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The Truth
Perfect wife. Perfect life. Perfect crime.
Anthony is not the man everyone believes him to be. And Emelia is not the woman he wants her to be.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance, Anthony was the doting boyfriend, the charismatic and successful career man who swept her off her feet. But now Emelia is trapped in a marriage of dark secrets and obsession. She is no more than something Anthony wants to 'fix', one of his pet projects.
Emelia has no escape from the life that Anthony insists on controlling, so she shares her story through the only means she can – her blog. Yet Anthony can never find out. Forced to hide behind a false name, Emelia knows the only way that Anthony will allow her to leave him, is death.
Trapped with a man she knows is trying to kill her, Emelia is determined that someone will hear her story and Anthony will meet his ends. That everyone will discover the truth.
Perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, Liane Moriarty and The Mother in Law.
Anthony is not the man everyone believes him to be. And Emelia is not the woman he wants her to be.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance, Anthony was the doting boyfriend, the charismatic and successful career man who swept her off her feet. But now Emelia is trapped in a marriage of dark secrets and obsession. She is no more than something Anthony wants to 'fix', one of his pet projects.
Emelia has no escape from the life that Anthony insists on controlling, so she shares her story through the only means she can – her blog. Yet Anthony can never find out. Forced to hide behind a false name, Emelia knows the only way that Anthony will allow her to leave him, is death.
Trapped with a man she knows is trying to kill her, Emelia is determined that someone will hear her story and Anthony will meet his ends. That everyone will discover the truth.
Perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, Liane Moriarty and The Mother in Law.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2019
408 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 89 reviews
September 3, 2019
"Ahem... envelope please.
And the winner for "Most Unreliable Narrator in 2019 goes tooooooo.......
*d r u m 🥁 r o l l*
The Truth by Naomi Joy!!
Naomi can't be here to accept her award because she doesn't know she was nominated."
_______________________
This is a good one y'all. An utterly unique plot loosely based on real events. Naomi's writing flows flawlessly making this a fast read with a reveal I never saw coming.
4.5 Stars
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
And the winner for "Most Unreliable Narrator in 2019 goes tooooooo.......
*d r u m 🥁 r o l l*
The Truth by Naomi Joy!!
Naomi can't be here to accept her award because she doesn't know she was nominated."
_______________________
This is a good one y'all. An utterly unique plot loosely based on real events. Naomi's writing flows flawlessly making this a fast read with a reveal I never saw coming.
4.5 Stars
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
May 22, 2023
MY GR friend Felicia gave this a rave review, so I decided I MUST read it. Felicia doesn’t let me down. Author Naomi Joy writes so many twists and turns your head will spin. The story begins with Emelia narrating her story of meeting her soon to be husband. Emelia immediately begins to alert the reader that she might not be the most reliable narrator. Everything sounds just so, well crazy. Her man, Antony and his friends are too creepy to be believable. Emelia and her family are too pathetic to be believable. Yet……
Because it’s a thriller, one cannot get into the plot without giving away the story. There is a major plot twist that I did not see coming a mile away..I love that!
I have not read any of Naomi Joy’s previous novels, but I shall look them up.
Because it’s a thriller, one cannot get into the plot without giving away the story. There is a major plot twist that I did not see coming a mile away..I love that!
I have not read any of Naomi Joy’s previous novels, but I shall look them up.
September 5, 2019
Well hello you twisted, domestic psychological thriller...I loved Naomi Joy's debut novel The Liars and I wondered if she could do it again....the answer is yes, hell yes she did!
Do you trust your spouse? In sickness and in health? Are you sure? Whoa pump the brakes people this book is sooo twisted. Anthony is the picture perfect husband. He is so loving and caring towards his wife Emelia that people are constantly telling her how lucky she is. Yet is she lucky or is she the object of obsession for her husband? Will he do everything in his power to control her life? Till death do they part? The ultimate story of control and the lengths people will go to.
Yet in a typical thriller fashion, you can't always take things at face value. There may be more to the story. This author took us on such a twisted path that I never saw the ending coming. A unique approach as we learned about Emelia's life through her secret blog that she kept from her husband. The details on her blog were so disturbing and chilling.
The Truth is a great title for this book as I had no idea who was telling the truth! Based on some true cases in the media, this book is sure to have you wondering who does this stuff?! Well apparently there are people out there that do!
Thank you so much to Aria for this ARC! Congratulations to Naomi Joy for writing yet another great thriller!
Do you trust your spouse? In sickness and in health? Are you sure? Whoa pump the brakes people this book is sooo twisted. Anthony is the picture perfect husband. He is so loving and caring towards his wife Emelia that people are constantly telling her how lucky she is. Yet is she lucky or is she the object of obsession for her husband? Will he do everything in his power to control her life? Till death do they part? The ultimate story of control and the lengths people will go to.
