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Two Truths and a Lie
10 hours, 52 minutes
From the author of The Islanders comes a warm, witty and suspenseful novel filled with small-town secrets, summer romance, big time lies and spiked seltzer, in the vein of Liane Moriarty.
Truth: Sherri Griffin and her daughter, Katie, have recently moved to the idyllic beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Rebecca Coleman, widely acknowledged former leader of the Newburyport Mom Squad (having taken a step back since her husband’s shocking and tragic death eighteen months ago), has made a surprising effort to include these newcomers in typically closed-group activities. Rebecca’s teenage daughter Alexa has even been spotted babysitting Katie.
Truth: Alexa has time on her hands because of a recent falling-out with her longtime best friends for reasons no one knows—but everyone suspects have to do with Alexa’s highly popular and increasingly successful YouTube channel. Katie Griffin, who at age 11 probably doesn’t need a babysitter anymore, can’t be left alone because she has terrifying nightmares that don’t seem to jibe with the vague story Sherri has floated about the “bad divorce” she left behind in Ohio. Rebecca Coleman has been spending a lot of time with Sherri, it’s true, but she’s also been spending time with someone else she doesn’t want the Mom Squad to know about just yet.
Lie: Rebecca Coleman doesn’t have a new man in her life, and definitely not someone connected to the Mom Squad. Alexa is not seeing anyone new herself and is planning on shutting down her YouTube channel in advance of attending college in the fall. Sherri Griffin’s real name is Sherri Griffin, and a bad divorce is all she’s running from.
A blend of propulsive thriller and gorgeous summer read, Two Truths and a Lie reminds us that happiness isn’t always a day at the beach, some secrets aren’t meant to be shared, and the most precious things are the people we love.
From the author of The Islanders comes a warm, witty and suspenseful novel filled with small-town secrets, summer romance, big time lies and spiked seltzer, in the vein of Liane Moriarty.
Truth: Sherri Griffin and her daughter, Katie, have recently moved to the idyllic beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Rebecca Coleman, widely acknowledged former leader of the Newburyport Mom Squad (having taken a step back since her husband’s shocking and tragic death eighteen months ago), has made a surprising effort to include these newcomers in typically closed-group activities. Rebecca’s teenage daughter Alexa has even been spotted babysitting Katie.
Truth: Alexa has time on her hands because of a recent falling-out with her longtime best friends for reasons no one knows—but everyone suspects have to do with Alexa’s highly popular and increasingly successful YouTube channel. Katie Griffin, who at age 11 probably doesn’t need a babysitter anymore, can’t be left alone because she has terrifying nightmares that don’t seem to jibe with the vague story Sherri has floated about the “bad divorce” she left behind in Ohio. Rebecca Coleman has been spending a lot of time with Sherri, it’s true, but she’s also been spending time with someone else she doesn’t want the Mom Squad to know about just yet.
Lie: Rebecca Coleman doesn’t have a new man in her life, and definitely not someone connected to the Mom Squad. Alexa is not seeing anyone new herself and is planning on shutting down her YouTube channel in advance of attending college in the fall. Sherri Griffin’s real name is Sherri Griffin, and a bad divorce is all she’s running from.
A blend of propulsive thriller and gorgeous summer read, Two Truths and a Lie reminds us that happiness isn’t always a day at the beach, some secrets aren’t meant to be shared, and the most precious things are the people we love.
Audiobook
First published June 16, 2020
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About the author
Meg Mitchell Moore
12 books1,895 followersMeg Mitchell Moore is the author of eight novels. Her ninth, MANSION BEACH, will be published in May 2025. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and whichever of her three high school- and college-aged daughters is home, as well two golden retrievers who shed a lot and don't read at all.
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June 24, 2022
This is something between Moriarty’s Big Little Lies waltzes with Kimberly Belle’s Dear Wife and salutes to Flynn’s Gone Girl and Elin Hilderbrand’s beach town stories. It is a little big long story with multi POVS and I actually enjoy Rebecca’s facing the trauma and Sherri’s running away from the trauma stories more than Rebecca’s daughter Alexa’s problematic future thoughts, dealing with death of her dad and her unexpected Youtube channel success. And obsessively controlling freak squat parts made me laugh hard and also terrified the hell of me! Yeap, they were meaner than my neighbors.
So this is 3.5 wavy sea, breezing wind, small town gossips and beware of the mommy squat stars rounded up to 4!
Sherri Griffin and her eleven year daughter Katie moves to a new beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts after a devastating divorce. She is adamant to build a new life but we sense that she’s hiding so many things about her past live, disguising herself in cheaper clothes, barely making her ends meet and we realize her ex was really wealthy so why she is afraid of her own shadow and why she scares to leave her daughter alone?
And Rebecca tries to build a new life after her husband’s unexpected death, estranging herself from OCD momma club a.k.a deadly squat (It sounds like a great Quentin Tarantino movie!), living a secret relationship.
So Rebecca befriends Sherri and their secretive lives built by not so white lies fit with each other. Then Alexa involves into their equation by accepting babysitting job to take good care of Katie. She also deals with her inner evils: has problematic relationships with her besties and boyfriend, is attracted by charming Cam, hides her California plans from her mother. But when she finds Katie’s secret diary, the balances between two widowed families naturally change.
And there are also so many untold secrets, schemes, gossips and scandals are piling up around the dirty rotten scoundrel momma squat (fourth remake of same movie without Anne Hathaway!) As they start to reveal I clapped and jumped on my couch with pleasure. It was better than any Bachelor episode.
Overall: It should be classified as women’s fiction more than thriller or mystery. It was a fun, riveting beach reading but please gather your wits and don’t punch the sands in anger and be careful not to get burned because even though it’s really long reading, it still captivates your attention from the beginning.
Oh let’s not forget to clap the talented illustrator of this fantastic book cover!
Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this intriguing ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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So this is 3.5 wavy sea, breezing wind, small town gossips and beware of the mommy squat stars rounded up to 4!
Sherri Griffin and her eleven year daughter Katie moves to a new beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts after a devastating divorce. She is adamant to build a new life but we sense that she’s hiding so many things about her past live, disguising herself in cheaper clothes, barely making her ends meet and we realize her ex was really wealthy so why she is afraid of her own shadow and why she scares to leave her daughter alone?
And Rebecca tries to build a new life after her husband’s unexpected death, estranging herself from OCD momma club a.k.a deadly squat (It sounds like a great Quentin Tarantino movie!), living a secret relationship.
So Rebecca befriends Sherri and their secretive lives built by not so white lies fit with each other. Then Alexa involves into their equation by accepting babysitting job to take good care of Katie. She also deals with her inner evils: has problematic relationships with her besties and boyfriend, is attracted by charming Cam, hides her California plans from her mother. But when she finds Katie’s secret diary, the balances between two widowed families naturally change.
