Lies You Wanted to Hear: A Novel

by James Whitfield Thomson, Nan McNamara (Reading), Andrew Ingalls (Reading)

Alone in an empty house, Lucy tries to imagine the lives of her two young children. They have been gone for seven years, and she is tormented by the role she played in that heartbreaking loss. You can hardly see a glimpse of the sexy, edgy woman she used to be. Back then, she was a magnet for men like Matt, who loved her beyond reason, and Griffin, who wouldn't let go but always left her wanting more. Now the lies they told and the choices they made have come to haunt all three of them.

With shattering turns, Lies You Wanted to Hear explores the way good people talk themselves into doing terrible, unthinkable things. What happens when we come to believe our own lies? And what price must we pay for our mistakes?

A searing story that will leave you wondering what choices you would make, Lies You Wanted to Hear is a stunning debut.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Romance, Drama, Family

Audio CD

First published November 5, 2013

About the author

James Whitfield Thomson grew up on the North Side of Pittsburgh and attended Harvard College on scholarship. After graduation he served three years in the Navy as navigator of a supply ship off the coast of Vietnam. Jim earned a Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, writing his dissertation on the detective novelist Raymond Chandler. Following a brief stint teaching literature in academia, he joined a start-up venture as a salesman. The company’s rapid success allowed him to retire early and devote himself to writing. He has published stories in a number of literary magazines including Agni and The Ledge and has been a Massachusetts Council for the Arts grant recipient. Jim and his wife, Elizabeth, live in a Victorian farmhouse outside of Boston and have five globe-trotting children. Lies You Wanted to Hear is his first published novel. You can find him on Facebook

Reviews

[BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

“How long do I have to wait till I can be as sad as you are?”

This book started off a bit slow for me and I had a hard time bonding with Lucy and Matt at first. About a third of the way into the book, though, the story really took off for me.

Lies You Wanted to Hear is about the the damage that can be caused when love is on an uneven scale in a relationship. I moved from pity to sadness to anger to sympathy and back again throughout the story. Both characters were unapologetically imperfect and felt justified in their actions. I started out feeling sympathy for Matt but in the end found his actions to be unforgivable. As for Lucy, there wasn’t a lot to like about her, but even so, I admit to crying on her behalf at the most unexpected times. I really don't feel like "the punishment fit the crime" and I truly empathized with her being made to feel like her situation didn't warrant a right to grieve. I can't help but wonder how different a story this would have been if it had happened in the age of the internet.

This was a powerful story that has left me feeling a bit raw and I suspect I will be in book hangover mode for a day or two while digesting the lingering thoughts and feelings this story has left me with.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The publisher has requested that I not post a full review too far in advance of the book's publication. Therefore, I'll just mention a couple of important things:

1) If you're planning to read this novel, don't read any detailed reviews. The only thing that kept me wanting to continue reading was the fact that I had no idea what was coming. Any hint of that ahead of time would have ruined it for me.

2) Parts 1 and 2 were well-written but sort of ho-hum domestic fiction for me. It took me a while to read them. However, when I got to Part 3, I read the last 130 pages all in one sitting because I had to find out what happened.

All in all, a nice first outing for James Whitfield Thomson, and a tip of the hat to him for having his first novel published at the age of 67.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars….This is a cautionary tale of what happens by not trusting your inner voice (or instincts) and by becoming involved in a toxic and torrid relationship. It’s a story of Matt and Lucy, who become involved, get married, and have children when each has their own reservations about their involvement. The story is told in alternating prospective, one chapter from Lucy’s point of view and the next from Matt’s. It begins with Lucy being very narcissistic and involved with a dubious character, Griffin, with whom she has a very sexual and debasing affair. Matt, a respectable police officer is set up with Lucy on a blind date. He falls head over heals in love. Yet, he does have a gut feeling that she’s stringing him along. This novel is about lies you tell yourself, and lies you tell others. Although Lucy’s starts out fairly vile (in this reader’s opinion), her character does mature into a likeable person. Matt’s character is fairly consistent. I don’t provide major plot twists to be fair to the next reader. But I will say that Matt does a questionable act that would be a great book group discussion: was he justified or was he wrong. What is great about this novel is that Thomson wrote them as both likeable (well Lucy became likable). Both are flawed, but reasonably flawed. I had compassion for both characters. An interesting read which is beautifully written. It’s a fast and intriguing read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is much better than Gone Girl in my mind - Gone Girl you can't empathize with the characters - they do despicable things. These characters make decisions. Not mistakes - they make choices. their choices define who they are. And they have to live with them. And if you can put yourself in their shoes - the book makes you wonder if you'd make those same decisions. or if you've made bad decisions in your life - would you make them again? Especially in relationships - sometimes we know someone may be wrong for us - but you just keep going down that road - like an addiction. it's a very interesting look at what people do for love, where people have blind spots in their personal lives and how decisions have consequences. you can tell yourself a million times that you've made "the right choice" and you may be able to live with your choices - but at what price to those around you? and what price to yourself as well? i think there are some good conversations to be had around what these characters do and why.

