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My Husband's Lie
When I stumbled across the listing for Pevensey House I knew I had found a way for my family to be free and I didn’t hesitate. I should have, I know that now…
When Thea sees her old family home is up for sale – a beautiful old rectory in the small town where she and her childhood sweetheart, now husband, Drew, grew up – she knows she has to have it. Her parents moved her away suddenly when she was eleven, but her childhood there was filled with happy memories. Drew seems less sure, but Thea is certain it’s the perfect place to raise their two children.
But as the last boxes are unpacked, Thea can’t seem to settle. She thought the move would bring her family closer together, but Drew is growing more distant. And why do old friends cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming?
Alone in the house, exploring the creaky corridors she used to cartwheel down as a young girl, Thea smiles as she slides open the loose panel she once used as a hiding place. But it only takes one look at the faded local newspaper clipping hidden inside for the bonds holding her perfect family together to break.
It’s not long before news of the scandal spreads further and the whole town turns against her. Thea’s life is in freefall as her head and her heart wrestle between taking the blame, and fighting for her innocence. In a small town where no one ever forgets the past, can Thea find a way to save her family’s future?
This heart-wrenching and gripping family drama will have you hooked from the very first page. Perfect for anyone who loves Amanda Prowse, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.
When Thea sees her old family home is up for sale – a beautiful old rectory in the small town where she and her childhood sweetheart, now husband, Drew, grew up – she knows she has to have it. Her parents moved her away suddenly when she was eleven, but her childhood there was filled with happy memories. Drew seems less sure, but Thea is certain it’s the perfect place to raise their two children.
But as the last boxes are unpacked, Thea can’t seem to settle. She thought the move would bring her family closer together, but Drew is growing more distant. And why do old friends cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming?
Alone in the house, exploring the creaky corridors she used to cartwheel down as a young girl, Thea smiles as she slides open the loose panel she once used as a hiding place. But it only takes one look at the faded local newspaper clipping hidden inside for the bonds holding her perfect family together to break.
It’s not long before news of the scandal spreads further and the whole town turns against her. Thea’s life is in freefall as her head and her heart wrestle between taking the blame, and fighting for her innocence. In a small town where no one ever forgets the past, can Thea find a way to save her family’s future?
This heart-wrenching and gripping family drama will have you hooked from the very first page. Perfect for anyone who loves Amanda Prowse, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.
296 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2020
369 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
Emma Davies
28 books313 followersEmma Davies once applied for her dream job in the following manner;
'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.
By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.
Wave to her on twitter @Emdavies68
Letting in Light is her debut novel, and she is currently working on her second.
'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.
By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.
Wave to her on twitter @Emdavies68
Letting in Light is her debut novel, and she is currently working on her second.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
April 12, 2020
EXCERPT: Something stirred in me on that holiday and, whatever it was, it wouldn't lie back down. Was it just nostalgia, or something deeper? I don't know, but it grew inside of me just as surely as the two girls I had once carried.
It wasn't as if we were unhappy, sure, things had been difficult when Chloe and Lauren were little, but show me a family with young children where things don't get fraught. We got through it and, and although the girls and our lives filled our three bedroom terrace house to the rafters, I never thought I hated it, not really, not until two weeks of space and fresh air and love, actually, made me realise how cramped we all were. Not just our house, but us, everything that made us what we were, was being slowly crushed to death. So when I stumbled across the details for Pevensey House I knew I had found a way for us to be free, to settle the thing that had stirred inside of me and I didn't hesitate. I should have done, I realise that now.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Thea sees her old family home is up for sale – a beautiful old rectory in the small town where she and her childhood sweetheart, now husband, Drew, grew up – she knows she has to have it. Her parents moved her away suddenly when she was eleven, but her childhood there was filled with happy memories. Drew seems less sure, but Thea is certain it’s the perfect place to raise their two children.
But as the last boxes are unpacked, Thea can’t seem to settle. She thought the move would bring her family closer together, but Drew is growing more distant. And why do old friends cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming?
Alone in the house, exploring the creaky corridors she used to cartwheel down as a young girl, Thea smiles as she slides open the loose panel she once used as a hiding place. But it only takes one look at the faded local newspaper clipping hidden inside for the bonds holding her perfect family together to break.
It’s not long before news of the scandal spreads further and the whole town turns against her. Thea’s life is in freefall as her head and her heart wrestle between taking the blame, and fighting for her innocence. In a small town where no one ever forgets the past, can Thea find a way to save her family’s future?
MY THOUGHTS: I started off really liking this book. The writing is relaxed and interesting, the characters believable. But somewhere around 60%, I began to get really annoyed by Thea. I kind of understood her reaction, but even so I thought it was totally OTT. And from there on, even though it kept me interested, I was not as invested as I had been.
I felt sorry for Thea's husband, Drew. And I think that this book is mistitled.
The strongest theme in this book is bullying, both by children and adults. And yes, spreading unsubstantiated rumours is just another form of bullying.
I was hoping for more of a mystery than what we were given. It was never fully developed and I found the resolution unsatisfactory.
👨👩👧👧👩🎨🤦♀️. 4
#MyHusbandsLie #NetGalley
'People always feel that they should do something when they hold information (like this) as if it's the proverbial hot potato that will burn a hole in their pocket unless they pass it on. But of course the option always remains to do nothing. To merely set it down and let it cool. It's a pity more people don't use it. '
THE AUTHOR: Emma Davies once applied for her dream job in the following manner;
'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.
By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of My Husband's Lie by Emma Davies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It wasn't as if we were unhappy, sure, things had been difficult when Chloe and Lauren were little, but show me a family with young children where things don't get fraught. We got through it and, and although the girls and our lives filled our three bedroom terrace house to the rafters, I never thought I hated it, not really, not until two weeks of space and fresh air and love, actually, made me realise how cramped we all were. Not just our house, but us, everything that made us what we were, was being slowly crushed to death. So when I stumbled across the details for Pevensey House I knew I had found a way for us to be free, to settle the thing that had stirred inside of me and I didn't hesitate. I should have done, I realise that now.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Thea sees her old family home is up for sale – a beautiful old rectory in the small town where she and her childhood sweetheart, now husband, Drew, grew up – she knows she has to have it. Her parents moved her away suddenly when she was eleven, but her childhood there was filled with happy memories. Drew seems less sure, but Thea is certain it’s the perfect place to raise their two children.