And there are also so many untold secrets, schemes, gossips and scandals are piling up around the dirty rotten scoundrel momma squat (fourth remake of same movie without Anne Hathaway!) As they start to reveal I clapped and jumped on my couch with pleasure. It was better than any Bachelor episode.
Overall: It should be classified as women’s fiction more than thriller or mystery. It was a fun, riveting beach reading but please gather your wits and don’t punch the sands in anger and be careful not to get burned because even though it’s really long reading, it still captivates your attention from the beginning.
Oh let’s not forget to clap the talented illustrator of this fantastic book cover!
Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this intriguing ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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May 26, 2021
Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore is a 2020 William Morrow Publication.
Um… This book is a hot mess-
This sounded like a great summer read. The cover shows two women soaking up some rays on the beach, and the synopsis promised some good sudsy drama. I was sold!
Unfortunately, this entire book was a bore. I kept waiting for something to happen, for the pacing to pick up, for the characters to come to life- but by the time I made it three quarters of the way in, I thought about throwing in the towel, and was seriously considering a rare DNF.
I’d made it that far, though, so I hung on thinking there HAD to be a big twist coming- something had to come to a head- because, after all, the ‘the squad’ kept hinting that something big was going to transpire.
Well, geez, there was one big plot development, very late in the game, but it was completely unnecessary to the story. It didn’t change the trajectory of anyone’s life- in that no one strayed from their original plans- nor did it give anyone a grand epiphany- so, I didn’t see the point in it.
Also- there was the big- ‘too many characters’ pet peeve, although, because the pace was so slow, with nothing much happening, I didn’t really have too much trouble keeping up with everyone- but still, most of the characters never saw liftoff- no growth, no progress, no connection, or emotional attachments.
To make matters worse, I had checked the audio version out of the library, to complement the e-book- and one of the major characters was named ‘Alexa’. Now, I’ve struggled with this situation before, but never like this. The girl’s name was spoken, what seemed like hundreds of times, and every dang time my Echo device wakes up, exasperated, and cranky, telling me it 'didn’t know how to help me with that'- or 'I don’t know that one', or giving me some long, irrelevant information from Wikipedia, all while the audiobook was trying to play. So, I ended up returning the audiobook to the library before my Alexa and I both lost our minds.
*Note- yes, I know you can change the wake- up name for the echo, but I don’t want to. I’ve used ‘Alexa’ for years, and I’m too old and set in my ways to change it now. I also don’t use my phone for audio, wear painful earbuds or heavy headphones, and don’t listen in my car, because I don’t travel long distances. I like my home setup, just fine, thank you very much. Authors just need to stop naming major characters, Alexa!!!!!!! AAARRRGGG!!!! 😁😁😁😁
Overall, this one was a miss for me-still lots of great ‘beach’ and ‘summer’ reads out there, though- so on to the next!
Um… This book is a hot mess-
This sounded like a great summer read. The cover shows two women soaking up some rays on the beach, and the synopsis promised some good sudsy drama. I was sold!
Unfortunately, this entire book was a bore. I kept waiting for something to happen, for the pacing to pick up, for the characters to come to life- but by the time I made it three quarters of the way in, I thought about throwing in the towel, and was seriously considering a rare DNF.
I’d made it that far, though, so I hung on thinking there HAD to be a big twist coming- something had to come to a head- because, after all, the ‘the squad’ kept hinting that something big was going to transpire.
Well, geez, there was one big plot development, very late in the game, but it was completely unnecessary to the story. It didn’t change the trajectory of anyone’s life- in that no one strayed from their original plans- nor did it give anyone a grand epiphany- so, I didn’t see the point in it.
Also- there was the big- ‘too many characters’ pet peeve, although, because the pace was so slow, with nothing much happening, I didn’t really have too much trouble keeping up with everyone- but still, most of the characters never saw liftoff- no growth, no progress, no connection, or emotional attachments.
To make matters worse, I had checked the audio version out of the library, to complement the e-book- and one of the major characters was named ‘Alexa’. Now, I’ve struggled with this situation before, but never like this. The girl’s name was spoken, what seemed like hundreds of times, and every dang time my Echo device wakes up, exasperated, and cranky, telling me it 'didn’t know how to help me with that'- or 'I don’t know that one', or giving me some long, irrelevant information from Wikipedia, all while the audiobook was trying to play. So, I ended up returning the audiobook to the library before my Alexa and I both lost our minds.
*Note- yes, I know you can change the wake- up name for the echo, but I don’t want to. I’ve used ‘Alexa’ for years, and I’m too old and set in my ways to change it now. I also don’t use my phone for audio, wear painful earbuds or heavy headphones, and don’t listen in my car, because I don’t travel long distances. I like my home setup, just fine, thank you very much. Authors just need to stop naming major characters, Alexa!!!!!!! AAARRRGGG!!!! 😁😁😁😁
Overall, this one was a miss for me-still lots of great ‘beach’ and ‘summer’ reads out there, though- so on to the next!
March 5, 2020
Mother’s...”The Squad”
Middle age teens
Older teens
Beach town setting
End of the summer before going back to schools
Tequila cocktail parties with hired bartenders and DJ’s, drugs, secrets, lies, surf camp, nature overnight camp, babysitters, fashion and beauty concerns, ice lattes, walks, gossip, one woman was writing a domestic thriller ( nothing amounted to knowing more)....everyone drives an SUV...
It was a chore to read this book for me.
I liked Meg Mitchell Moore’s book called “The Admissions”, years ago and thought I’d enjoy another one of her contemporary novels.
However... I just didn’t care for this one.
it was one of the most Un-FUN - fun books I’ve read in ages with catty characters, catty friendships, and a dull story.
“I’m not mad, she said. I’m tired. And I forgot I have to get up early tomorrow”.
“Two truths, one lie”.
1.5 stars
Middle age teens
Older teens
Beach town setting
End of the summer before going back to schools
Tequila cocktail parties with hired bartenders and DJ’s, drugs, secrets, lies, surf camp, nature overnight camp, babysitters, fashion and beauty concerns, ice lattes, walks, gossip, one woman was writing a domestic thriller ( nothing amounted to knowing more)....everyone drives an SUV...
It was a chore to read this book for me.
I liked Meg Mitchell Moore’s book called “The Admissions”, years ago and thought I’d enjoy another one of her contemporary novels.
However... I just didn’t care for this one.
it was one of the most Un-FUN - fun books I’ve read in ages with catty characters, catty friendships, and a dull story.
“I’m not mad, she said. I’m tired. And I forgot I have to get up early tomorrow”.
“Two truths, one lie”.
1.5 stars
July 1, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
The woman was Sherri “with an i” (that was how she introduced herself, as though the i were of particular value, a bonus).