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Whitfield Thomson’s gripping psychological debut novel, THE LIES YOU WANTED TO HEAR, is one of complex and troubled characters, where your loyalties for these two, switch back and forth more than a tennis match.

Set in the late 70s in Boston, Matt, a cop is set up by his colleague’s wife on a blind date with her oldest friend from college, Lucy. Lucy who likes to live life on the edge, from a well to do family, obsessed with her former (future) lover and bad boy, Griffin.

In earlier days (back story), she gets pregnant and has an abortion, as Griffin is most definitely not the daddy type. However, afterward, he is nowhere to be found. He tends to show up unannounced throughout the book at his convenience and pulls Lucy once again back into his web of deceit.

Lucy likes to smoke pot, have sex, drink and live on the wild side; however, she decides after Griffin, to settle for the nice, well-controlled good-looking, stable blue-collar cop, Matt. (or so, he appears) Matt is intrigued with Lucy, even though he does not like some of her nasty habits. She feels she cannot live up to the perfect Matt. Each is trying to fit into a mold and be what the other wants.

They marry and have two children; however, she gets bored, depressed, and being a typical mother is not in her DNA, after all, her mom (an alcoholic) was not the best role model. During their marriage, Matt gives up being a cop and is now an international courier and travels often. She misses the thrill of Griffin and the bad boy while her husband is away with the demands of motherhood.

When Griffin appears once again in Lucy’s life, the trouble begins, leading to a nasty divorce with the children in the middle. This is when the tables turn. Before this point, readers will dislike Lucy and root for the wonderful Matt. However, when Matt decides to play God and kidnap the children and begins lying to the children about their mom, Lucy gets her act together. By the end of the book, you sympathize with Lucy and dislike Matt. She is left without her children and never gives up hope.

A story of loss and love, and the power of redemption. Each character continues lying to the other, with a web of deceit each playing a part—leaving your head spinning as to which character is most troubled. In the end, there is a price to pay for their mistakes.

An addictive, frustrating at times, and an intense page-turner for every parent, who longs to protect their children. I listened to the audiobook (7/15/14), narrated by Nan McNamara and Andrew Ingalls, with an outstanding performance!

Richly developed characters, well-written suspense family and relationship drama, hooking you from beginning to end. Looking forward to reading more from Thomson----A master storyteller as he weaves a tale hard to put down. (Would make an ideal choice for book clubs, to discuss further each of these personalities Lucy, Griffin, Matt, and the children).

[Jennifer Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies You Wanted to Hear is a well paced, well styled, and engaging debut novel by James Whitfield Thomson. A lot of discussion has taken place regarding the author, who at age 67, has made quite an entrance onto the literary scene.

In Lies, Thomson showcases the rocky relationship between Matt and Lucy from courtship through its eventual unraveling. Lucy is depicted as wholly selfish and troubled while Matt's character is more nuanced. The decisions that each of them make wound not only each other but their children as well. For a lot of fathers reading this novel, Matt's sentiments on the family court system and his moral dilemmas on how to protect his children will hit a little to close to home. And I don't doubt that for a few mothers who look back on their decision to settle for a 'nice' guy and wrestle with feelings of wanting more - more excitement, more fun, more passion - that Lies will hit a little close to home as well. This, THIS is the dark version of Bridges of Madison County where temptations are not refused, where adultery is discovered, and where lives are ruined in a cautionary tale.

A good read; 3.5 stars.

Lies You Wanted to Hear

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 out of 5 stars - The lies you tell yourself are the ones that hurt you the most...