Yet in a typical thriller fashion, you can't always take things at face value. There may be more to the story. This author took us on such a twisted path that I never saw the ending coming. A unique approach as we learned about Emelia's life through her secret blog that she kept from her husband. The details on her blog were so disturbing and chilling.
The Truth is a great title for this book as I had no idea who was telling the truth! Based on some true cases in the media, this book is sure to have you wondering who does this stuff?! Well apparently there are people out there that do!
Thank you so much to Aria for this ARC! Congratulations to Naomi Joy for writing yet another great thriller!
August 23, 2019
This is an interesting review for me ( at any rate ) to write because more or less any indication of what the book is about will give the whole game away
So let see.....
It is based on real life similar events
It is about ‘something’ I had never heard of ( vague anno!! )
It is partly written in Blog form via one of the characters
Some of the characters are unlikeable, some are detestable!
It is, at times, a bit complicated to follow as the characters errr swop and change but NOT insurmountable to get to grips with and cope with!
It’s chilling
It’s even more chilling at the end when the real life stories it is based on are written about
And thats it really, except to say it is a well written, solid psychological thriller with just a tiny element occasionally of ‘ but, look, why dont you just do this/do that instead of suffering’
Read
June 18, 2020DNF
I may have to wear a 😷 but I don’t have to finish books I am not enjoying!
I may have to wear a 😷 but I don’t have to finish books I am not enjoying!
Read
June 18, 2020I left this at the 30% mark. I was intrigued by the autopsy reports near the beginning but not enough to finish. After asking for a spoiler from a friend, I think I made the right decision.
August 23, 2019
I am in absolute shock over what I have read. The author Naomi Joy is brilliant and evil. She has taken a real life event and written a story so convincing that I had a hard time separating the truth from lies. I thought I have read it all... But nooo... This author with her wicked plot line kept me so confused in the entire story that even when I wanted to stop reading, I couldn't.
Emelia had a fatal heart condition, so when she met Anthony she found him to be a caring person till post marriage, she realized he cared way too much. It was a controlling sort of a caring. The only freedom she had was to write a blog to tell her followers the truth about her life. Soon she received evidence about her husband's past. And things were not as it seemed.
How do I even write anything more in this review? The entire story was told to me as blog posts. Each word was convincing with the right emotions. The story was a mirage, but it was real too. The life was a lie, but it was the truth too. The story was written in shadows; I knew there was something more which was hiding from me. I could feel the truth in front of me, but I couldn't see it. There were a couple of clues, but I didn't deem it important.
I have to say it Naomi Joy is brilliantly evil. The lattice of her plot made me awestruck of her brain, they merged yet there was a thread of discord. How did she even think of it? The only metaphor I could think of is - House of Mirrors. How would you know if the image was real or simply a reflection?
I dare every blogger to read it, stick with it, live it, breathe it and then tell me - have you ever met Emelia?
A breath-taking read!!
Emelia had a fatal heart condition, so when she met Anthony she found him to be a caring person till post marriage, she realized he cared way too much. It was a controlling sort of a caring. The only freedom she had was to write a blog to tell her followers the truth about her life. Soon she received evidence about her husband's past. And things were not as it seemed.
How do I even write anything more in this review? The entire story was told to me as blog posts. Each word was convincing with the right emotions. The story was a mirage, but it was real too. The life was a lie, but it was the truth too. The story was written in shadows; I knew there was something more which was hiding from me. I could feel the truth in front of me, but I couldn't see it. There were a couple of clues, but I didn't deem it important.
I have to say it Naomi Joy is brilliantly evil. The lattice of her plot made me awestruck of her brain, they merged yet there was a thread of discord. How did she even think of it? The only metaphor I could think of is - House of Mirrors. How would you know if the image was real or simply a reflection?
I dare every blogger to read it, stick with it, live it, breathe it and then tell me - have you ever met Emelia?
A breath-taking read!!
November 24, 2019
The Truth is a wickedly clever psychological suspense novel, written mostly as a series of blog posts, about a woman who believes that she is being slowly poisoned by her husband. I strongly recommend avoiding any reviews that might spoil this and just diving in - yes it is confusing but it’s what makes the reveal all the more shocking. I’ve been avoiding plot lines about abusive husbands this year as they have rather taken over the genre, but this had consistently good reviews so I couldn’t resist when it appeared on NetGalley.
Unfortunately it’s taken me quite a while to get around to reading it, but I’m glad I did, as the story really isn’t what it appears.
Emelia is a 35 year old historical journalist who has battled ill-health since her teens, and more recently since marrying Anthony, a glamorous and wealthy archeologist, a year earlier. The sicker she gets, the happier he seems to be, and Emelia begins to suspect that he is inducing her illness with poison, to keep her under his control, so she begins a secret blog to share her desperate attempts to save herself before he ends up killing her, as he appears to have done with previous girlfriends.