It was summer, obviously. But in a funny way it felt like it was Christmas morning and Cameron Hartwell was a present Alexa hadn’t yet unwrapped.
Outside the door stood a shriveled specimen of a woman. She was holding a small dog with giant ears. The woman made Alexa think of what would happen if somebody took a walnut and glued it on top of an old rag doll. She was looking at Alexa sternly.
The zinc she had applied to her face was uneven, making her look like a clown who’d partied too hard after last night’s circus.
My Review:
I am enamored with Meg Mitchell Moore’s smooth writing style and well-crafted story. I fell right into this seamlessly plotted, shrewdly paced, and absorbing tale of women’s fiction. Her storylines were well textured and expertly nuanced with generous servings of family drama, personal grief, coming of age issues, wry humor, romance, small-town living, and suspense. While selfishly resenting any interruption to my perusal I may have accidentally on purpose let all calls go to voicemail.
The complex characters were multi-layered, cunningly drawn, cleverly depicted, and realistically flawed. Each had a distinct voice and arresting aspects to their inner musings, painful insights, and observations. The most amusing threads involved the devilish petty members of the Mom Squad, which was a tight-knit clique of the ostensibly in-group of uber moms found in every small-town, who guarded and groomed their daughters’ social standing with as much self-aggrandizing importance as they did their own, and did so with judgmental eyes and sharply wagging tongues.
This was my first exposure to the agility of Ms. Moore’s pen and brain-tickling storytelling. I consider her found treasure and covet her entire listing while planning to follow her future endeavors like a bloodhound on the trail of an escaped convict.
The woman was Sherri “with an i” (that was how she introduced herself, as though the i were of particular value, a bonus).
It was summer, obviously. But in a funny way it felt like it was Christmas morning and Cameron Hartwell was a present Alexa hadn’t yet unwrapped.
Outside the door stood a shriveled specimen of a woman. She was holding a small dog with giant ears. The woman made Alexa think of what would happen if somebody took a walnut and glued it on top of an old rag doll. She was looking at Alexa sternly.
The zinc she had applied to her face was uneven, making her look like a clown who’d partied too hard after last night’s circus.
My Review:
I am enamored with Meg Mitchell Moore’s smooth writing style and well-crafted story. I fell right into this seamlessly plotted, shrewdly paced, and absorbing tale of women’s fiction. Her storylines were well textured and expertly nuanced with generous servings of family drama, personal grief, coming of age issues, wry humor, romance, small-town living, and suspense. While selfishly resenting any interruption to my perusal I may have accidentally on purpose let all calls go to voicemail.
The complex characters were multi-layered, cunningly drawn, cleverly depicted, and realistically flawed. Each had a distinct voice and arresting aspects to their inner musings, painful insights, and observations. The most amusing threads involved the devilish petty members of the Mom Squad, which was a tight-knit clique of the ostensibly in-group of uber moms found in every small-town, who guarded and groomed their daughters’ social standing with as much self-aggrandizing importance as they did their own, and did so with judgmental eyes and sharply wagging tongues.
This was my first exposure to the agility of Ms. Moore’s pen and brain-tickling storytelling. I consider her found treasure and covet her entire listing while planning to follow her future endeavors like a bloodhound on the trail of an escaped convict.
October 4, 2020
Two Truths and a Lie follows a mom squad in Newburyport, Massachusetts over the course of one summer. Rebecca is raising two daughters, Alexa and Morgan, in the aftermath of her husband’s unexpected death. Sherri just moved to town with her daughter, Katie, and while nice, doesn’t exactly fit in — She’s a bit bland and the mom squad is suspicious, given the limited information they know about her.
This story is told from multiple POVs — Alexa has a YouTube channel where she’s found great success recently. She doesn’t want to go to college but hasn’t told her mom yet. Rebecca is dating someone new but worried about how the crew will take it. Morgan and Katie are dealing with mean girl moves as they prepare to enter middle school next year. Sherri is nervous but has to keep it together after everything she’s been through.
Gossip, secrets, and drama ensue in Newburyport, making Two Truths and a Lie one catchy seasonal story, perfect for a summer escape.
This story is told from multiple POVs — Alexa has a YouTube channel where she’s found great success recently. She doesn’t want to go to college but hasn’t told her mom yet. Rebecca is dating someone new but worried about how the crew will take it. Morgan and Katie are dealing with mean girl moves as they prepare to enter middle school next year. Sherri is nervous but has to keep it together after everything she’s been through.
Gossip, secrets, and drama ensue in Newburyport, making Two Truths and a Lie one catchy seasonal story, perfect for a summer escape.
September 28, 2020
Honestly? I think this book was a mess... waaaayyy too many characters to keep track of, the entire format was confusing, and I wasn't thrilled nor surprised about anything that happened. Don't be fooled by this gorgeous cover, it was mediocre at best.
July 6, 2020
4 stars for this fresh and welcome break from my usual read! Fun, quick and perfect for the beach.
When I saw this one available to rent, I snatched it up immediately. This Audiobook was hard to stop listening too! My first read by this author, but I’ll be back for more.
Published: June 16th 2020 by HarperCollins
@mmitchmoore #Audiobook #SummerRead #BeachRead #SummerLove
When I saw this one available to rent, I snatched it up immediately. This Audiobook was hard to stop listening too! My first read by this author, but I’ll be back for more.
Published: June 16th 2020 by HarperCollins
@mmitchmoore #Audiobook #SummerRead #BeachRead #SummerLove
November 6, 2021
Newburyport, Massachusetts is an idyllic seaside community. The "Mom Squad" is a small group of close knit women whose tween daughters are all the same age. The kinetics of the group are altered when newcomer Sherri Griffen and her daughter Katie move in at the beginning of summer break. Sherri arrives with big secrets and will do anything to protect her daughter and help her fit in. As she ingratiates herself into the group, the dynamics change and the gossip is in overdrive.
Alexa, older daughter of a "Mom Squad" member is trying to figure out her future. Estranged from her friends and uncertain of her relationship with her boyfriend, Alexa agrees to babysit for Katie. When snooping around she discovers Katie's diary and learns a secret she wished she'd never unearthed, setting off a series of unfortunate consequences.
Set over the course of a summer, a family drama with some twists, a bit of mystery and the importance of the people we love.
Alexa, older daughter of a "Mom Squad" member is trying to figure out her future. Estranged from her friends and uncertain of her relationship with her boyfriend, Alexa agrees to babysit for Katie. When snooping around she discovers Katie's diary and learns a secret she wished she'd never unearthed, setting off a series of unfortunate consequences.
Set over the course of a summer, a family drama with some twists, a bit of mystery and the importance of the people we love.
September 19, 2020
4.5/5
I went into this book expecting a light, summer read about a group of catty women but it ended up being SO MUCH MORE!