This is another tale of love-gone-wrong -- a fairly common theme for the story of a modern tragedy. But it's not what happened to Lucy and Matt that makes this novel hard to put down, but WHY it happened.

Lucy and Matt meet on a blind date set up by Lucy's best friend, Jill. Lucy's on the rebound, but barely, after a long and heartbreaking romantic thrill ride that ended with Griffin just walking away. She's definitely not ready for Matt -- a nice, loyal, good guy who is immediately smitten with Lucy's edginess and he falls hard. Matt is a hard-working cop who treats her like a princess. Unfortunately, Lucy isn't honest with herself or with Matt and that's where it all starts.

When your relationship is built on a foundation of little white lies and big BLACK ones, how can things go well? When is "good enough" not enough -- and then what?

I really enjoyed this fast-paced and entertaining read. It went in a direction that I didn't really expect. The characters were well developed and, though I did not like Lucy at all, I came to empathize with her. Told in alternating viewpoints by Lucy and Matt who attempt to give the reader their side of the story, it grabs hold right away. The reader can sense that something is coming, and when it does, the urge to judge is right there and begs the question: What would YOU have done?

This would make a great book club read as there are many issues for discussion. Recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ebook to review.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Back when Lucy was younger, she had two men falling for her. The bad boy, Griffin, and the good guy, Matthew. If Lucy had only thought with her heart then she would have picked Griffin. If she had picked with her attraction then she would have picked Griffin. Yes, Lucy loved Griffin but Griffin was not one to settle down even for Lucy. So Lucy chose Matthew.

Years later Lucy is divorced. Lucy had two children but they are also gone. Now Lucy is faced with the past and the lies she told to get to where she is now. That means seeing Griffin again.

To be honest I kind of struggled with this book. On the one hand, I found the story interesting but on the other hand, I was not in love with the characters and found the same story to be long winded and moving very slowly.

In the beginning, I was interested in Lucy's story. However as I got to know her, I was turned off by her. She seemed weak and uninteresting. Also, in the beginning I could not see why Lucy saw in Griffin. I found him to be too much of a loner. He treated Lucy like dirt and not someone that he loved. I was rooting for Matthew. He was the nice guy that was finishing last. However he did get the girl. As the story progressed, I still never became that enthralled by the characters but the story the author was trying to tell with Lucy, Matthew, and Griffin is a sad one. There really are no winners in this book. All the lies they told each other kept them from having real happiness. This book does show you that lying leads to no good outcome.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relationships built on lies, betrayals and secrecy very seldom turn out well and so this proved in the marriage of Matt and Lucy. Going into a relationship with very different reasons, Matt and Lucy are at a disadvantage from the get go, the reader knows this but of course in the novel they do not. Tiny cracks, widen and get deeper as the reader reads their story.

This is a grim, at times depressing viewpoint of marriage. It is, however, a truthful one for some and maybe a warning for others. Very slow to develop, I suppose like real life, the getting to know each other, the discussions of past relationships, etc. but I almost gave up reading this a few times. I kept on and I do applaud the not happily ever after ending. Sometimes things have just gotten so off course it is realistic to expect them to all correct themselves. Also, I disliked both characters at different points so it was more the writing that kept me or the kind of morbid fascination one gets when watching a train wreck. Anyway definitely applaud this author who has published his first novel at the age of sixty seven. We should all be so industrious.

ARC from publisher.

[esw · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as you meet Matt and Lucy you feel as if you've known them forever.It's amazing one can so easily be in Matt's head in one chapter, then in Lucy's in the next. You're so eager to learn what each is going to do that you keep turning the pages. As their actions take them toward irreversible damage to their marriage and their lives you inevitably choose the side of one or the other.Then... you wonder if you were right. You'll want your friends to read this book, so you can discuss it with them.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a marriage between two remarkably dislikable people. Great character building and believable story line made the book a compelling read.

Lucy is in love with unreliable Griffin when she meets Matt on a blind date. Matt is instantly head over heels, for this sexy, edgy woman. He enfolds Lucy in his care and she allows it. Less than bowled over by Matt, she sees that he is nevertheless a good catch, the kind of man she SHOULD want, so she goes along.