This is brilliantly written, and while I initially couldn’t believe that Emelia wouldn’t just run away and get proof of what was happening to her, the way the author describes her confusion, paranoia and physical frailty persuaded me. I then thought I’d worked out what was going on, only to find myself completely wrong-footed by the twist. Anthony is truly dreadful and once again, it’s hard to believe she fell for him (and his moustache!) but her accounts of previous romances dissolving as soon as her illness is mentioned showed how vulnerable she was to the dubious charms of a man who seems attracted to her because of her condition.
I did find the plot slowed down in the middle as Emelia begins to plot her revenge, but is undermined by her dreadful parents and shallow best friend.
I can’t say much more without spoiling this so will just recommend you ignore the complete absence of any likeable characters here, savour the writing, and enjoy being taken for a ride. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies to the author for how late this review is.
Unfortunately it’s taken me quite a while to get around to reading it, but I’m glad I did, as the story really isn’t what it appears.
Emelia is a 35 year old historical journalist who has battled ill-health since her teens, and more recently since marrying Anthony, a glamorous and wealthy archeologist, a year earlier. The sicker she gets, the happier he seems to be, and Emelia begins to suspect that he is inducing her illness with poison, to keep her under his control, so she begins a secret blog to share her desperate attempts to save herself before he ends up killing her, as he appears to have done with previous girlfriends.
This is brilliantly written, and while I initially couldn’t believe that Emelia wouldn’t just run away and get proof of what was happening to her, the way the author describes her confusion, paranoia and physical frailty persuaded me. I then thought I’d worked out what was going on, only to find myself completely wrong-footed by the twist. Anthony is truly dreadful and once again, it’s hard to believe she fell for him (and his moustache!) but her accounts of previous romances dissolving as soon as her illness is mentioned showed how vulnerable she was to the dubious charms of a man who seems attracted to her because of her condition.
I did find the plot slowed down in the middle as Emelia begins to plot her revenge, but is undermined by her dreadful parents and shallow best friend.
I can’t say much more without spoiling this so will just recommend you ignore the complete absence of any likeable characters here, savour the writing, and enjoy being taken for a ride. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies to the author for how late this review is.
November 18, 2019
If your favoured reading material is a novel with a good sprinkling of domestic noir, emotional abuse, evil, marriage toxicity, suspense, secrets, drama, and lies then feel at liberty to read Naomi Joy's latest offering - The Truth.
Psychological crime thrillers do not come any more terrifying than The Truth which was an intense and nerve-twisting exploration of a toxic marriage. It shocked, scared and beguiled me as nothing was quite what it seemed.
The entire story was told as a series of blog posts and each word was convincing, conveying the right emotions. Although initially I was not on board with this style of writing, I soon became used to it and it worked excellently in retaining my interest in the story. I was never bored but instead, was lured ever deeper into this compelling tale. Random autopsy reports were presented intermittently between the opening chapters, helping to set the stage for a first-rate, compelling mystery.
Although this was not a story full of characters - there’s Emelia and Anthony with their repellent love story - the character development and the dynamics between the couple were authentic and believable. Nothing was what it seemed, and the writing really flowed in this wonderfully crafted, chilling tale. Most of the characters were extremely unpersonable, but this only added more dimension to the story.
Original, complex and packed full of twists, the ending was astonishing and surprising, leaving me with more questions. Based on a collection of real events, The Truth was claustrophobic and clever and something a little different.
Overall, I'd say that this novel is a little gem and a book that I'm so pleased to have read. Naomi Joy may well become one of my favourite authors in this genre.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Aria via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Naomi Joy for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
Psychological crime thrillers do not come any more terrifying than The Truth which was an intense and nerve-twisting exploration of a toxic marriage. It shocked, scared and beguiled me as nothing was quite what it seemed.
The entire story was told as a series of blog posts and each word was convincing, conveying the right emotions. Although initially I was not on board with this style of writing, I soon became used to it and it worked excellently in retaining my interest in the story. I was never bored but instead, was lured ever deeper into this compelling tale. Random autopsy reports were presented intermittently between the opening chapters, helping to set the stage for a first-rate, compelling mystery.
Although this was not a story full of characters - there’s Emelia and Anthony with their repellent love story - the character development and the dynamics between the couple were authentic and believable. Nothing was what it seemed, and the writing really flowed in this wonderfully crafted, chilling tale. Most of the characters were extremely unpersonable, but this only added more dimension to the story.
Original, complex and packed full of twists, the ending was astonishing and surprising, leaving me with more questions. Based on a collection of real events, The Truth was claustrophobic and clever and something a little different.