But as the last boxes are unpacked, Thea can’t seem to settle. She thought the move would bring her family closer together, but Drew is growing more distant. And why do old friends cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming?
Alone in the house, exploring the creaky corridors she used to cartwheel down as a young girl, Thea smiles as she slides open the loose panel she once used as a hiding place. But it only takes one look at the faded local newspaper clipping hidden inside for the bonds holding her perfect family together to break.
It’s not long before news of the scandal spreads further and the whole town turns against her. Thea’s life is in freefall as her head and her heart wrestle between taking the blame, and fighting for her innocence. In a small town where no one ever forgets the past, can Thea find a way to save her family’s future?
MY THOUGHTS: I started off really liking this book. The writing is relaxed and interesting, the characters believable. But somewhere around 60%, I began to get really annoyed by Thea. I kind of understood her reaction, but even so I thought it was totally OTT. And from there on, even though it kept me interested, I was not as invested as I had been.
I felt sorry for Thea's husband, Drew. And I think that this book is mistitled.
The strongest theme in this book is bullying, both by children and adults. And yes, spreading unsubstantiated rumours is just another form of bullying.
I was hoping for more of a mystery than what we were given. It was never fully developed and I found the resolution unsatisfactory.
👨👩👧👧👩🎨🤦♀️. 4
#MyHusbandsLie #NetGalley
'People always feel that they should do something when they hold information (like this) as if it's the proverbial hot potato that will burn a hole in their pocket unless they pass it on. But of course the option always remains to do nothing. To merely set it down and let it cool. It's a pity more people don't use it. '
THE AUTHOR: Emma Davies once applied for her dream job in the following manner;
'I am a bestselling novelist currently masquerading as a thirty something mother of three.' Well she's now a forty something mother of three, and is working on the rest.
By day she's a finance manager and looks at numbers a lot of the time, but by night she gets to use actual words and practices putting them together into sentences. Her twitter bio says she loves her family, her job, reading, writing, singing loudly in the car, and Pringles, so that must be true then.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of My Husband's Lie by Emma Davies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 11, 2020
Can you ever go home again? This was a dark domestic drama packed with secrets, rumors, and lies. Thea is so excited to return to not only the town where she grew up, but to the house she grew up in. Her husband Drew and she have been inseparable forever in fact he grew up in the same town and lived in the house right next to her. But returning home to this small village was not exactly what Thea was expecting. She keeps getting dirty looks and seeing people whispering about her behind her back. When she finds an old newspaper article tucked away in a hiding place in the house she begins to realize that there are things people are not telling her.
Small town stories usually make me want to move to a small town, but definitely not this one. The people of this town were very judgemental, very unwelcoming, there was a definite uncomfortable vibe. I really felt bad for Thea she was so excited for this move and then these people were just so rude. I love the connection she had with Drew her husband and I really was hoping he was not involved with what was going on. I was so curious as to what could’ve happened to cause this entire town to turn against thea. I have to admit when I found out what it was I was surprised that these people acted like this? But I myself have never lived in a small town. This was a quick read with a satisfying ending.
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Small town stories usually make me want to move to a small town, but definitely not this one. The people of this town were very judgemental, very unwelcoming, there was a definite uncomfortable vibe. I really felt bad for Thea she was so excited for this move and then these people were just so rude. I love the connection she had with Drew her husband and I really was hoping he was not involved with what was going on. I was so curious as to what could’ve happened to cause this entire town to turn against thea. I have to admit when I found out what it was I was surprised that these people acted like this? But I myself have never lived in a small town. This was a quick read with a satisfying ending.
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
February 28, 2020
What a powerful and engrossing read!
I love this authors books of which are usually on the lighter side but this one is dark, suspenseful but oh so delightful. As a reader I couldn’t help but get caught up in the characters lives. I loved that Thea and Drew have known each other since they were children and have a strong and successful marriage. Their marriage is put under the test though when Thea finds out that Drew has been keeping something from her.
The setting couldn’t be anymore perfect for the story. A small village where everyone knows everyone else’s business and gossip spreads like wildfire. The welcome from the residents is not quite as welcoming as Thea or I for that matter, was expecting. There is definitely something a bit off which left me very intrigued as to why.
The author has created a story jam packed full of suspense. The friendship between Lauren and Tilly really captured me, making me care about these people that I was reading about. Friendship is something that comes across quite strongly with Thea, Drew and their friends from back home, Gerry and Rachel. As well as the friendship that Thea starts up with her next door neighbour.
My Husband’s Lie is a real page turner of a story. The authors writing consumed me whilst I lost myself into the story. There is a fair amount of drama which is filled to the brim with secrets and lies. My blood was boiling with the narrow mindedness of some of the villagers and there were parts that had me cheering Thea on. I absolutely loved this book. An engrossing, edge of your seat read.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I love this authors books of which are usually on the lighter side but this one is dark, suspenseful but oh so delightful. As a reader I couldn’t help but get caught up in the characters lives. I loved that Thea and Drew have known each other since they were children and have a strong and successful marriage. Their marriage is put under the test though when Thea finds out that Drew has been keeping something from her.
The setting couldn’t be anymore perfect for the story. A small village where everyone knows everyone else’s business and gossip spreads like wildfire. The welcome from the residents is not quite as welcoming as Thea or I for that matter, was expecting. There is definitely something a bit off which left me very intrigued as to why.
The author has created a story jam packed full of suspense. The friendship between Lauren and Tilly really captured me, making me care about these people that I was reading about. Friendship is something that comes across quite strongly with Thea, Drew and their friends from back home, Gerry and Rachel. As well as the friendship that Thea starts up with her next door neighbour.