Two kids later, the relationship suffers from the usual strains until Griffin shows up again and the marriage explodes.

The story alternates between Matt's view and Lucy's view. While I started out rooting for the two of them, I found Matt's constant worrying and Lucy's driftlessness as maddening as they did. In spite of their flaws, I found the story gripping and couldn't wait to see what the next bad decision was going to bring.

Should they ever have married? Would it have killed Lucy to show some will power? Could Matt have loosened his grip a little bit? What would have made this marriage work? This is a story that you will consider long after you've read it.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the description, I thought I would enjoy this book, but I just couldn't get into it. Matt and Lucy are boring and selfish characters, and I have a hard time believing that their children could forgive them so easily once the truth of their situation was revealed. I found myself skipping through paragraphs to get to the point. There were a lot of unnecessary details that were not relevant to the rest of the story or characters. ( Do we really need 3 pages to describe dinner?) The only parts I actually enjoyed were the handful of Lucy's journal entries.
Overall, a bland book with a terrible ending (as if the author just put down his pen and walked away).

[Zeena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very tragic story with characters that I hated back and forth. They are parents and not once did they think of the children, they only ever thought of themselves. I understand why Matt did what he did but what did it solve/prove?
Nicely written and easy to read.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if the lies you told and the choices you made have come back to haunt you? What if the losses are so much greater than you could ever have imagined?

Lucy Thornhill was an edgy young woman, always looking for love in all the wrong places. After the disappointment of a lover who could not commit, finding Matt Drobyshev, who was so reliable and responsible, felt like a magical gift. It would not be long, however, before they each realized that the relationship was built on a series of little white lies and some bigger ones. Therefore, destined to fail.

When the life they lived together went hopelessly awry, the bitterness between them mounted. Matt thought Lucy was a bad mother to their two children, Sarah and Nathan...dangerous, even. So what he did next would change everything for all of them. His need to control everything was as dangerous, in my opinion, as Lucy's careless actions.

We follow the journey of Lucy and Matt in this story told in alternating narratives. We come to understand each of them, as the tale probes beneath their surfaces and behind the lies, to the truths they have kept hidden. But their own perspectives on events could also have drastically altered the picture, making the reader question the truth of their take on things. Near the end, in a final confrontation between Lucy and Matt, she says to him: "The lies you wanted to hear were the easiest ones to tell."

"Lies You Wanted to Hear" is a captivating, poignant, and sad tale that rings true, revealing much about mismatched individuals struggling to find their way toward a love they had longed for, but missing tragically in their efforts. The denouement left me puzzled, wondering what to think. Perhaps the author purposely left it for the reader's interpretation. 4.5 stars.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I applaud the author's first book. We need more noteworthy books to read. Genius writing, the chapter sequencing was unique and easy to read The characters fell into place and the author made you care about them all! The twists and turns were so delicious, I couldn't put it down... The author I hope will write many more books...And the Title tells it all!

I received this free book from Goodreads First Reads!

I predict a best seller!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Lies You Wanted to Hear in two days. Once you start, it really is hard to put down. The story of a marriage between Lucy and Matt, twists and turns down a never-ending road of pain. The chapters alternate between characters and while I was reading it I thought, boy this book will be a great book club book because there is so much to discuss. There is no good guy in this but you can certainly see how it all happens. Reading their thoughts was enlightening and stopped me from judging them from day one. It is amazing what people will do when they are in pain and to "do the right thing."

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely blown away by this tale. I know these characters. AND, I cared. I felt for / with them. I was engaged from the get-go. Well done. Well done.

I am a now officially a fan of Mr. Thomson.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A book with a troubled relationship that will make you think.