Overall, I'd say that this novel is a little gem and a book that I'm so pleased to have read. Naomi Joy may well become one of my favourite authors in this genre.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Aria via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Naomi Joy for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
September 8, 2019
This book was full of twists and turns. I had high hopes because Naomi's other book, THE LIARS, was so good. THE TRUTH did not disappoint! I was captured right away and swept into Emelia's narrative which held me prisoner for many hours until I finished the book. I found myself reading first thing in the morning and then again into the wee hours of the night. Didn't want it to end.
September 16, 2019
A massive thanks as always to Vicky @ Head of Zeus (Aria) for the Netgalley ARC of The Truth, and for my place on the blog tour
**************************
REVIEW:
I read this book over the weekend, and my emotions changed every half-day. Friday was spent going 'you absolute d**khead' about the male lead character, Anthony/Adam, and the was he treats Emelia, his girlfriend/wife.
The story is based around a set of blog entries, authored by Emelia, who has taken to writing a secret account of her life and relationships. She's met the archetypal perfect man - the tall handsome archaeologist, who proposes on a dig site using a precious necklace. She can't believe her luck, doubly so because she has a life-limiting heart condition, and had given up any chance of finding true love.
But things aren't as rosy as they seem. There's the nasty set of moneyed friends, all of who expected Anthony to marry Heather, the bitchiest of the group. He sets about arranging the whole wedding without telling Emelia any details first... and then there's the medication that Emelia doesn't recognise.
Having experienced a coercive relationship before, red flags and alarms were ringing in my ears and I was begging for Emelia to make a run for it. I was worried for her life, her health, her sanity - and then Naomi Joy started playing with mine.
Saturday was spent getting over the twisty bombshell that Joy drops, which makes you realise that you have been led right up the garden path on this one - but by who, and why? I am not telling you the answer because, well spoilers, but a web of deceit, lies, past loves and lives are all pulled apart across the latter half of the tale and you are left thinking 'ahhhhh getcha! - clever!'
I thoroughly enjoyed this domestic thriller, which plays heavily on the idea of our online and real lives, our identities and realities. The idea of abuse in its varying forms is made interesting by the multiple voices within the narrative that will have you trusting no one, but leaving you wanting more.
A fab entertaining read. Thanks Naomi/ Head of Zeus.
**************************
REVIEW:
I read this book over the weekend, and my emotions changed every half-day. Friday was spent going 'you absolute d**khead' about the male lead character, Anthony/Adam, and the was he treats Emelia, his girlfriend/wife.
The story is based around a set of blog entries, authored by Emelia, who has taken to writing a secret account of her life and relationships. She's met the archetypal perfect man - the tall handsome archaeologist, who proposes on a dig site using a precious necklace. She can't believe her luck, doubly so because she has a life-limiting heart condition, and had given up any chance of finding true love.
But things aren't as rosy as they seem. There's the nasty set of moneyed friends, all of who expected Anthony to marry Heather, the bitchiest of the group. He sets about arranging the whole wedding without telling Emelia any details first... and then there's the medication that Emelia doesn't recognise.
Having experienced a coercive relationship before, red flags and alarms were ringing in my ears and I was begging for Emelia to make a run for it. I was worried for her life, her health, her sanity - and then Naomi Joy started playing with mine.
Saturday was spent getting over the twisty bombshell that Joy drops, which makes you realise that you have been led right up the garden path on this one - but by who, and why? I am not telling you the answer because, well spoilers, but a web of deceit, lies, past loves and lives are all pulled apart across the latter half of the tale and you are left thinking 'ahhhhh getcha! - clever!'
I thoroughly enjoyed this domestic thriller, which plays heavily on the idea of our online and real lives, our identities and realities. The idea of abuse in its varying forms is made interesting by the multiple voices within the narrative that will have you trusting no one, but leaving you wanting more.
A fab entertaining read. Thanks Naomi/ Head of Zeus.
September 10, 2019
What have I just read? That's the thought that dominated my mind for a long time after putting this book down. To think it's even loosely based on actual true stories is utterly terrifying.
And what a super choice of name for this book!
You can take nothing at face value and, look, that's all I'm going to say about that! Naomi has given us all a masterclass in how to set up and deliver a flawless domestic psychological thriller and I won't be the one to ruin it for everyone else by being too in-depth.
All is not what it seems.
Thanks so, so much to Aria Fiction for my copy of this book in return for an honest review.
It's what I'd class as one of those books you need to take breaks from here and there just to take it all in but you absolutely can't put it down because you want to squeeze every, single second with it into your day. "Unputdownable" basically!!
I was absolutely enthralled by it.
And what a super choice of name for this book!
You can take nothing at face value and, look, that's all I'm going to say about that! Naomi has given us all a masterclass in how to set up and deliver a flawless domestic psychological thriller and I won't be the one to ruin it for everyone else by being too in-depth.
All is not what it seems.
Thanks so, so much to Aria Fiction for my copy of this book in return for an honest review.
It's what I'd class as one of those books you need to take breaks from here and there just to take it all in but you absolutely can't put it down because you want to squeeze every, single second with it into your day. "Unputdownable" basically!!