My Husband’s Lie is a real page turner of a story. The authors writing consumed me whilst I lost myself into the story. There is a fair amount of drama which is filled to the brim with secrets and lies. My blood was boiling with the narrow mindedness of some of the villagers and there were parts that had me cheering Thea on. I absolutely loved this book. An engrossing, edge of your seat read.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 6, 2020
Thea and Drew were moving from London with their two girls back to their childhood village and Thea's childhood home. But the villagers are hostile towards them. The villagers are whispering behind their backs and Thea doesn't know why. Thea is alsomwondering why her husband is acting oddly. But then Thea finds an old newspaper clipping from twenty years ago. The past comes hauntingly back.
The first half of this Books pace is slow. This is more a family drama than a thriller. There's a lot of secrets, lies and rumours. Thea's world seems to be crumbling around her. The second half of the Books pace picks up and the story gets more interesting.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Emma Davies for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of this Books pace is slow. This is more a family drama than a thriller. There's a lot of secrets, lies and rumours. Thea's world seems to be crumbling around her. The second half of the Books pace picks up and the story gets more interesting.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Emma Davies for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2020
What. A. Book.
Author Emma Davies decided to careen a little away from her normal contemporaries to give me a cracker of a story. This was such a perfect read during these tough times. The story kept me glued all through from beginning to end. Even when I had to do my chores, the book lured me to it like a siren. You naughty thing!!
Thea and Drew had the perfect marriage and kids and when her family home in the village was put for sale, they quickly decided to snap it up to begin a new life in the same village where they spent their childhood. But the others mum’s started giving Thea nasty glances and shushed up when she passed by. Something nasty was broiling, and everything broke in Thea when she came to know the truth. She had to make some tough choices.
A delightful book filled to the brim with suspense and emotions and gossip and small village secrets. The author was simply brilliant in this book. I loved how she etched her main character with such a loving hand, breaking her when she heard the husband’s lie, making her stumble, then giving her the strength to face the truth. Thea was a force to reckon with in the scenes where she stood up for herself. And everything in me bowed down to the power of the emotions that the author seeped her words in. I loved it.
The book had the gossipy mums and judgmental people, but it also had the power of friendships and strong relationships which were the crux of the story. The author how to bind me completely into the story, drawing my attention to the characters and their lives, making me feel their emotions and cheering them on. This was completely an immersive read for me where I had to know how the book ended.
Addictive and captivating.
Author Emma Davies decided to careen a little away from her normal contemporaries to give me a cracker of a story. This was such a perfect read during these tough times. The story kept me glued all through from beginning to end. Even when I had to do my chores, the book lured me to it like a siren. You naughty thing!!
Thea and Drew had the perfect marriage and kids and when her family home in the village was put for sale, they quickly decided to snap it up to begin a new life in the same village where they spent their childhood. But the others mum’s started giving Thea nasty glances and shushed up when she passed by. Something nasty was broiling, and everything broke in Thea when she came to know the truth. She had to make some tough choices.
A delightful book filled to the brim with suspense and emotions and gossip and small village secrets. The author was simply brilliant in this book. I loved how she etched her main character with such a loving hand, breaking her when she heard the husband’s lie, making her stumble, then giving her the strength to face the truth. Thea was a force to reckon with in the scenes where she stood up for herself. And everything in me bowed down to the power of the emotions that the author seeped her words in. I loved it.
The book had the gossipy mums and judgmental people, but it also had the power of friendships and strong relationships which were the crux of the story. The author how to bind me completely into the story, drawing my attention to the characters and their lives, making me feel their emotions and cheering them on. This was completely an immersive read for me where I had to know how the book ended.
Addictive and captivating.
April 10, 2020
Thea and Drew grew up next door to each other, married and had kids and settled in London...now they decide to move back to Thea’s childhood home and live ‘the village dream’
Have they never read any books where bad things happen to those that do this 😎🤓
And all is apple pie and cream
Well for a few weeks
Until the villagers shun them and gossip is rife about them, the ( wonderfully portrayed ) village shop goes into silence when they walk in and the playground Mummies shun Thea, heavens even the Harvest Festival Supper is under threat as the locals refuse to help out
But what is the secret that is causing all this bad feeling? what did happen all those years ago and why are the villagers starting a war?
A sterling cast of village folk inc the vicar and Anna his wife next door to Thea, Stacey the thin lipped gossip and a further array of colourful characters made this a book that bought smiles and grimaces and although covered a nasty secret kept the balance right
No massive whodunit surprises or shocks but you dont always need that
A good read
8/10
4 Stars
April 11, 2020
There is no story until 40% of the way and after that the plot just meanders. What the title got to do with the story is very little. Not my pick.
May 22, 2020
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with this ARC.
I wanted to like this book so badly but I was solely let down. I found the main character to be very overdramatic and her response to what she found out caused a story out of nothing. The book is severely mistitled it has nothing to do with her husband and bless him, she ends up taking out her rage and frustration on him. The plot itself started out promising, but fizzled into nothing and left me feeling underwhelmed.
The writing itself was pretty decent but I did find myself skimming the last couple of pages just to get to the end.
I wanted to like this book so badly but I was solely let down. I found the main character to be very overdramatic and her response to what she found out caused a story out of nothing. The book is severely mistitled it has nothing to do with her husband and bless him, she ends up taking out her rage and frustration on him. The plot itself started out promising, but fizzled into nothing and left me feeling underwhelmed.
The writing itself was pretty decent but I did find myself skimming the last couple of pages just to get to the end.
April 15, 2020
ARC provided by NetGalley, Bookouture, and Emma Davies. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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"Looking back, I wonder whether our holiday had been to blame. Two weeks of unexpectedly perfect weather at Easter, when the girls had gambolled like lambs in the fields surrounding the farm where we had stayed, and even Drew had lost the pinched look he so often wore. His stride had lengthened, his shoulders had relaxed, and he just looked... content."
04-15: 'My Husband's Lie' by Emma Davies is a mildly dark family drama that centers around the main character Thea, her husband Drew, and two children as they embark on a bold move to free themselves of the constraints of the big city life and corporate work environment.
It's a feeling many of us have had or will experience in our lifetimes. That point when you tire of working to make others wealthy at the expense of your own best interests and decide to take a risk, to branch out on your own. More and more, it's becoming a common narrative in our society.