Sherri Griffin and her daughter move to Newburyport, MA - a beautiful coastal town bursting with quiet wealth and powerful cliques. The Griffins, coming from a traumatic past and looking for a fresh start, are taken aback by the cattiness of the town and the shape of their new lives. They quickly find themselves the talk of the town as they try to fit in before Katie has to start school in the fall.
Rebecca, former queen bee of the "mom squad," is still coping with the unexpected loss of her husband a year and a half ago. Her older daughter Alexa should be off to college next year, but has a secret, highly successful, YouTube channel and feels that her blog is her true calling. Rebecca's younger daughter, Morgan, starts hitting it off with Katie, forcing Rebecca and Sherri into the same orbit. Rebecca sees something in Sherri - something more authentic and less judgmental than the women with which she typically surrounds herself - and is instantly drawn to her. The two start an unlikely friendship, much to the chagrin of the other women in town.
The story is told by multiple narrators as they detail the events of that fateful summer. The entire novel is building to a climactic event that rocks the town.
I listened to the audio of this novel and really loved the narration. There are a lot of characters so that aspect was a bit hard to follow, but overall, this book was incredibly engaging and often quite funny. There was so much depth to the characters and even though their circumstances were so entirely different from most people, it was easy to feel empathy for them and to have a sense of kindred spirits. This book really surprised me in all the best ways. The big reveal wasn't even on my radar and I loved how the novel built up the suspense without it being over the top.
If you're looking for a fun book with some depth, I absolutely recommend this one!!
I went into this book expecting a light, summer read about a group of catty women but it ended up being SO MUCH MORE!
Sherri Griffin and her daughter move to Newburyport, MA - a beautiful coastal town bursting with quiet wealth and powerful cliques. The Griffins, coming from a traumatic past and looking for a fresh start, are taken aback by the cattiness of the town and the shape of their new lives. They quickly find themselves the talk of the town as they try to fit in before Katie has to start school in the fall.
Rebecca, former queen bee of the "mom squad," is still coping with the unexpected loss of her husband a year and a half ago. Her older daughter Alexa should be off to college next year, but has a secret, highly successful, YouTube channel and feels that her blog is her true calling. Rebecca's younger daughter, Morgan, starts hitting it off with Katie, forcing Rebecca and Sherri into the same orbit. Rebecca sees something in Sherri - something more authentic and less judgmental than the women with which she typically surrounds herself - and is instantly drawn to her. The two start an unlikely friendship, much to the chagrin of the other women in town.
The story is told by multiple narrators as they detail the events of that fateful summer. The entire novel is building to a climactic event that rocks the town.
I listened to the audio of this novel and really loved the narration. There are a lot of characters so that aspect was a bit hard to follow, but overall, this book was incredibly engaging and often quite funny. There was so much depth to the characters and even though their circumstances were so entirely different from most people, it was easy to feel empathy for them and to have a sense of kindred spirits. This book really surprised me in all the best ways. The big reveal wasn't even on my radar and I loved how the novel built up the suspense without it being over the top.
If you're looking for a fun book with some depth, I absolutely recommend this one!!
July 9, 2020
2.5 Stars
I won this as an ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway.
A mother and child relocate to a coastal New England town to escape their old lives. However, when you’re the prime witness in a murder case against your husband, who is a member of the mob, you can’t just go away. So, with the help of the witness protection program Sherri and her daughter Katie are starting over, until someone discovers their secret.
I think that’s a pretty good description to draw the people in, right? Okay. I am honestly so disappointed in this book, I hate to say. In the beginning it had so much potential to be a real action packed, looking over your shoulder, wondering when they’re gonna get got type of novel but it just does not deliver. The writing, although good, amounts to nothing. We spend the entire book wondering about these big bad men who are out to find this woman and child in witness protection and there is all this build up for, and I cannot stress this enough, NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. There’s a teaser in the beginning about a white Acura in a car accident that I literally thought was gonna somehow relate to the main characters or at least the premise of the book but it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with that. It literally makes no sense. And that’s the climax of the novel. Something that makes no sense is the height of the book. I honestly cannot believe this got published as is. It’s supposed to be a good summer beach read and I think if it had a stronger climax and you know, an actual point, it could have been. As I said, all the ingredients are there but she just could not make the dish.
I gave it two stars instead of one because the writing isn’t terrible and the concept is good it’s just the execution and resolution to the novel is horrid.
*Side note: this could be a good lifetime movie if they did some changes to it. Made the bad guys more present and menacing. Oh and make them actually exist because they’re basically just figments one this book. Okay bye.
I won this as an ARC from a Goodreads Giveaway.
A mother and child relocate to a coastal New England town to escape their old lives. However, when you’re the prime witness in a murder case against your husband, who is a member of the mob, you can’t just go away. So, with the help of the witness protection program Sherri and her daughter Katie are starting over, until someone discovers their secret.
I think that’s a pretty good description to draw the people in, right? Okay. I am honestly so disappointed in this book, I hate to say. In the beginning it had so much potential to be a real action packed, looking over your shoulder, wondering when they’re gonna get got type of novel but it just does not deliver. The writing, although good, amounts to nothing. We spend the entire book wondering about these big bad men who are out to find this woman and child in witness protection and there is all this build up for, and I cannot stress this enough, NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. There’s a teaser in the beginning about a white Acura in a car accident that I literally thought was gonna somehow relate to the main characters or at least the premise of the book but it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with that. It literally makes no sense. And that’s the climax of the novel. Something that makes no sense is the height of the book. I honestly cannot believe this got published as is. It’s supposed to be a good summer beach read and I think if it had a stronger climax and you know, an actual point, it could have been. As I said, all the ingredients are there but she just could not make the dish.
I gave it two stars instead of one because the writing isn’t terrible and the concept is good it’s just the execution and resolution to the novel is horrid.
*Side note: this could be a good lifetime movie if they did some changes to it. Made the bad guys more present and menacing. Oh and make them actually exist because they’re basically just figments one this book. Okay bye.
March 24, 2025
Catching Up...
Okay, we all know the game, two truths and a lie…
To begin, one person must make three statements about themselves to the rest of the group. The trick is that not all statements will be true - two of the statements given should be; and one should be a lie. Once you are done, everyone should guess which statement they think you made up.
And…Of course, we hope we are right.
But…What happens when the premise of the book, is based on this?
This story is set in the beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts at the beginning of summer. There are multiple POV’s.
Sherri Griffin and her 11-year-old daughter Katie have recently moved to town, having left after a “bad divorce.” She is happy to meet Rebecca Coleman and her 2 daughers, Alexa, 17 and Morgan, 11.
Rebecca is apparently the informal leader of the “Mom Squad” – a group of women who have daughters of similar age.
But…Since the passing of her husband 18 months ago, she prefers to be less engaged with the group.
(Oh please, may I never find a group like this Mom Squad!)