Lucy is trying to make her marriage work, but her heart isn't fully committed. Lucy can't get over Griffin, the sexy rascal she met right after college. Lucy and Griffin carried on a torrid affair full of ups and downs, steamy sex, infidelity and excitement. Yet, the wild, careless Griffin refused to be faithful. Even though Lucy and Griffin fought constantly and she knew he was cheating, she couldn't resist the allure of the bad boy. The relationship finally breaks when Griffin takes off after Lucy has an abortion. Months later, Lucy meets Matt, a cop, who is kind, sweet and hopelessly in love with her. A romance ensues and marriage and children follow, but Lucy has never gotten over Griffin. When he unexpectedly shows up again, it is all too easy to fall back into a damaging and torrid relationship with him. Unfortunately, this spells the end of her marriage, and soon Matt and Lucy are battling over custody of their two children. Lucy returns to her wild, reckless ways, causing Matt to fear for the safety of his children. Finally, Matt has enough and he comes up with a daring plan. Will Lucy every recover from the lies she has sown?
What I Liked:
*I will be honest, it took a good long while before this book really took hold. The first two thirds of the book present the troublesome and turbulent relationships between Lucy and Griffin and Lucy and Matt. There isn't anything particularly new or original in this portion of the book. It is an old familiar tale of love gone wrong and the break up of a marriage due to cheating. However, the final third of the book presents the aftermath of what happens when one parent decides to take decisive action to protect his children. It was interesting and devastating to follow Lucy in the aftermath, especially as a parent. The final third of the book gave me plenty to think over, and it stirred emotions in me that really made me sympathetic to Lucy and her plight. If you are wiling to be patient, this is a read you should try. I know I will be thinking about it for days to come.
*I always enjoy books that convince me to change my feelings toward the characters. In the beginning, Lucy is your typical young woman engaged in a detrimental relationship. It is nothing but lust, and passion and there is little healthy emotion or feeling. Lucy drinks, smokes cigarettes and pot and continues to indulge in sex with Griffin even though he is nothing but trouble. Once Matt comes along she attempts to change, but she never wholeheartedly commits to the relationship. Matt is too good and perfect compared to Griffin and she misses the bad boy. It isn't long before Lucy reverts back to her bad behavior. She tries to be a good mother, and she truly loves her children, but she makes plenty of mistakes and inadvertently puts the children in danger. Matt is the complete opposite of Lucy. He is a cop, and he is indeed patient and good and he doesn't use drugs. He does whatever he can to please Lucy. Matt is an ideal father and a wonderful husband. He loves Lucy unconditionally. Everything changes once the marriage falls apart. Matt fears for his children so he does something that will change Lucy's life forever. In the final leg of the book, you see a whole new side of Matt and Lucy. Matt is no longer blinded by love. He does some shocking things. Lucy is consumed with grief, but in the end what happens changes her for the better. I liked seeing how Lucy handled the tough situation, and how she ultimately becomes a better person. For the majority of the book, I was completely sympathetic toward Matt, and I couldn't stand Lucy because she was selfish and immature. I actually thought at first that perhaps she deserved what she got, but then once I saw how she grew as she navigated through her hurt, I realized that she doesn't deserve to go through what she does. As a mother, my heart ached for her, I couldn't even imagine her pain. Through it all, Lucy becomes a much better person. She gives up all the vices in her life, and becomes a kinder, gentler Lucy. I had a new found respect for her, and I appreciated the changes. Whether or not she would have matured and changed for the better without the painful life changing event is hard to say, but I am certain she wouldn't be the strong woman that she is at the end without living through it. She certainly made plenty of mistakes, but she didn't deserve her fate. I love that I ended up completely changing my mind about her and that I ended up liking her. I had an entirely different opinion of Matt at the end as well. I couldn't condone what he did even though he did it with the best of intentions. I thought his behavior at the end was immature as well.
*I appreciated that this book is told with dual narratives. I liked getting in both Lucy and Matt's heads and seeing things through each of their eyes. It is always interesting to see the same events played out through each perspective. I am a big fan of two alternating view points, and I thought it played out well in this book.
*If you are looking for a good book to read with a book club, this would be a great pick. It is the type of story that opens up numerous channels of discussion, and it gives you many things to think on. The author even provides some interesting questions at the end to help start a conversation.
And The Not So Much:
*The pace is slow and a bit tedious. The first part of the book is interesting as you get to know Lucy, Matt and Griffin. By the middle, though, I found the pace slow. I didn't particularly enjoy watching the relationship spiral into decay. The entire premise of a marriage gone bad was nothing that I haven't read before. Even though it was all important to the story, it dragged. Once you hit the final third of the book, things really pick up. The pace moves at lightning speed, and in fact, the story rapidly moves ahead in time, skipping years into the future. In fact, I thought that things advanced too fast, and I wished that it slowed down at times to explore certain events better. After spending the majority of the book in a three year time frame, it then speeds through eighteen years in a handful of chapters.
*Griffin is such an important player in for two thirds of the book, and then he fades away and we don't hear from him again. Even though he wasn't my favorite character, I found that I kind of wanted to know what happened to him at the end. Where did he end up? Did he settle down? Was he happy? Was he a better person?
*The ending was puzzling. It is an open ending, and I was left with all kinds of questions. I didn't like the way it just faded out and, I thought it ended on a strange note. I was hoping for a bit more resolution, and I would have loved an epilogue down the road. I wanted to know how the children adjusted. I also wanted Matt to make amends for what he did. After all the drama and emotion, I was a bit frustrated. I wanted a better pay out. I don't like endings that are open to interpretation.