When Thea discovers the home she spent some of her happiest years in happens to be on the market, her fond memories foster an excitement and determination to return to her roots. Having begun her life in Pevensky House, with her then best friend and now husband right next door, their families abruptly moved away while the pair were still children.
"Seeing her on that holiday reminded me of the Thea I first met, the one who walked barefoot everywhere, the one whose fits of giggles exploded out of nowhere. It made me realise how beautiful she was, how much I loved her. And her work? It came to life during those two weeks, the best she'd ever produced - winning the commission was evidence enough of that. So how could I possibly hold her back, just when she had found her wings."
What starts out as an earnest change for the betterment of their lives, soon clouds with uncertainty. She and Drew seemingly drift apart and people go out of their way to avoid her.
After discovering an unexpected secret tucked into her childhood hiding place, she's faced with more questions than answers and a growing sense of unease. Meanwhile, the other citizens of the small town turn against her as more secrets and accusations come to light.
This novel definitely touches on some uncomfortable topics.. abuse/assault, destructive lies, and so forth.. but I assure you that it doesn't go into much detail in those regards. It's not an exploitative book. It's almost more of a study as to the effects, not just of the original harm caused by such things. But also the ripples stretching outward over the years beyond due to the lingering weight of keeping the secrets. So many more lives are changed by one act than we might at first believe.
Watching characters struggle with the accusations is hard enough, but the feelings of betrayal, loss, and disillusionment sit even more heavily on them. Thea's pretty relatable, she's hurt and angry. She lashes out, sometimes in stupid ways, which are completely understandable. But all that aside, it's kind of hard not to feel sorry for some of the targets of that anger.
"How can you ever grow if you don't have roots?"
At the core of the family, Drew and Thea have a really lovely relationship. It's warm and supportive. They like to say sometimes that they "don't know where one of them ends and the other begins." And it's especially difficult to watch that conflict between them because of the usual nature of that relationship. Plus, their girls are also quite darling and you really just want to see everything work out for them all.
I will say, I saw the reveal coming before the foreshadowing was really at play, but some of that is instinct as to how an author writes. I don't feel like there were any telegraphing issues of note or anything like that.
My only disappointment is probably the idyllic wrap-up. There is a particularly tense moment toward the end of the story that I felt could have been well served with a different conclusion, but it's all well-structured and moves at a good pace. I just like a little more destruction in my stories than most.
Definitely a worthwhile read if you are a fan of mysteries or contemporary dramas.
PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOOGLEPLAY BOOKS | KOBO | WATERSTONES
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04-14: Quick read, but well done. Review to come this afternoon!
04-12: This one is next in my bid to catch up, here's hoping it goes a bit faster! Family drama.. ooooh..
April 11, 2020
Emma Davies takes a different direction in
My Husband's Lie.
I am used to reading romances by her, so to read a story that had an emotional edge was really nice.
This suspenseful story starts with promise for Thea and her husband Drew, friends since childhood, now and married with two children. Thea is thrilled to have a chance to move back into her childhood home. She never fully understood why her parents moved the family away when she was eleven years old.
A few things happen just as Thea and Drew are getting settled. Thea meets her next door neighbor, and they become fast friends. This is especially wonderful because her daughter also has a new friend. Lauren is about her only friend, however, because as she goes about town, even for a normal activity like taking her children to school, everyone treats her like a pariah. Then one day while in her daughter's room, she discovers a very old newspaper clipping in a long-ago hiding place. Lastly, there was a scandal years back that is now right in front of her.
Thea now begins to piece together things about her childhood and why her family moved away. Will Thea unravel the truth behind her past and can she do so before everything falls apart and ruins any chance at happiness for her and her family?
What a wonderful family drama that explores the bonds of friendship, all while being drawn along with taut suspense. I found this to be a quick read because I just had to see how things would work out and to see if Thea and her family could rise above everything suddenly going on. Kudos to Emma Davies for writing such an engaging story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
This suspenseful story starts with promise for Thea and her husband Drew, friends since childhood, now and married with two children. Thea is thrilled to have a chance to move back into her childhood home. She never fully understood why her parents moved the family away when she was eleven years old.
A few things happen just as Thea and Drew are getting settled. Thea meets her next door neighbor, and they become fast friends. This is especially wonderful because her daughter also has a new friend. Lauren is about her only friend, however, because as she goes about town, even for a normal activity like taking her children to school, everyone treats her like a pariah. Then one day while in her daughter's room, she discovers a very old newspaper clipping in a long-ago hiding place. Lastly, there was a scandal years back that is now right in front of her.
Thea now begins to piece together things about her childhood and why her family moved away. Will Thea unravel the truth behind her past and can she do so before everything falls apart and ruins any chance at happiness for her and her family?
What a wonderful family drama that explores the bonds of friendship, all while being drawn along with taut suspense. I found this to be a quick read because I just had to see how things would work out and to see if Thea and her family could rise above everything suddenly going on. Kudos to Emma Davies for writing such an engaging story.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
August 3, 2020
I'm not normally a fan of contemporary fiction but if it has a little mystery thrown into it, then you can usually sell it to me. MY HUSBAND'S LIE by Emma Davies is my first by this author and it did not disappoint. This domestic drama is tinged with suspense and packed with secrets, rumours and a lot of lies.
Thea and Drew are excited to return to the village in which they grew up, not only for the village but for the house that Thea where all her childhood memories are nothing but happy ones. And now Thea just knows that Pevensey House is the perfect place to raise her family and where her girls, Chloe and Lauren, will thrive away from the choking pollution and snarling traffic of London. It is somewhere safe to grow up...or at least that's what they thought.
Upon their arrival, Thea befriends neighbours Anna and Rob who now live in Rose Cottage where Drew and his family once did. They have a young daughter Tilly who is the same age as Lauren and the two girls hit it off immediately. Born with a congenital deformity, Tilly only has one arm but it doesn't dissuade her from life. But it does make her a target for bullies at school. And when one such bully victimises Tilly in the playground, Lauren immediately jumps to her defence...punching the boy and bringing herself attention to the school's head teacher.