I was absolutely enthralled by it.
September 7, 2019
What a book! Not read anything like this before, it pulls you right in and gets you liking the characters or hating them. I could not put this down it all seems like it is heading in a direction and then bang! Twists and turns that will shock you and keep you awake reading the outcome. Could not believe it, absolutely brilliant story by a clever author. Go buy it now, you won’t be sorry.
September 9, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.
Oh. My. God. What have I just read?!?!? And the fact that this is based loosely on true stories is even more terrifying!! THE TRUTH by Naomi Joy is a twisted and dark tale that will take everything you know and flip it onto its head and is sure to keep you thinking long after you finish the last page.
Emelia was swept along in a whirlwind romance with Anthony and has a relationship that she never thought was possible with all of her health issues. But she feels strong and positive. Until she starts to feel ill again and begins to worry that Anthony may be keeping her that way. Her only escapism from her home is her blog where she writes about what is happening to her, her suspicions and fears, hoping that it will reach someone and make them understand her. Because she believes Anthony, her loving husband, will do anything to keep her silent and reliant on him forever ...
This is one of those annoying reviews where I cannot give away too much detail or it would completely ruin the plot but believe me there will be moments when your jaw drops and you cannot believe what is happening. The characters, while never really likeable, are interesting and held my attention throughout and by the end I was simply speechless.
Fresh, compelling, and completely surprising, THE TRUTH by Naomi Joy is an exceptional psychological thriller and I cannot wait for more from someone who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors in this genre.
Oh. My. God. What have I just read?!?!? And the fact that this is based loosely on true stories is even more terrifying!! THE TRUTH by Naomi Joy is a twisted and dark tale that will take everything you know and flip it onto its head and is sure to keep you thinking long after you finish the last page.
Emelia was swept along in a whirlwind romance with Anthony and has a relationship that she never thought was possible with all of her health issues. But she feels strong and positive. Until she starts to feel ill again and begins to worry that Anthony may be keeping her that way. Her only escapism from her home is her blog where she writes about what is happening to her, her suspicions and fears, hoping that it will reach someone and make them understand her. Because she believes Anthony, her loving husband, will do anything to keep her silent and reliant on him forever ...
This is one of those annoying reviews where I cannot give away too much detail or it would completely ruin the plot but believe me there will be moments when your jaw drops and you cannot believe what is happening. The characters, while never really likeable, are interesting and held my attention throughout and by the end I was simply speechless.
Fresh, compelling, and completely surprising, THE TRUTH by Naomi Joy is an exceptional psychological thriller and I cannot wait for more from someone who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors in this genre.
November 3, 2019
Perfect wife. Perfect life. Perfect crime.
Anthony is not the man everyone believes him to be. And Emelia is not the woman he wants her to be.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance, Anthony was the doting boyfriend, the charismatic and successful career man who swept her off her feet. But now Emelia is trapped in a marriage of dark secrets and obsession. She is no more than something Anthony wants to 'fix', one of his pet projects.
Emelia has no escape from the life that Anthony insists on controlling, so she shares her story through the only means she can – her blog. Yet Anthony can never find out. Forced to hide behind a false name, Emelia knows the only way that Anthony will allow her to leave him, is death.
Trapped with a man she knows is trying to kill her, Emelia is determined that someone will hear her story and Anthony will meet his ends. That everyone will discover the truth.
What a wonderful gripping read this was.
This author is fast becoming one of my many faves now!
This plot and story line is so gripping from the very start and you won't be able to put it down.
The characters are fleshed out so well and keep you engaged with the story.
So many twists and turns will keep you guessing til the end.
Highly recommend reading!
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria Fiction and Naomi Joy for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the Truth. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Anthony is not the man everyone believes him to be. And Emelia is not the woman he wants her to be.
Theirs was a whirlwind romance, Anthony was the doting boyfriend, the charismatic and successful career man who swept her off her feet. But now Emelia is trapped in a marriage of dark secrets and obsession. She is no more than something Anthony wants to 'fix', one of his pet projects.
Emelia has no escape from the life that Anthony insists on controlling, so she shares her story through the only means she can – her blog. Yet Anthony can never find out. Forced to hide behind a false name, Emelia knows the only way that Anthony will allow her to leave him, is death.
Trapped with a man she knows is trying to kill her, Emelia is determined that someone will hear her story and Anthony will meet his ends. That everyone will discover the truth.
What a wonderful gripping read this was.
This author is fast becoming one of my many faves now!
This plot and story line is so gripping from the very start and you won't be able to put it down.
The characters are fleshed out so well and keep you engaged with the story.
So many twists and turns will keep you guessing til the end.
Highly recommend reading!