However…These 2 women create a bond – single women in a town where everybody is examined and gossiped about.
At the beginning of the story, we learn of a tragic accident involving a white Acura. We do not know who is involved, or the circumstances.
And…There is more than one Acura in town.
Many secrets in this town…
And…The author takes her sweet time revealing them.
So…Is this a mystery, beach read?
Or…Just a gossipy mess which made it kind of uneven and uncomfortable?
I leave it to the reader to decide.
Either way…In the end, who will care about the truths or the lies?
Okay, we all know the game, two truths and a lie…
To begin, one person must make three statements about themselves to the rest of the group. The trick is that not all statements will be true - two of the statements given should be; and one should be a lie. Once you are done, everyone should guess which statement they think you made up.
And…Of course, we hope we are right.
But…What happens when the premise of the book, is based on this?
This story is set in the beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts at the beginning of summer. There are multiple POV’s.
Sherri Griffin and her 11-year-old daughter Katie have recently moved to town, having left after a “bad divorce.” She is happy to meet Rebecca Coleman and her 2 daughers, Alexa, 17 and Morgan, 11.
Rebecca is apparently the informal leader of the “Mom Squad” – a group of women who have daughters of similar age.
But…Since the passing of her husband 18 months ago, she prefers to be less engaged with the group.
(Oh please, may I never find a group like this Mom Squad!)
However…These 2 women create a bond – single women in a town where everybody is examined and gossiped about.
At the beginning of the story, we learn of a tragic accident involving a white Acura. We do not know who is involved, or the circumstances.
And…There is more than one Acura in town.
Many secrets in this town…
And…The author takes her sweet time revealing them.
So…Is this a mystery, beach read?
Or…Just a gossipy mess which made it kind of uneven and uncomfortable?
I leave it to the reader to decide.
Either way…In the end, who will care about the truths or the lies?
June 18, 2020
What a delicious, slightly wicked summer read this one was! It was like a mash up of Liane Moriarty and Elin Hilderbrand and that combination worked really well for me. It had the secretive, light style mystery of LM and the ensemble cast and idyllic setting of EH, everything I look for in a summer read for sure!
This is told via several viewpoints, Rebecca, her daughter Alexa and new to town Sherrie are the main ones and then there are a few random chapters from other characters thrown in but the best ones were from the collective Mom Squad. These women were BRUTAL,they were catty, judgmental and wicked and I loved how juicy and dramatic their chapters were. The whole book was slightly scandalous as almost every single character was keeping some sort of secret and it felt really gossipy and just ideal for a summer read. Some of it was a little predictable in the end but other aspects were surprising, overall I enjoyed it a lot and definitely recommend it!
This is told via several viewpoints, Rebecca, her daughter Alexa and new to town Sherrie are the main ones and then there are a few random chapters from other characters thrown in but the best ones were from the collective Mom Squad. These women were BRUTAL,they were catty, judgmental and wicked and I loved how juicy and dramatic their chapters were. The whole book was slightly scandalous as almost every single character was keeping some sort of secret and it felt really gossipy and just ideal for a summer read. Some of it was a little predictable in the end but other aspects were surprising, overall I enjoyed it a lot and definitely recommend it!
November 9, 2020
Two Truths and a Lie is a fast-paced, entertaining book that takes place in Newburyport, a small beach town north of Boston. It’s June and the summer has begun. “The Squad” of twelve moms are getting ready for their annual parties, activities and cattiness. We learn from the beginning that someone in Newburyport is not going to survive the summer.
Rebecca Coleman had been one of the make it happen members of the Mom Squad but after the recent loss of her husband, she’s become withdrawn focusing on her two daughters, seventeen year old Alexa and Morgan, eleven years old. Rebecca believes Alexa is preparing to attend college in the fall but Alexa, with a budding yet secretive success with her own YouTube channel, has already called the school and has given up her spot planning to head to Los Angeles.
Sherri Griffin and her daughter Katie, also eleven, have just moved into town. Rebecca has extended a hand in friendship to Sherri. Katie and Morgan quickly become friends but Sherri reveals little about herself and what she tells Rebecca and the others about herself is a lie.
The book is told from several points of view including Sherri, Rebecca, Alexa and The Squad, the latter acting as a pseudo Greek Chorus. Amid all the secrets and lies, this is a summer of change and growth for Sherri and Rebecca and a touching coming-of-age journey for Alexa. While Two Truths and a Lie has its share of amusing snarkiness, at its heart, it is a story about women who will do anything to insure the happiness and safety of their children.
There are many good books that take place during the summer, at a beach town involving a group of women and their families. This book feels familiar, which is not a bad thing.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, William Morrow and the author for the opportunity to enjoy Two Truths and a Lie in advance of its release date. A perfect beach read. And even if your beach is closed, as mine is right now, you’ll still feel like you’re on one.
Rated 3.75 rounded up.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Rebecca Coleman had been one of the make it happen members of the Mom Squad but after the recent loss of her husband, she’s become withdrawn focusing on her two daughters, seventeen year old Alexa and Morgan, eleven years old. Rebecca believes Alexa is preparing to attend college in the fall but Alexa, with a budding yet secretive success with her own YouTube channel, has already called the school and has given up her spot planning to head to Los Angeles.
Sherri Griffin and her daughter Katie, also eleven, have just moved into town. Rebecca has extended a hand in friendship to Sherri. Katie and Morgan quickly become friends but Sherri reveals little about herself and what she tells Rebecca and the others about herself is a lie.
The book is told from several points of view including Sherri, Rebecca, Alexa and The Squad, the latter acting as a pseudo Greek Chorus. Amid all the secrets and lies, this is a summer of change and growth for Sherri and Rebecca and a touching coming-of-age journey for Alexa. While Two Truths and a Lie has its share of amusing snarkiness, at its heart, it is a story about women who will do anything to insure the happiness and safety of their children.
There are many good books that take place during the summer, at a beach town involving a group of women and their families. This book feels familiar, which is not a bad thing.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, William Morrow and the author for the opportunity to enjoy Two Truths and a Lie in advance of its release date. A perfect beach read. And even if your beach is closed, as mine is right now, you’ll still feel like you’re on one.
Rated 3.75 rounded up.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
March 2, 2020
I just finished Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore and it was the perfect brain candy reading! Her books always scream summer vacation to me (I brought the Islanders to Maine last summer and it was just perfect!)
This one is a beach book with a little mystery tied in which made for a great mix. And it made me so happy to have little glimpses of the Islanders tied in (like the Dinner by Dad blog!) This will be published on 5/26/20 and I can't wait to share more about it then.
Thank you to William Morrow Books for an advanced copy.
This one is a beach book with a little mystery tied in which made for a great mix. And it made me so happy to have little glimpses of the Islanders tied in (like the Dinner by Dad blog!) This will be published on 5/26/20 and I can't wait to share more about it then.