But the victimising doesn't end there. Nor does it end with Tilly or Lauren. Soon Thea finds herself the subject of malicious gossip when an incident that took place when she was just a child is thrust at her doorstep and she is left to question everything about her childhood as she knew it. Was it all just a lie?
When Thea confides in Drew she is shocked to learn that he knew about it already! So why did he not tell her? Why keep it from her? Had she known would she have been so ready to move back here? And if he has kept this from her all these years, what else has he kept from her? Thea thought she knew him...but does she know him at all?
When Thea decides to take matters into her own hands to show the other parents that she was not afraid of their malicious lies, things only end up worse - for both her and for Anna. How can Thea to make things right for them both now? And without Drew in her corner how can she to get through this?
MY HUSBAND'S LIE is filled to the brim of gossipy mums and a judgemental village. Who needs Twitter or Facebook or WhatsApp when you have the village grapevine to stir up trouble? But more than that, the story also focuses on the power of friendship and it reminds us of the power that our words can have on others. And whatever may have happened, whether there was any truth to the rumours, there are always families of those left behind that will feel the aftershock in the ripples that remain in tragedy's wake. Sadly these are collateral damage in the fallout...but they are also innocent. But the gossip-mongers do not think of that when they spread their vicious lies...and the hurt they may cause.
The story unfolds solely in Thea's narrative - with Drew's voice included in the prologue and the epilogue - MY HUSBAND'S LIE is not a whodunit but it there is an element of mystery with a touch of suspense. And a whole load of colourful characters that make up the sterling cast in a small-minded village in a sleepy corner of Shropshire.
A rather good read that I found surprisingly enjoyable, despite its slow start, MY HUSBAND'S LIE is addictive and somewhat compelling to uncover the truth. And thankfully, there is a kind of closure to the mystery behind the village gossip, which made for a satisfying end.
I would like to thank #EmmaDavies, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsLies in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Thea and Drew are excited to return to the village in which they grew up, not only for the village but for the house that Thea where all her childhood memories are nothing but happy ones. And now Thea just knows that Pevensey House is the perfect place to raise her family and where her girls, Chloe and Lauren, will thrive away from the choking pollution and snarling traffic of London. It is somewhere safe to grow up...or at least that's what they thought.
Upon their arrival, Thea befriends neighbours Anna and Rob who now live in Rose Cottage where Drew and his family once did. They have a young daughter Tilly who is the same age as Lauren and the two girls hit it off immediately. Born with a congenital deformity, Tilly only has one arm but it doesn't dissuade her from life. But it does make her a target for bullies at school. And when one such bully victimises Tilly in the playground, Lauren immediately jumps to her defence...punching the boy and bringing herself attention to the school's head teacher.
But the victimising doesn't end there. Nor does it end with Tilly or Lauren. Soon Thea finds herself the subject of malicious gossip when an incident that took place when she was just a child is thrust at her doorstep and she is left to question everything about her childhood as she knew it. Was it all just a lie?
When Thea confides in Drew she is shocked to learn that he knew about it already! So why did he not tell her? Why keep it from her? Had she known would she have been so ready to move back here? And if he has kept this from her all these years, what else has he kept from her? Thea thought she knew him...but does she know him at all?
When Thea decides to take matters into her own hands to show the other parents that she was not afraid of their malicious lies, things only end up worse - for both her and for Anna. How can Thea to make things right for them both now? And without Drew in her corner how can she to get through this?
MY HUSBAND'S LIE is filled to the brim of gossipy mums and a judgemental village. Who needs Twitter or Facebook or WhatsApp when you have the village grapevine to stir up trouble? But more than that, the story also focuses on the power of friendship and it reminds us of the power that our words can have on others. And whatever may have happened, whether there was any truth to the rumours, there are always families of those left behind that will feel the aftershock in the ripples that remain in tragedy's wake. Sadly these are collateral damage in the fallout...but they are also innocent. But the gossip-mongers do not think of that when they spread their vicious lies...and the hurt they may cause.
The story unfolds solely in Thea's narrative - with Drew's voice included in the prologue and the epilogue - MY HUSBAND'S LIE is not a whodunit but it there is an element of mystery with a touch of suspense. And a whole load of colourful characters that make up the sterling cast in a small-minded village in a sleepy corner of Shropshire.
A rather good read that I found surprisingly enjoyable, despite its slow start, MY HUSBAND'S LIE is addictive and somewhat compelling to uncover the truth. And thankfully, there is a kind of closure to the mystery behind the village gossip, which made for a satisfying end.
I would like to thank #EmmaDavies, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsLies in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 3, 2020
Review for 'My Husband's Lie' by Emma Davies
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I would be happy to read and review more books by her.
I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful and intriguing cover and blurb. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, epilogue and 27 chapters which are of short to medium length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' (lol).
This story is told from Thea's point of view throughout and is set in one timeline.
This book is set in England which is always a bonus for me. I'm from Wales but visit England regularly on trips and holidays so have visited quite a few areas. This helps me picture places if they are mentioned in books and I have visited them.
One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this book is because I myself have recently moved back into the childhood home I grew up in with my own family this time. When Thea is walking to the school with her child having memories of her mum doing the same with her it is easy for me to feel as she is as I have done exactly the same.
Perfect setting for the story being in a small village where everybody knows everyone else and their secrets, sounds similar to where I live!!
The characters were all very strong and believable. I especially loved the friendship between Lauren and Tilly.
I do believe the title is a bit misleading to be honest. Although, yes, there were some things that Drew hadn't discussed I don't think I would base the title of the whole plot on his 'lies'.
The book itself was very well written with fantastic descriptions. The plot is filled with drama, relationships, friendships, rumours and deceit. I definitely didn't work out the truth of what was going on which is always a bonus.
The storyline was quite a smooth and easy read with some suspense which built up more towards the middle of the book.
I would recommend this book to fans of drama, low suspense and small village storylines.
298 pages
£1.99 to purchase on kindle. I think this is a bargain for this novel.
Rated 4/5 ( I enjoyed it) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon.Com and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews
#MyHusband'sLie #EmmaDavies #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview
@EmmaDavies @Bookouture @Bookworm1986
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I would be happy to read and review more books by her.