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria Fiction and Naomi Joy for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the Truth. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 9, 2020
The Truth - Naomi Joy
I'm unsure of my feelings towards this book. It had me captivated in the first three Parts, but the final Part took an unexpected twist that i'm not sure I really love.
Part 1, 2 and 3 of this book are all written in a blog post format, with Part 4 being chaptered from each different character's POV.
Emelia (thought to be a pseudonym) has a heart defect and quickly figures out that her wonderfully doting husband, Anthony, is actually poisoning her food and making her condition worse than it already is.
The blog follows along Emelia's journey of escaping her murderous husband and figuring out the dark secrets he keeps. The plot twist that is thrown into the fourth and final Part was completely unexpected. Nothing from my memory other than the pseudonym for Emelia ever even slightly eluded to a hint of this plot twist. It was well hidden but due to the nature of the unexpected twist, i'm not sure I think it was the best ending to 'The Truth'.
Naomi Joy is a talented author. Her writing flows seemingly effortlessly and Parts 1-3 were captivating. I finished this book in less than a day and it is well worth the read, especially if you are into unexpected plot twists.
Rating - 3/5 📚
Completed: 9th January 2020
I'm unsure of my feelings towards this book. It had me captivated in the first three Parts, but the final Part took an unexpected twist that i'm not sure I really love.
Part 1, 2 and 3 of this book are all written in a blog post format, with Part 4 being chaptered from each different character's POV.
Emelia (thought to be a pseudonym) has a heart defect and quickly figures out that her wonderfully doting husband, Anthony, is actually poisoning her food and making her condition worse than it already is.
The blog follows along Emelia's journey of escaping her murderous husband and figuring out the dark secrets he keeps. The plot twist that is thrown into the fourth and final Part was completely unexpected. Nothing from my memory other than the pseudonym for Emelia ever even slightly eluded to a hint of this plot twist. It was well hidden but due to the nature of the unexpected twist, i'm not sure I think it was the best ending to 'The Truth'.
Naomi Joy is a talented author. Her writing flows seemingly effortlessly and Parts 1-3 were captivating. I finished this book in less than a day and it is well worth the read, especially if you are into unexpected plot twists.
Rating - 3/5 📚
Completed: 9th January 2020
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2019
A fresh take on abuse/domestic thrillers. I thoroughly enjoyed Naomi Joy's story of a husband who is so self -serving, even to the point of perversion, that he has absolutely no regard for anyone else.
We see the plot develop through Emelia's eyes. A whirlwind romance between Emelia and a famous archaeologist, Anthony, leads to a wedding 8 months later. Emelia has been ill with heart problems since she was a teen and was straight about it to Anthony. He fawns over her, cooking, giving her meds, holding her.. Of course his oldest and best friend is the calculating Heather. Emelia knows what Heather is like but is not allowed not to upset her lest Anthony will be angry.
Anthony buys a new kitchen for Emelia's parents and tells his side of their story: (that Emelia is a psych case) to everyone. Emelia rarely leaves the house so, except for her daily blog, she may as well be cut off from society.
Anthony stages an intervention along with Emelia's parents and Emelia is dragged into a psych unit. This is where Emelia learns a lot more about Anthony and herself.....
Superb read!!!!!
Many Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for a very different and entertaining story.
We see the plot develop through Emelia's eyes. A whirlwind romance between Emelia and a famous archaeologist, Anthony, leads to a wedding 8 months later. Emelia has been ill with heart problems since she was a teen and was straight about it to Anthony. He fawns over her, cooking, giving her meds, holding her.. Of course his oldest and best friend is the calculating Heather. Emelia knows what Heather is like but is not allowed not to upset her lest Anthony will be angry.
Anthony buys a new kitchen for Emelia's parents and tells his side of their story: (that Emelia is a psych case) to everyone. Emelia rarely leaves the house so, except for her daily blog, she may as well be cut off from society.
Anthony stages an intervention along with Emelia's parents and Emelia is dragged into a psych unit. This is where Emelia learns a lot more about Anthony and herself.....
Superb read!!!!!
Many Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for a very different and entertaining story.
September 3, 2019
The Truth by @naomijoyauthor is hard to summarize, can’t say too much as it will ruin the plot for future readers. The fact that this is based on actual events is reason enough to give this a read. Majority of this book is a domestic thriller with a concept not necessarily new to thriller readers, with some horrible and unlikable people. That being said, I liked the writing and the overall story, which is partially written as a blog. I also really liked how everything I read and thought completely did a 180 and left me saying Whaaaat???? Along with some good twists, I also learned something new from this book. What I didn’t like was that I still had some questions as some things didn’t add up for me, but perhaps that’s just me. Overall solid ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.
