s. It’s here that we start to unravel the truth behind Carols marriage. And it is difficult to read at times. The night that Carol wakes her children to escape the violent prison that her life has become should be the start of a better life. But the damage has already been done. It was heartbreaking to watch how Carol and her children survived after their escape. Graham especially had been affected in more ways than one and we gradually come to realise just how much as his life starts to fall apart.
I loved that although this is more of a family drama, S.E. Lynes still manages to throw in some rather shocking twists. I was completely gripped by this tragic tale from start to finish and felt personally bereaved by Carols death myself by the time I turned the final page. The sense of time and place really brought this story to life for me as a lot of it was set in places I’m familiar with so I totally got the northern mentality towards family life and friendship that formed the basis of Carols character and disposition.
I can’t remember another book I’ve read this year that touched me as much as The Lies We Hide did. It is hard hitting but heartbreaking in equal measure and it became the sole focus of my world whilst I was reading it. I absolutely loved it and can’t recommend it highly enough.
December 9, 2019
If commanding literary novels give you a buzz, then you must read The Lies We Hide, the latest novel written by S. E. Lynes. I have read some of this fabulous author's earlier work, and even though this is very different from her usual thriller genre, I knew I was still going to be in for a treat with this one and it was stunningly good!
In The The Lies We Hide, bestseller S. E. Lynes explores the darkest corners of physical abuse from a savage husband, and the malevolent psychological torment that affects the whole family, in a mesmerising and chilling tale of evil, secrets, lies, and manipulation.
Written in alternating chapters, from three characters' perspectives, I was given the opportunity to see things from several viewpoints, making the story altogether more interesting. Each is told with such empathy and insight that I felt I knew the characters first-hand. Susie Lynes' characterisation was incredibly impressive, and pretty much made this story the remarkable read it was. The author explored the psyche of her characters with great conviction, making them very credible. There were interactions and relationships that added complexity and depth to all of them and illustrated how their pasts haunted them and affected the perceptions they now possess.
I particularly liked the author's portrayal of Carol who's story was heartrending, and all too commonplace. Although there seemed to be an abundance of players, each had a part to play in the story and I was never overwhelmed. Everyone has different motives and priorities for their actions, thoughts or behaviour. The Lies We Hide brought me no disappointments, capturing my attention from the prologue to the final word. Susie Lynes created an underlying sense of tension that was totally gripping. I appreciated the tautness of the plot, the twists and revelations, and the overall quality of the writing. My interest never wavered as the story spiralled its way towards a superb denouement.
The Lies We Hide is exceptional, standout, literary fiction that I cannot recommend highly enough.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In The The Lies We Hide, bestseller S. E. Lynes explores the darkest corners of physical abuse from a savage husband, and the malevolent psychological torment that affects the whole family, in a mesmerising and chilling tale of evil, secrets, lies, and manipulation.
Written in alternating chapters, from three characters' perspectives, I was given the opportunity to see things from several viewpoints, making the story altogether more interesting. Each is told with such empathy and insight that I felt I knew the characters first-hand. Susie Lynes' characterisation was incredibly impressive, and pretty much made this story the remarkable read it was. The author explored the psyche of her characters with great conviction, making them very credible. There were interactions and relationships that added complexity and depth to all of them and illustrated how their pasts haunted them and affected the perceptions they now possess.
I particularly liked the author's portrayal of Carol who's story was heartrending, and all too commonplace. Although there seemed to be an abundance of players, each had a part to play in the story and I was never overwhelmed. Everyone has different motives and priorities for their actions, thoughts or behaviour. The Lies We Hide brought me no disappointments, capturing my attention from the prologue to the final word. Susie Lynes created an underlying sense of tension that was totally gripping. I appreciated the tautness of the plot, the twists and revelations, and the overall quality of the writing. My interest never wavered as the story spiralled its way towards a superb denouement.
The Lies We Hide is exceptional, standout, literary fiction that I cannot recommend highly enough.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 26, 2019
I got a free advance readers’ copy in exchange for my honest review.
Domestic violence is one of society’s darkest secrets. What is the worst part of domestic violence is the fact that many times the victims blame themselves. They think that the violence is due to their wrongdoings.
The Lies We Hide started off as a domestic violence story. Nicola is now a successful lawyer with a beautiful family. However, her mother, Carol, has recently died. She now has to return home for the funeral. Nicola knew the basics about what was going on with her parents and she could vaguely remember the night her mother woke up both Nicola and her brother, Graham, and got them out of the house. She always knew her mother was a woman who sacrificed everything for her children, but she does not realize the lengths she was willing to go. Nicola also does not realize that the secrets she also held had a massive part to play in the events which unfolded.
This story was beautiful. It showed the second life that women can have even after experiencing one of the most traumatic experiences of life. Carol blossomed with the help of her best friend, Pauline, and in this book I got to see how important true friends are in situations like this.
The characters of this story were all likable except for Ted, Carol’s abuser. To read about the struggles of Carol and her family was such an emotional experience. Jim, a friend of Carol’s, was quite hilarious in some spots.
This book was powerfully evocative and I enjoyed every second of reading it.
Violence: Domestic violence was a recurring theme throughout this book. This may be a trigger for some readers
Sexual Content: There was not much but this book may be better suited to older teens and adults
Profanity: Moderate
Religious Themes: None
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mention of all three
Domestic violence is one of society’s darkest secrets. What is the worst part of domestic violence is the fact that many times the victims blame themselves. They think that the violence is due to their wrongdoings.
The Lies We Hide started off as a domestic violence story. Nicola is now a successful lawyer with a beautiful family. However, her mother, Carol, has recently died. She now has to return home for the funeral. Nicola knew the basics about what was going on with her parents and she could vaguely remember the night her mother woke up both Nicola and her brother, Graham, and got them out of the house. She always knew her mother was a woman who sacrificed everything for her children, but she does not realize the lengths she was willing to go. Nicola also does not realize that the secrets she also held had a massive part to play in the events which unfolded.
This story was beautiful. It showed the second life that women can have even after experiencing one of the most traumatic experiences of life. Carol blossomed with the help of her best friend, Pauline, and in this book I got to see how important true friends are in situations like this.
The characters of this story were all likable except for Ted, Carol’s abuser. To read about the struggles of Carol and her family was such an emotional experience. Jim, a friend of Carol’s, was quite hilarious in some spots.
This book was powerfully evocative and I enjoyed every second of reading it.
Violence: Domestic violence was a recurring theme throughout this book. This may be a trigger for some readers
Sexual Content: There was not much but this book may be better suited to older teens and adults
Profanity: Moderate
Religious Themes: None
Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: Mention of all three
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