I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful and intriguing cover and blurb. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue, epilogue and 27 chapters which are of short to medium length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' (lol).
This story is told from Thea's point of view throughout and is set in one timeline.
This book is set in England which is always a bonus for me. I'm from Wales but visit England regularly on trips and holidays so have visited quite a few areas. This helps me picture places if they are mentioned in books and I have visited them.
One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this book is because I myself have recently moved back into the childhood home I grew up in with my own family this time. When Thea is walking to the school with her child having memories of her mum doing the same with her it is easy for me to feel as she is as I have done exactly the same.
Perfect setting for the story being in a small village where everybody knows everyone else and their secrets, sounds similar to where I live!!
The characters were all very strong and believable. I especially loved the friendship between Lauren and Tilly.
I do believe the title is a bit misleading to be honest. Although, yes, there were some things that Drew hadn't discussed I don't think I would base the title of the whole plot on his 'lies'.
The book itself was very well written with fantastic descriptions. The plot is filled with drama, relationships, friendships, rumours and deceit. I definitely didn't work out the truth of what was going on which is always a bonus.
The storyline was quite a smooth and easy read with some suspense which built up more towards the middle of the book.
I would recommend this book to fans of drama, low suspense and small village storylines.
298 pages
£1.99 to purchase on kindle. I think this is a bargain for this novel.
Rated 4/5 ( I enjoyed it) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon.Com and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews
#MyHusband'sLie #EmmaDavies #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview
@EmmaDavies @Bookouture @Bookworm1986
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
April 4, 2020
Thanks to @netgalley, @bookouture & Emma Davies for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
•
This is a typical slow burning domestic drama. There is a lot of secrets and lies throughout this one, don't be expecting a whodunit type of thriller.
•
It was definitely an enjoyable ride with a lot of family drama. I was intrigued all the way through.
•
It wasn't my most enjoyable read, but it was okay. The writing was okay and the characters were unrelatable to me. I really was hoping for more of a thriller than a family drama.
•
This is a typical slow burning domestic drama. There is a lot of secrets and lies throughout this one, don't be expecting a whodunit type of thriller.
•
It was definitely an enjoyable ride with a lot of family drama. I was intrigued all the way through.
•
It wasn't my most enjoyable read, but it was okay. The writing was okay and the characters were unrelatable to me. I really was hoping for more of a thriller than a family drama.
April 9, 2020
My Husband’s Lie is the first book I have read by Emma Davies. While I was expecting more of a thriller story with twists and turns, the story reads more like a well thought out drama filled mystery.
Tired of the daily grind in London, with two kids, a husband and a house they have now outgrown, Thea thinks it is time for a change. So, when she sees her old childhood home, Pevensey House is up for sale, Thea and her husband Drew jump at the chance to move their family out to the country. But with unreliable memories of the past, is Pevensey House all it is cracked up to be?
I really love the setting of this story and how it takes place in such a close knit village. Emma Davies paints such a vivid scene and really draws her readers in with her beautiful scenery. It almost felt as if I was there. Everyone knows everyone and has either been living there since Thea’s childhood or have been recent transplants to village life. One thing stands out though, there is a really big secret that everyone seems to know and Thea can’t understand why she is given the cold shoulder and why her husband has grown a bit distant since the move.
Thea is a really strong character, one you can sympathize with. I really loved her relationship with her husband, Drew. They were childhood sweethearts and now have a loving marriage where they can both rely on one another. Her husband’s lie is a pretty big one, but when you think about it you can see where he is coming from. I think in the end Thea handled it the only way she knew how.
My Husband’s Lie is a gripping and emotional mystery laced with a strong message about strength and character. I definitely stayed up well into the evening reading this story and it is one I can definitely recommend.
Tired of the daily grind in London, with two kids, a husband and a house they have now outgrown, Thea thinks it is time for a change. So, when she sees her old childhood home, Pevensey House is up for sale, Thea and her husband Drew jump at the chance to move their family out to the country. But with unreliable memories of the past, is Pevensey House all it is cracked up to be?
I really love the setting of this story and how it takes place in such a close knit village. Emma Davies paints such a vivid scene and really draws her readers in with her beautiful scenery. It almost felt as if I was there. Everyone knows everyone and has either been living there since Thea’s childhood or have been recent transplants to village life. One thing stands out though, there is a really big secret that everyone seems to know and Thea can’t understand why she is given the cold shoulder and why her husband has grown a bit distant since the move.
Thea is a really strong character, one you can sympathize with. I really loved her relationship with her husband, Drew. They were childhood sweethearts and now have a loving marriage where they can both rely on one another. Her husband’s lie is a pretty big one, but when you think about it you can see where he is coming from. I think in the end Thea handled it the only way she knew how.
My Husband’s Lie is a gripping and emotional mystery laced with a strong message about strength and character. I definitely stayed up well into the evening reading this story and it is one I can definitely recommend.
March 8, 2020
Thea only has good memories of her childhood home, so what secret is her husband hiding and why is the whole village suddenly acting weird? I thought that this would be more of a haunted house story, or at least a whodunit. Unfortunately, it’s more of a “secrets and lies” variety. There is a mystery in the past, but it’s not really that important and, even if we do get resolution, it’s not unexpected or suspenseful. I struggled to relate to Thea and her obsession about other people’s opinions of her. Her attitude toward the titular husband’s lie was, in my opinion, an overreaction. The novel is very well written, so it’s more of a question of predilection. I like action-based plots with twists and turns and this is character-based.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bookouture!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Bookouture!
March 7, 2020
I am all for domestic thrillers! I love them.... but this was more of a drama and I was waiting for the twists and turns and it fell flat. I did enjoy the characters and they were very well written. The story was a little too descriptive for me and I could have gotten the same outcome with less words. Overall it’s a solid book, just not exciting.
March 31, 2020
This book was not what I was expecting. It was more of a domestic drama than a thriller in my opinion. There seems to be so much of this lately. I found it long winded but well written. I think I am just burned out of the slow burning domestic dramas at this point. So for me, not a favorite but definitely a favorite for a lot of readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.