September 19, 2019
I found this book to be cleverly written and thoroughly absorbing. I thought I understood what was happening from the outset but changed my mind several times throughout the book. It's a thought provoking read and certainly highlights that you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. It would have been a five star review but I did find that the story dragged a little in the middle but the end certainly was worth the wait
September 22, 2019
This was such a fun and twisty read! I thought I had this one figured out and that it was going to be similar to other thrillers I have read but I was absolutely wrong. I loved the twists, characters, and just overall feel of this book! I look forward to reading more from this author.
September 26, 2019
Brilliant book absolutely loved it kept hanging right til the very end thanks to pigeonhole for free access to this title will definitely read more by this author
September 29, 2019
Mind-bending and twisty as hell if a
little too long.
little too long.
June 25, 2025
If there is only one book that you should read this year, The Truth is definitely it! It is twisted, thrilling, compelling, completely addictive and mind blowing! I could not turn the pages on my kindle fast enough and was completely captivated right from the start. It was an all nighter for me as I had to know how this was going to end and what an ending it is! I still have it playing around in my head.
A piece of advice though, make sure your kindle is fully charged before reading this. I made the mistake of not checking and during a crucial part it died! I lost valuable seconds having to plug it in and wait till I could read from it again. I broke out in a sweat and had heart palpitations. It was really a terrible time for me….😜
Based on real events, Naomi has put together a dark and completely twisted tale where it is almost impossible to talk about the plot without divulging crucial storylines. The blurb gives enough details which completely sucked me in. I haven’t read anything like this before and at the same time ask myself what the hell have I just read! I love it when this happens, knowing I have read something that is so breathtakingly creative which will stay with me.
In a creative twist of using writing within writing, the story is told through blog posts. Once again I find myself struggling to find the words to describe this book’s style and story as it is such a tightly woven plot I’m worried that by pulling on a thread, will make it unravel and give it all away. But you are going to want to read this one yourself. Naomi expertly draws you into the story and builds tension throughout like no other.
I am so impressed with this book and Naomi. She has definitely exceeded all expectations for her second novel. She smashes this one right out of the park and I am excited to see with what she comes up with next. I have managed to incorporate The Truth into nearly every conversation I have with people since reading it, recommending it to all who will listen and I will keep shouting it from the rooftops that it is the must read psychological thriller of 2019. The Truth has deservedly been added to my top 5 books of the year!
Thank-you to NetGalley, Aria Fiction and Naomi Joy for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the Truth which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
A piece of advice though, make sure your kindle is fully charged before reading this. I made the mistake of not checking and during a crucial part it died! I lost valuable seconds having to plug it in and wait till I could read from it again. I broke out in a sweat and had heart palpitations. It was really a terrible time for me….😜
Based on real events, Naomi has put together a dark and completely twisted tale where it is almost impossible to talk about the plot without divulging crucial storylines. The blurb gives enough details which completely sucked me in. I haven’t read anything like this before and at the same time ask myself what the hell have I just read! I love it when this happens, knowing I have read something that is so breathtakingly creative which will stay with me.
In a creative twist of using writing within writing, the story is told through blog posts. Once again I find myself struggling to find the words to describe this book’s style and story as it is such a tightly woven plot I’m worried that by pulling on a thread, will make it unravel and give it all away. But you are going to want to read this one yourself. Naomi expertly draws you into the story and builds tension throughout like no other.
I am so impressed with this book and Naomi. She has definitely exceeded all expectations for her second novel. She smashes this one right out of the park and I am excited to see with what she comes up with next. I have managed to incorporate The Truth into nearly every conversation I have with people since reading it, recommending it to all who will listen and I will keep shouting it from the rooftops that it is the must read psychological thriller of 2019. The Truth has deservedly been added to my top 5 books of the year!
Thank-you to NetGalley, Aria Fiction and Naomi Joy for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the Truth which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 5, 2020
Cleverly Plotted
This is the story of a couple, a marriage, secrets, domestic thriller, obsession and is based on a collection of actual events.
The story is written in first person through a blog by Emelia.
We see her life unfold through these posts. She writes with a false name about her married life with her doting perfect husband Anthony.
Anthony is this charismatic boyfriend who charms his way into her life and marries Emelia knowing she is battling a weak heart ailment since her teens. He is attentive and controlling. Is he as loving and perfect Or Is Emelia making up false accusations about him to her followers that he is not what everyone around her claims? The blog is intense and disturbing as she writes her everyday happenings. The complex storyline gets even more chilling with the redacted autopsy reports of women right in the beginning of the novel.
As this is a thriller pretty soon we know what's coming because not everything is as perfect as it seems. But do we really believe Emelia or Anthony?
The whole story is so bewildering that each time I was sure of the reasoning and assumed that the course will run a certain way, the concept totally took a new dimension.
The twist at the end of the story is what brought to notice something entirely new I hadn't heard of.
It does take some time getting used to reading a blog and you can get waylaid from past to present and from one sickness to another.
But hang in there and read it to learn what truly goes on deep within the internet world.