Thank you to William Morrow Books for an advanced copy.
May 19, 2020
Release Date: June 16, 2020
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Women’s Fiction | Domestic Drama/Suspense
Two Truths and a Lie is the perfect summer read! This book reminded me of other novels written by some of my favorite authors like Liane Moriarty, Sarah Pekkanen, and Elin Hilderbrand, all mixed together! What a pure delight! I’ve been looking for authors who are similar to all three of these writers and have FINALLY found one in Meg Mitchell Moore. I hope she writes more books like this because you can be sure that I’ll read every single one of them!
This one reminded me of Big Little Lies and The Husbands secret. The story revolves around one secret that isn’t revealed until the end of the novel. Sure, there are breadcrumbs and small hints and teases throughout the book which are told though 3 points of views, but you never really know WHAT this secret is or WHO it’s affecting until the very end. It keeps you on your toes and holds your attention from beginning to end.
Now, while I love the way the book is written and how it’s reminiscent of some of my favorite authors, I did find the plot twist to be very underwhelming. I was SURE the twist was going to go one way, but nothing materialized from it (I can’t say what because it would spoil the entire book). Instead, it went in a completely different direction and LITERALLY came out of nowhere. I love the unexpected in books like these, but this was so unexpected that it turned me off. Not all books need shocking and unexpected plot twists and this book would have been much better had it gone another way.
Other than this, I absolutely loved this one! I love the way it’s told in dual point of views, I loved the mom squad gossip (even though they got on my nerves) and I loved the setting! I live two towns away from Newburyport in MA and many of the places within this book are places I know and have been to. It’s kind of like the story was taking place in my backyard which I found really cool!
If you’re looking for a shocking summer read look no further! This book should not only be on your TBR this summer but in your beach bag! Be prepared for juicy gossip, dark secrets, and intrigue!
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Women’s Fiction | Domestic Drama/Suspense
Two Truths and a Lie is the perfect summer read! This book reminded me of other novels written by some of my favorite authors like Liane Moriarty, Sarah Pekkanen, and Elin Hilderbrand, all mixed together! What a pure delight! I’ve been looking for authors who are similar to all three of these writers and have FINALLY found one in Meg Mitchell Moore. I hope she writes more books like this because you can be sure that I’ll read every single one of them!
This one reminded me of Big Little Lies and The Husbands secret. The story revolves around one secret that isn’t revealed until the end of the novel. Sure, there are breadcrumbs and small hints and teases throughout the book which are told though 3 points of views, but you never really know WHAT this secret is or WHO it’s affecting until the very end. It keeps you on your toes and holds your attention from beginning to end.
Now, while I love the way the book is written and how it’s reminiscent of some of my favorite authors, I did find the plot twist to be very underwhelming. I was SURE the twist was going to go one way, but nothing materialized from it (I can’t say what because it would spoil the entire book). Instead, it went in a completely different direction and LITERALLY came out of nowhere. I love the unexpected in books like these, but this was so unexpected that it turned me off. Not all books need shocking and unexpected plot twists and this book would have been much better had it gone another way.
Other than this, I absolutely loved this one! I love the way it’s told in dual point of views, I loved the mom squad gossip (even though they got on my nerves) and I loved the setting! I live two towns away from Newburyport in MA and many of the places within this book are places I know and have been to. It’s kind of like the story was taking place in my backyard which I found really cool!
If you’re looking for a shocking summer read look no further! This book should not only be on your TBR this summer but in your beach bag! Be prepared for juicy gossip, dark secrets, and intrigue!
July 14, 2020
Not a fan at all! A million false starts, no depth in any of the characters, extremely repetitive wording so much so I had to wonder if the author had a editor. Sadly I couldn’t help feeling as she was trying to have the next mini series on Netflix with this book...which it fell flat for me.
July 27, 2020
A fast paced, mystery beach read. Once you start, just like potato chips, you won't be able to stop. And why would you? You're captivated until the very last word.
The MomSquad is a group of twelve Moms who all have 11 year old daughters entering 6th grade in the fall; dreaded Middle School. They’re correct to be worried, MS are probably the worst years in a teenagers’ life. The MomSquad tries to do the best for their kids, but they operate like a clique in high school. Gossip, factions, jealousy, exclusivity; everything they want to protect their daughters from!
If it wasn’t so sad that this really exists, it’d be hilarious. Well, Meg does do a great job making us look silly and foolish. I’m past it now but I did laugh a lot. Everyone’s intentions are good but we can’t help being human. (and we err.) 😬
Still a fun summer read.
The MomSquad is a group of twelve Moms who all have 11 year old daughters entering 6th grade in the fall; dreaded Middle School. They’re correct to be worried, MS are probably the worst years in a teenagers’ life. The MomSquad tries to do the best for their kids, but they operate like a clique in high school. Gossip, factions, jealousy, exclusivity; everything they want to protect their daughters from!
If it wasn’t so sad that this really exists, it’d be hilarious. Well, Meg does do a great job making us look silly and foolish. I’m past it now but I did laugh a lot. Everyone’s intentions are good but we can’t help being human. (and we err.) 😬
Still a fun summer read.
August 16, 2020
Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore is such a quick, engrossing read, and it would be perfect for taking to the beach! There wasn't actually too much mystery or suspense in this novel in my opinion, but it did have a little bit of suspense and I loved the inclusion of all the different characters, especially the group chapters titled ‘The Squad,' which is the mom group as whole. I really like when authors use viewpoints like this, and it made the book even more fun. I loved almost all of the characters in the book, and I always appreciate when that is the case. There are some that are not so nice, but overall most are likable, and it was very refreshing.
I listened to the audio while following along in the book, and I highly recommend doing the audio for this one. The narrator was Courtney Patterson and I think she did such an amazing job voicing all the different characters. There are a lot of viewpoints but even with the same narrator I wasn't ever confused. Two Truths and a Lie is also filled with drama and I would put it in the women's fiction/neighborhood drama/family drama categories as opposed to mystery or thriller. There is one part at the end that was really obvious to me and I have a feeling most people will be able to figure it out, but that didn't ruin anything in the book for me and it did build suspense throughout the rest of the novel.
If you are looking for a juicy drama to round out your beach/summer reading list I would definitely recommend checking out Two Truths and a Lie. This was my first time reading a book by this author and now I am really looking forward to reading her backlist. This book is full of cattiness and sass, but also lots of sweetness and a little bit of sadness. The setting was absolutely perfect and now I wish I was on a beach!
I listened to the audio while following along in the book, and I highly recommend doing the audio for this one. The narrator was Courtney Patterson and I think she did such an amazing job voicing all the different characters. There are a lot of viewpoints but even with the same narrator I wasn't ever confused. Two Truths and a Lie is also filled with drama and I would put it in the women's fiction/neighborhood drama/family drama categories as opposed to mystery or thriller. There is one part at the end that was really obvious to me and I have a feeling most people will be able to figure it out, but that didn't ruin anything in the book for me and it did build suspense throughout the rest of the novel.