April 8, 2020
My husbands lie.
The title of the book kept me reading. I wanted to know, what this lie was.
Thea, her husband Drew and their two daughters move into Thea’s childhood home in the small village where she and Drew grew up and fell in love. The perfect place to raise their children to have the idyllic childhood just as she and Drew had.
But something isn’t quite right.
Thea can feel the locals eyes on her, snickering behind her back.
It’s as if they know something that she doesn’t. Maybe they do.
There was a lot of build up to finding out what her husbands lie was.
It wasn’t until I read 30% of the book that the story started to unfold and ramp up.
I was really ready to be shocked and thrilled after having already consumed so much of the book.
I was pretty disappointed to find that it fell really flat for me.
All that work for so little payoff.
This was a well developed and well written story of a family determined to survive social stigma. However, it was not gripping, it was not suspenseful and ultimately was not a thriller.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read and review.
#MyHusbandsLie
The title of the book kept me reading. I wanted to know, what this lie was.
Thea, her husband Drew and their two daughters move into Thea’s childhood home in the small village where she and Drew grew up and fell in love. The perfect place to raise their children to have the idyllic childhood just as she and Drew had.
But something isn’t quite right.
Thea can feel the locals eyes on her, snickering behind her back.
It’s as if they know something that she doesn’t. Maybe they do.
There was a lot of build up to finding out what her husbands lie was.
It wasn’t until I read 30% of the book that the story started to unfold and ramp up.
I was really ready to be shocked and thrilled after having already consumed so much of the book.
I was pretty disappointed to find that it fell really flat for me.
All that work for so little payoff.
This was a well developed and well written story of a family determined to survive social stigma. However, it was not gripping, it was not suspenseful and ultimately was not a thriller.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read and review.
#MyHusbandsLie
March 16, 2020
This book just plodded along for me.
The beginning was mundane. Thea and Drew moving back into their childhood home with their two girls. A hostile welcome from the villagers. I guessed the reason why from pretty early on as I read about what happened to Georgia from Thea's childhood. There was no plot twist and it wasnt gripping for me. This read was a drama especially towards the end when the harvest festival event took place. I found myself skipping and speed reading the last few paragraphs. Stacey's secret didnt surprise me either and it left me feeling underwelmed.
The dialogue between Anna and Thea irritated me, there was no substance in their conversations which fell flat.
A shame because I really wanted to like this book.
Thankyou to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning was mundane. Thea and Drew moving back into their childhood home with their two girls. A hostile welcome from the villagers. I guessed the reason why from pretty early on as I read about what happened to Georgia from Thea's childhood. There was no plot twist and it wasnt gripping for me. This read was a drama especially towards the end when the harvest festival event took place. I found myself skipping and speed reading the last few paragraphs. Stacey's secret didnt surprise me either and it left me feeling underwelmed.
The dialogue between Anna and Thea irritated me, there was no substance in their conversations which fell flat.
A shame because I really wanted to like this book.
Thankyou to netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2020
I am something of a Emma Davies novice having read none of her other books yet. I was so impressed with this outstanding psychological drama/thriller! The premise of the book beckoned to me and I knew that I had to read this novel.
In My Husband's Lie, the reader gets the opportunity to meet Thea who has stumbled across an advert for the chance to buy Pevensey House - the gorgeous old rectory that she lived in as a child. Her family suddenly moved away from the area when she was eleven, though Thea still has many happy memories from their time in her small hometown. Keen to recreate a similar idyll for her own children, Chloe and Lauren, she mulls things over with her husband Drew who is from the same town, but oddly, he is not so keen on making the move. Thea convinces Drew and the Gordon family arrive at Pevensey House, but Thea cannot settle. Why is Drew is growing more distant... and why do old friends cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming?
Emma Davies wowed me in this classy psychological thriller with style and flair. The plot execution was tremendous, as was the characterisation, and pacing. There were no disappointments and I was completely gripped from the outset, loving the drama and twists. Jammed full of secrets, lies and betrayal, I couldn't help but get caught up in the each of the characters lives.
In My Husband's Lie, the author had the smalltown lifestyle, complete with the gossipy mums and judgmental people, down to a T, but also masterfully encompassed the power of friendships and strong relationships, which were the main crux of the story.
An immersive, captivating and satisfying read, delivered with aplomb.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
In My Husband's Lie, the reader gets the opportunity to meet Thea who has stumbled across an advert for the chance to buy Pevensey House - the gorgeous old rectory that she lived in as a child. Her family suddenly moved away from the area when she was eleven, though Thea still has many happy memories from their time in her small hometown. Keen to recreate a similar idyll for her own children, Chloe and Lauren, she mulls things over with her husband Drew who is from the same town, but oddly, he is not so keen on making the move. Thea convinces Drew and the Gordon family arrive at Pevensey House, but Thea cannot settle. Why is Drew is growing more distant... and why do old friends cross to the other side of the road when they see her coming?
Emma Davies wowed me in this classy psychological thriller with style and flair. The plot execution was tremendous, as was the characterisation, and pacing. There were no disappointments and I was completely gripped from the outset, loving the drama and twists. Jammed full of secrets, lies and betrayal, I couldn't help but get caught up in the each of the characters lives.
In My Husband's Lie, the author had the smalltown lifestyle, complete with the gossipy mums and judgmental people, down to a T, but also masterfully encompassed the power of friendships and strong relationships, which were the main crux of the story.
An immersive, captivating and satisfying read, delivered with aplomb.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
April 13, 2020
Thea is overjoyed when she spots that her childhood home Pevensey House is up for sale. She has so many happy memories from the eleven years she spent growing up in the beautiful old rectory. Living next door to her childhood sweetheart Drew who is now her husband and the father of their two young daughters Lauren and Chloe. She has to have it, Drew seems less sure but Thea is certain that it's the perfect place to raise their children.
But even before the last of the boxes are unpacked, Thea's dreams start to unravel, Lauren uncharacteristically gets into a fight at school, Drew starts to become more and more distant and as time passes Thea can't ignore the feeling that everyone in the village appears to be turning against her.