To summarize this review without spoilers, although there are bits in the book that drag, It's the clever twists that pop up and the part at the end that will make you take a double take!
This is the story of a couple, a marriage, secrets, domestic thriller, obsession and is based on a collection of actual events.
The story is written in first person through a blog by Emelia.
We see her life unfold through these posts. She writes with a false name about her married life with her doting perfect husband Anthony.
Anthony is this charismatic boyfriend who charms his way into her life and marries Emelia knowing she is battling a weak heart ailment since her teens. He is attentive and controlling. Is he as loving and perfect Or Is Emelia making up false accusations about him to her followers that he is not what everyone around her claims? The blog is intense and disturbing as she writes her everyday happenings. The complex storyline gets even more chilling with the redacted autopsy reports of women right in the beginning of the novel.
As this is a thriller pretty soon we know what's coming because not everything is as perfect as it seems. But do we really believe Emelia or Anthony?
The whole story is so bewildering that each time I was sure of the reasoning and assumed that the course will run a certain way, the concept totally took a new dimension.
The twist at the end of the story is what brought to notice something entirely new I hadn't heard of.
It does take some time getting used to reading a blog and you can get waylaid from past to present and from one sickness to another.
But hang in there and read it to learn what truly goes on deep within the internet world.
To summarize this review without spoilers, although there are bits in the book that drag, It's the clever twists that pop up and the part at the end that will make you take a double take!
July 10, 2022
4 Stars
This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. I was captivated from the start. At some points, I felt lost and I questioned myself if maybe I skipped something but then I found out why I felt such a thing. I couldn’t guess the twist and what makes it more interesting is that it’s based on real events. If you are going to read it, go in blind, it will be more enjoyable. It’s well-written and addictive. Albeit I should add I’m not a big fan of this writing style (given that the story is mostly told as a series of blog posts) but when I got used to it I was compelled to finish it as soon as possible. It was hard for me to separate truths from lies here. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. I was captivated from the start. At some points, I felt lost and I questioned myself if maybe I skipped something but then I found out why I felt such a thing. I couldn’t guess the twist and what makes it more interesting is that it’s based on real events. If you are going to read it, go in blind, it will be more enjoyable. It’s well-written and addictive. Albeit I should add I’m not a big fan of this writing style (given that the story is mostly told as a series of blog posts) but when I got used to it I was compelled to finish it as soon as possible. It was hard for me to separate truths from lies here. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
May 10, 2020
What a totally riveting read!
I couldnt put this book down. It was wrote in such a way that I believed everything that was going on with Emelia. Then came the TRUTH and I was blown away. This is a fantastic piece of literature. I was completely unaware that such events actually occur and that there is a term for this sort of thing. I know this review is vague and the reason for that is I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Just read it then you'll understand the vagueness and also be educated if, like me, you are ignorant of this sort of thing.
I couldnt put this book down. It was wrote in such a way that I believed everything that was going on with Emelia. Then came the TRUTH and I was blown away. This is a fantastic piece of literature. I was completely unaware that such events actually occur and that there is a term for this sort of thing. I know this review is vague and the reason for that is I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Just read it then you'll understand the vagueness and also be educated if, like me, you are ignorant of this sort of thing.
July 10, 2020
Tedious
What a boring book. I struggled on to the end based on the reviews and because I thought the end must be amazing to warrant all the 5 star reviews it had been given- it wasn’t but it did improve in the last part- mainly because I had finished reading all those tedious, inconsistent and totally unbelievable blog posts. As if anyone would ever believe that someone would stay in that situation. What a load of rubbish. I can’t believe that it has got such good reviews. Hours of my life that I won’t get back.
What a boring book. I struggled on to the end based on the reviews and because I thought the end must be amazing to warrant all the 5 star reviews it had been given- it wasn’t but it did improve in the last part- mainly because I had finished reading all those tedious, inconsistent and totally unbelievable blog posts. As if anyone would ever believe that someone would stay in that situation. What a load of rubbish. I can’t believe that it has got such good reviews. Hours of my life that I won’t get back.
February 3, 2020
I was really enjoying this story- until the truth came out and I read the second half.
I think the author was going for that huge twist- but it fell flat on it's face!
The explanation didn't really sit well with me, parts didn't match up to what we had been told previously in the book and it was a bad ending.
Shame as the first half was phenomenal.
I think the author was going for that huge twist- but it fell flat on it's face!
The explanation didn't really sit well with me, parts didn't match up to what we had been told previously in the book and it was a bad ending.
Shame as the first half was phenomenal.
March 7, 2020
Interesting and gripping read
I couldn't put this book down, so many twists and turns. The fact its based on a fairly new ideology of mental well being is really interesting.
Well done to the author I thoroughly enjoyed the book
I couldn't put this book down, so many twists and turns. The fact its based on a fairly new ideology of mental well being is really interesting.
Well done to the author I thoroughly enjoyed the book
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