Lies You Wanted to Hear is an interesting and troubling look at what happens to a marriage gone wrong. It isn't an easy journey, and there are plenty of dark and painful steps that lead to a frightening and heartbreaking event that changes everything. This is a book that will get into your head and your heart and make you think. It will change your mind and leave you with an entirely new perspective at the end. This is a story that will start a discussion as you ponder over all the complexities and moral implications that are presented. If you are looking for a thought provoking read, I suggest you give this a chance.

Favorite Quotations:
"The trouble with the past is, it's never over. Just keeps coming back and biting you in the ass."
"When an old man drinks, either he starts thinking he's young again and makes a fool of himself, or remembers how old he is and ends up getting sad."
"I loved my children beyond measure, but I had a hard time finding my rhythm with them, as if mothering were a dance and I had to keep looking down at my feet, my good intentions no substitute for self-assurance and grace."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lies You Wanted To Hear
by
James Whitfield Thomson

Essentially...

This book is about Lucy, Griffin and Matt and what their relationships did to them.

My thoughts after reading this book...

This book has affected me in rather strange ways. At first I loved all of the characters but by the time I finished the book I strongly disliked them. But let me just quickly share the basics. Lucy is privileged, has a unique family and loves a man named Griffin. She meets him accidentally, after college, and remains connected to him for years and years. She gets pregnant with him but he could care less so she has an abortion. These are the times before Roe Vs Wade. Griffin is the ultimate bad boy...wealthy, sexy, attractive, complex? But in reality he is the creep your mother never wanted you to date. He leaves Lucy constantly only to reappear when she thinks she is over him. Friends set her up with Matt...policeman, good guy...he totally adores her without being adored in return...they marry and have two children, Sarah and Nathan. Lucy knows early on that this is not a marriage she will stay in forever.

Slowly Matt and Lucy begin to mess up...Lucy fears motherhood, Griffin renters her life, Matt takes a new job, starts traveling and their lives fall into total chaos and disarray. Matt believes that he has only one choice left to him to "save" his children from Lucy...so he takes that choice. Sigh!

What I loved about this book...

I loved the era, the setting, the dysfunction and at first I enjoyed Lucy, Matt and Griffin until they all became really really dark and totally vastly unlikeable. Well, actually, I despised Griffin from the start but I wanted to give him a chance...bad move on my part.

What I did not love about this book...

Ok...Lucy and Griffin with their weird sex, drugs and rock and roll issues...were truly annoying from the start. Perhaps not them as much as their relationship. Lucy had to be weirdly wired in order to want that kind of relationship. On the other hand...I didn't like her with Matt, either. There was something odd about him. He was too controlled and far too ready to lose that control. What he did in his efforts to save Sarah and Nathan from Lucy was nightmarish...heartbreaking...sad.

Final thoughts...

I found this book to be a totally fascinating portrayal of a reasonably awful marriage. This author's writing was addictive. Not that this should matter but that this book was written by a 67 year old man was amazing! However...I hated the ending...totally hated it!

[Kandace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis
Matt loved Lucy from the moment they met. Lucy convinced herself that she loved Matt too. But relationships, and families, can't be built on lies...even the ones we want to hear.

High Points
I loved the structure. The back and forth between Lucy and Matt really built a very lovely and complex point counter point. It was perfect for setting up the dynamics of a very complicated relationship.

Low Points
The supporting cast. Griffin, Amanda, Thorny. Jill. They all felt flat, one-dimensional.

You'll love it if...
you like watching complex, frustrating relationships play out. The crux of Lies You Wanted to Hear is the break down of a doomed relationship. Also, moral ambiguity is a huge theme as well. If you like trying to balance right and wrong, you love this.