If you are looking for a juicy drama to round out your beach/summer reading list I would definitely recommend checking out Two Truths and a Lie. This was my first time reading a book by this author and now I am really looking forward to reading her backlist. This book is full of cattiness and sass, but also lots of sweetness and a little bit of sadness. The setting was absolutely perfect and now I wish I was on a beach!
December 22, 2020
This book was interesting...it felt harder to get through than it should and I think it was largely because there wasn’t a lot of likeability to the characters. There was also something detached about all the perspectives which made connecting and being invested in the outcome more difficult. The book said it was a blend of summer read and thriller, but I found it to be pretty much just a summer read. There was a lot of not so subtle foreshadowing and there were a couple of minor mysteries which were easily and quickly solved long before they were revealed. That being said the story itself was intriguing. The idea of the witness protection program is a fascinating one and there was a lot of potential. All things considered it was a decent read and if another of Meg Mitchell Moore’s books found itself way to me I would give it a shot, but I wanted to love this book more than I did.
August 13, 2020
Sherri Griffin and her daughter, Katie, moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts to start over and where better to start fresh than in an idyllic coastal town? It's not just that they are just moving though; they are escaping their former life and hope to start over. Katie is enrolled at a summer camp and hopes to make new friends before she starts middle school. Sherri hopes to become friends with the "Mom Squad" who are pretty much the epitome of the cool table in the lunch room. There's also Rebecca Coleman, who is sort of part of the Mom Squad, but is still reeling from the untimely death of her husband and has drifted away from the other women. Rebecca is also trying to restart her life, but can't seem to do it despite the Mom's Squad's best efforts. Rebecca's daughter, Alexa, is off to college in the fall or at least Rebecca thought so. Alexa is harboring secrets of her own and wants to follow her own path. Meanwhile Sherri is worried that the secrets from her past will catch up with her and her daughter, which would be a disaster. Meg Mitchell Moore's Two Truths and a Lie is a gossipy sort of beach read that blends a few genres. Fans of Big Little Lies will especially appreciate this one.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
December 22, 2021
As much as I love myself a good thriller book, I was spoiled by reading a top rated thriller right before this and just couldn't help compare the two.
Moore's writing style is amazing and I was able to feel intense emotions while reading this book - from warm butterflies to laughter to suspense to dark and emotional.
In all honesty, I think I just wasn't a fan of how the book ended, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. However, this is completely my own opinion and I do believe it is a good summer read for others who love thriller books!
Moore's writing style is amazing and I was able to feel intense emotions while reading this book - from warm butterflies to laughter to suspense to dark and emotional.
In all honesty, I think I just wasn't a fan of how the book ended, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. However, this is completely my own opinion and I do believe it is a good summer read for others who love thriller books!
February 28, 2020
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the first book I have read from Meg and can’t wait to read more of her books. She had a way of writing that makes you want to root her the characters. Such a great book.
July 2, 2021
Entertaining beach read. Needed more drama, if you can even believe! Felt like watered down version of Big Little Lies.
May 2, 2023
DNF pg. 98
I really DNFed this a couple of days ago, but I've been too busy to bother writing a review. I've also been busy NOT thinking about this book, because all the characters were super boring. Also, why are mom squads so boring? What mom squads are even like this? AND WHY ARE THERE TWELVE. Or is it 14? I don't know, but that is TOO MANY MOMS IN ONE SQUAD.
I'm sad about another meh buddy read with Nenia, my No. 1 Book Buddy, but the good thing is we both love chucking so-so books aside and moving on to find our next fave.
I really DNFed this a couple of days ago, but I've been too busy to bother writing a review. I've also been busy NOT thinking about this book, because all the characters were super boring. Also, why are mom squads so boring? What mom squads are even like this? AND WHY ARE THERE TWELVE. Or is it 14? I don't know, but that is TOO MANY MOMS IN ONE SQUAD.
I'm sad about another meh buddy read with Nenia, my No. 1 Book Buddy, but the good thing is we both love chucking so-so books aside and moving on to find our next fave.
September 28, 2021
First I would like to clarify that this is not a “propulsive thriller”, as described in the synopsis of the book. There is not one suspenseful scene throughout the whole book. It is however, a wonderful work of women’s fiction.
I related to many of the characters, and I also understood what it’s like to be around women who are catty, superficial, and gossip all day.
At the end of this book, there is a section titled ‘About The Book’, and the author talks about what it feels like to be an outsider in a new town, an outsider amongst a new group of people, just being an outsider period. I often have feelings of being an outsider and I think that’s why the characters resonated so well with me. I especially loved Sherri and Rebecca!
Meg Mitchell Moore is a new author for me, but I will be looking forward to future reads from her. I am also hoping that there is a sequel to this book, as I would love to know what happens to everyone from the “Mom Squad”.
I would like to thank Goodreads and William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers for my gifted copy.
I related to many of the characters, and I also understood what it’s like to be around women who are catty, superficial, and gossip all day.
At the end of this book, there is a section titled ‘About The Book’, and the author talks about what it feels like to be an outsider in a new town, an outsider amongst a new group of people, just being an outsider period. I often have feelings of being an outsider and I think that’s why the characters resonated so well with me. I especially loved Sherri and Rebecca!
Meg Mitchell Moore is a new author for me, but I will be looking forward to future reads from her. I am also hoping that there is a sequel to this book, as I would love to know what happens to everyone from the “Mom Squad”.
I would like to thank Goodreads and William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers for my gifted copy.
June 13, 2022
Another perfect summer read set in Newburyport, Massachusetts that sees Sherri and her young daughter Katie settle in to their new home and befriending Rebecca (the former leader of the Newburyport Mom squad) and her daughter Alexa, who becomes Katie's new babysitter. Full of drama, lies and secrets this beach read is part thriller/part women's fiction and sees each of the women confronting hard truths and unexpected losses. Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand or Liane Moriarty and great on audio.
June 29, 2020
4.5 stars (rounded down).
Last summer I enjoyed the author’s book “The Islanders” and anticipated what this summer might bring. Her new book “Two Truths and a Lie” does not disappoint.
The book is set in the beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts at the beginning of summer and is told from multiple points of view. Sherri Griffin and her 11 year old daughter Katie have recently moved to town, having left Ohio after a “bad divorce”. Over the past few months, their lives have changed dramatically. She is happy to meet Rebecca Coleman and her two daughters Alexa 17 and Morgan 11. Rebecca was the informal leader of the “Mom Squad” - a group of the town’s women who have daughters of similar age. But since the passing of her husband eighteen months ago, she prefers to be less engaged to this superficial group. These two women create a bond - each is a single mother trying to make it on their own in a town where everyone is closely examined and gossiped about.