You'll hate it if...
you aren't into family drama. Once you have a child with someone, you are chained to that person for life, even if the marriage/relationship doesn't work out. Some couple just cooperate better than others.

Overall Rating
3.5 stars

Received from NetGalley. For more reviews by The Readist, visit www.thereadist.com.

[Cathy Branciforte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed this book! I was drawn right in and just kept turning the pages to see what happened! I thought the way the book was written, in alternating voices between Matt and Lucy, was probably one of the best things about the book. It kept the story moving forward, but you got to go inside the head of the person who was telling their side of the story without missing a beat. LOVED the ending too. I would highly recommend, even though the subject matter might sound like it would be depressing, it never was for me....the characters drew me in and I was always wanting to know what happened next.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many books are now told from different character's points of view that it no longer feels fresh, however this style worked perfectly for this story. The reader was almost looking into the minds of Matt and Lucy, hearing how they processed different situations and rationalized their choices and behavior. I was impressed with the author's handling of postpartum depression and some other decidedly female aspects of the story...I'm ever impressed when I'm reading a woman's point of view and it sounds authentic coming from a male author. This is a long book, but it's very well-written. It kept me engaged and is an impressive debut. 3.5

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, I read this one in a day. I was hooked from the beginning. Interesting story about the one of the worst outcomes when you settle, marry the wrong person and have children together. Lucy and Matt are relatable to an extent, but do some despicable things to each other that many people may not be able to relate to. The lies you wanted to hear are the easiest to tell. Such a powerful statement because it's true. It eventually falls apart though, as lies usually do. This book gets extra credit because I read the actual book and liked the way the pages felt and the writing looked. Lol weird, maybe. I'm sure some people will understand what I'm saying!

[Gail Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read Lies, the more I got hooked, until I couldn't put it down. As the characters and the issues grew more complex, I found myself challenged as to what is fair and what is not. As the story progressed, Thomson's even-handed treatment of the two main characters compelled me to reexamine my allegiances, and that always makes for a good read.

[Lori Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a relationship built on lies and betrayal... and the price all those involved pay!!! Very well written and emotionally charged... I was left questioning who the true villain was!!!

[Jessica (booneybear) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The entire time I was reading this book, I thought I was reading 'We Were Liars'. They have almost identical covers. Boy was I all kinds of confused.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Lucy, a horrible person who has lost her children, and of her ex-husband and children. For whatever reason, I misunderstood and thought the children died, so I spent most of the book waiting to see how they died. But in reality, their dad thought Lucy was a danger to them, so he ran away with them, changed their identities, started a new life... and totally got away with it!

Eventually, one of the kids (in college at this point) finds a newspaper article on what really happened and makes contact with Lucy, but until then, he just got away scott-free! I found that intriguing.

I was also intrigued by how much this guy adored Lucy, until she finally was too awful, and then he had to switch to hating her, except deep down he was still kind of in love with her. I spent probably a week or two after I finished this book, pondering whether love that intense is always part of some fucked-up situation, or if it can be experienced in a peaceful, healthy relationship.

Also, it was interesting to see the difficulty the author seemed to have in giving the two main characters personalities later in life. In the beginning, really all there was to them was Lucy being a soulless alcoholic slut and the guy being a squeaky-clean hero cop. Once she mellows out and he turns to a life of crime (at least the crimes of stealing the kids and telling them their mother died in a tragic house fire), there seems to be almost nothing left of either of them, personality-wise. Everyone in this book is kind of a cardboard cutout.

I still enjoyed it, though. The author did a great job with scandal and suspense.

[Bridget Kahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed the alternating perspectives and hearing from both characters why they made the choices they did. i must say i did not hate lucy as much as some reviewers did; she obviously had her issues, but so did matt. and in the end, at least lucy was honest with herself about the ways she fucked up, while matt never really was

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than I expected. For some reason I thought the story would be a little different than the synopsis but I was very glad to be surprised. The love and heartbreak in this book feel so real. My only complaint, is I listened to this on audible, and the male narrator was very monotone. Nevertheless, it didn't diminish the story for me.

[Emily Gwynnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a light, plot-driven story, but found the unrelatable protagonists difficult to invest in.