At the beginning of the book, we learn of a tragic accident involving a white Acura. We do not know who is involved, or the circumstances. There is more than one white Acura in town and I must say I failed at guessing what would eventually be disclosed. There is indeed a lot of secrets surrounding the people of Newburyport, and the author does a great job of revealing these secrets one at a time.
I really enjoyed this book. It keep me engaged and wanting to know more. The characters are interesting and, for the most part, likeable. There is one moment in the book reminiscent of Julia Robert’s “big mistake” scene in Pretty Woman which had thinking “you go girl!” This book is part mystery, part beach read and checks off many of the boxes I look for in a book. The book feels, however, that there is much left to say. Is it too much to hope that the author thinks so as well?
I listened to the audiobook edition of the book which was performed by one of my favourite narrators, Courtney Patterson. I appreciate the quality and versatility of her voice in enhancing this wonderful read.
Last summer I enjoyed the author’s book “The Islanders” and anticipated what this summer might bring. Her new book “Two Truths and a Lie” does not disappoint.
The book is set in the beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts at the beginning of summer and is told from multiple points of view. Sherri Griffin and her 11 year old daughter Katie have recently moved to town, having left Ohio after a “bad divorce”. Over the past few months, their lives have changed dramatically. She is happy to meet Rebecca Coleman and her two daughters Alexa 17 and Morgan 11. Rebecca was the informal leader of the “Mom Squad” - a group of the town’s women who have daughters of similar age. But since the passing of her husband eighteen months ago, she prefers to be less engaged to this superficial group. These two women create a bond - each is a single mother trying to make it on their own in a town where everyone is closely examined and gossiped about.
At the beginning of the book, we learn of a tragic accident involving a white Acura. We do not know who is involved, or the circumstances. There is more than one white Acura in town and I must say I failed at guessing what would eventually be disclosed. There is indeed a lot of secrets surrounding the people of Newburyport, and the author does a great job of revealing these secrets one at a time.
I really enjoyed this book. It keep me engaged and wanting to know more. The characters are interesting and, for the most part, likeable. There is one moment in the book reminiscent of Julia Robert’s “big mistake” scene in Pretty Woman which had thinking “you go girl!” This book is part mystery, part beach read and checks off many of the boxes I look for in a book. The book feels, however, that there is much left to say. Is it too much to hope that the author thinks so as well?
I listened to the audiobook edition of the book which was performed by one of my favourite narrators, Courtney Patterson. I appreciate the quality and versatility of her voice in enhancing this wonderful read.
May 9, 2020
Two Truths and a Lie is a mildly entertaining, breezy, basic beach/vacation read. It's the kind of book that you can definitely put down, take a dip in the pool and not feel compelled to have to pick it back up. You could even lose this book at the beach and it would be ok.
As long as you don't expect much this book won't let you down. Big Little Lies this book is not. It falls way short to me of fully telling the story it was supposed to be telling. The climax and falling action just missed the mark. The book pretends to be a kind of suspense thriller, but it really ends up being just contemporary drama. The only tolerable characters were the small children. Alexis, Rebecca, Sherri with an "I" and the Mom Squad were all caps TIRESOME and IRRITATING.
Also, the writing was kind of grating. I felt like it was written by some high-brow, stuffy, English professor. I swear the word "repair" has become my most hated word. Moore used it like 50 times! "They repaired to the living room...", "She decided to repair to the couch...", "The girls repaired to the lounge...". REPAIRREPAIRREPAIR! Who even says that? Just say they WENT to the living room, or she SAT on the couch. All throughout the book there were random words and phrases that no one uses and just didn't fit in with the overall writing. You can't sprinkle lots of 25cent words in a basic ass story and think it strengthens it somehow. Either Meg Moore needed to step away from her Thesaurus or she was just trying to sound too high-brow. Whatever it was it just didn't work.
All in all, it's not a terrible book it's just not memorable or that satisfying. If you want a basic beach read go for it. Just don't expect much.
*Please note I won a paperback ARC in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you! This review is my own honest opinion.
As long as you don't expect much this book won't let you down. Big Little Lies this book is not. It falls way short to me of fully telling the story it was supposed to be telling. The climax and falling action just missed the mark. The book pretends to be a kind of suspense thriller, but it really ends up being just contemporary drama. The only tolerable characters were the small children. Alexis, Rebecca, Sherri with an "I" and the Mom Squad were all caps TIRESOME and IRRITATING.
Also, the writing was kind of grating. I felt like it was written by some high-brow, stuffy, English professor. I swear the word "repair" has become my most hated word. Moore used it like 50 times! "They repaired to the living room...", "She decided to repair to the couch...", "The girls repaired to the lounge...". REPAIRREPAIRREPAIR! Who even says that? Just say they WENT to the living room, or she SAT on the couch. All throughout the book there were random words and phrases that no one uses and just didn't fit in with the overall writing. You can't sprinkle lots of 25cent words in a basic ass story and think it strengthens it somehow. Either Meg Moore needed to step away from her Thesaurus or she was just trying to sound too high-brow. Whatever it was it just didn't work.
All in all, it's not a terrible book it's just not memorable or that satisfying. If you want a basic beach read go for it. Just don't expect much.
*Please note I won a paperback ARC in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you! This review is my own honest opinion.
April 5, 2020
A fun beach read! Interesting characters and an idyllic setting. The multiple points of view was a key component and brought this book to another level. There were a lot of characters but I had no problem keeping track. There was a lot of suspense build up until the conclusion, which was very well done. The conclusion angered me but only because I was invested in the characters. It was well written and the storyline moves at an even pace. I flew through it and enjoyed the ride!
April 24, 2022
The perfect summer beach read. Just what I needed.
The Mom Squad in Newburyport, Massachusetts, is looking forward to a great summer. They’re girls are all rising 6th graders so they have a bit of freedom. But Rebecca, the organizer of the squad, hasn’t been the same since her husband unexpectedly died. And what’s up with Rebecca’s oldest daughter, Alexa? And the mysterious newcomer, Sherri, and her daughter, who will NOT penetrate their tight-knit group?
Easy, breezy, and fun, while tackling hard topics of death and grieving and parenting. I enjoyed this a lot.
The Mom Squad in Newburyport, Massachusetts, is looking forward to a great summer. They’re girls are all rising 6th graders so they have a bit of freedom. But Rebecca, the organizer of the squad, hasn’t been the same since her husband unexpectedly died. And what’s up with Rebecca’s oldest daughter, Alexa? And the mysterious newcomer, Sherri, and her daughter, who will NOT penetrate their tight-knit group?
Easy, breezy, and fun, while tackling hard topics of death and grieving and parenting. I enjoyed this a lot.
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