The discovery of a faded newspaper clipping causes the bonds holding her perfect family together to break and Thea's life to go into freefall. In a small village where no-one ever forgets the past, can Thea find a way to save her families future.
This story is narrated almost entirely from Thea's perspective although there was a couple of paragraphs which were voiced from Drew's perspective. I had mixed feelings about Thea, I couldn't help admiring her mumma bear protective nature towards her daughters and poor little Tilly and her frustration with Anna's refusal to rock the boat and stand up for her disabled daughter. But I also felt that she came across as a rather self centred individual and her reaction to Drew's revelations was unreasonable and over the top. She came across as being more concerned over why a virtual stranger was being seemingly standoffish towards her than she was about the damage that she was causing to her own marriage. Drew was a really likeable character who was doing his best to get back on his feet after the move whilst dealing with his beloved wife's erratic self centred behaviour. The secondary characters were a mixed bunch of vivid individuals, the stand out ones being Anna,Tilly and Thea's loyal best friend Rachel.
This is the story of what happens when reality doesn't live up to expectations and the effect that gossip can have on someone's self belief and mental health. It's a tale of redemption,bullying,secrets,friendships,relationships and the power of love. It's a bit of a slow burner,I personally wouldn't class it as a thriller and the ending was a bit too happily ever after for my liking but it was a enjoyable read and I would happily read more books written by this author in the future
But even before the last of the boxes are unpacked, Thea's dreams start to unravel, Lauren uncharacteristically gets into a fight at school, Drew starts to become more and more distant and as time passes Thea can't ignore the feeling that everyone in the village appears to be turning against her.
The discovery of a faded newspaper clipping causes the bonds holding her perfect family together to break and Thea's life to go into freefall. In a small village where no-one ever forgets the past, can Thea find a way to save her families future.
This story is narrated almost entirely from Thea's perspective although there was a couple of paragraphs which were voiced from Drew's perspective. I had mixed feelings about Thea, I couldn't help admiring her mumma bear protective nature towards her daughters and poor little Tilly and her frustration with Anna's refusal to rock the boat and stand up for her disabled daughter. But I also felt that she came across as a rather self centred individual and her reaction to Drew's revelations was unreasonable and over the top. She came across as being more concerned over why a virtual stranger was being seemingly standoffish towards her than she was about the damage that she was causing to her own marriage. Drew was a really likeable character who was doing his best to get back on his feet after the move whilst dealing with his beloved wife's erratic self centred behaviour. The secondary characters were a mixed bunch of vivid individuals, the stand out ones being Anna,Tilly and Thea's loyal best friend Rachel.
This is the story of what happens when reality doesn't live up to expectations and the effect that gossip can have on someone's self belief and mental health. It's a tale of redemption,bullying,secrets,friendships,relationships and the power of love. It's a bit of a slow burner,I personally wouldn't class it as a thriller and the ending was a bit too happily ever after for my liking but it was a enjoyable read and I would happily read more books written by this author in the future
April 12, 2020
My Husband's Lie, Emma Davies
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction (adult), Women's fiction
I thought this sounded interesting, I like to have a range of different genre books on the go, so I can dip as suits my mood. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't the deep suspense, drama, thrill I was expecting.
I enjoyed the first half, meeting the family, being with them on their exciting move and new work venture, and of course meeting the other book characters. Anna and Rob, and Tilly, what a wonderful family, I'd love to live near them. I'm glad Anna wasn't as full of Faith as Rob, but had her doubts, was unsure, it made her more real. We expect curate's wives to follow their husbands beliefs even now, and that Anna was her own person was wonderful.
It was when The Secret came to light that things actually went downhill for me. I felt Thea's reactions at first were as expected but the way she fell apart, blamed poor Drew, her mother, her friends....it all just felt to OTT for me. Nothing has changed, just her knowledge. Yes, I could see that others knowing, especially those close to you with who you think you share everything, hurts. However the motivations, it wasn't done to escape blame, but to try to save her being hurt.
What came over far better for me was the bullying, both adults and children, and the way it was handled. We've all known people like the girl's headmistress, like Leo's mum Stacey, like the shop gossips. Small towns and villages can be a gem but when a rumour takes roots it spreads rapidly and folk quickly take sides. That part felt incredibly real.
I guess for me I just felt the story wasn't what I expected, it was good, but not what the title and blurb suggested. I also had the problem of Thea, I just felt like she over-reacted, and when she took to her bed, left the girls to Drew, went on a giant sulk I just wanted to say Get Over Yourself, Grow up. Her kids needed her, she knew her actions would hurt them. She knew Drew acted in what he thought was her best interest, he got it wrong ( IMO) but he was trying to help. She irritated me, even though she's not real, because there are people who would act exactly as she did. Real First world Problems ;-)
I thought the ending was great, the little drama that happened was good but superfluous for me, it didn't actually need that, the ending worked out well even without that.
Stars: Four, a story that started well for me, right up to the revelations that sent Thea off into a kind of madness, throwing blame around and acting like a child. Her poor mum had lived through it, protected her and now Thea is throwing blame out for everything to everyone it seems.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher
May 29, 2020
The title gave me pause & caused me to choose this book to read. The title should be something else. The husband`s lie was minor in comparison to his wife's past & the history they shared in that little village they selected to live in. This story is an international read that takes you to London & its countryside. Within the village are nasty rumors about Thea`s father & she has no idea what is going on until it's revealed to her in such a way, it will unleash a torrent of confusion, anger, tears...but most of all the resolve to stop the antagonist (s) behind the ugly gossip.
Invalidated information (gossip) can cause damage in numerous ways; suicide, murder, a nervous breakdown and so forth. The book spilled the beans in regards to showing how people respond to gossip about others but the minute their on the receiving end of gossip, they can get a clear picture of the double standard they hold. This book dealt with pedophilia & demonstrated that all families have secrets; some worse than others. Another area covered was bullying. This time it was not just a child....A parent was destroying the village's comraderie because of their bullying ways which reflected in their child.
If you read this book, take your time. The story builds up to the crescendo of the story & will emotionally tear at your heart.
Invalidated information (gossip) can cause damage in numerous ways; suicide, murder, a nervous breakdown and so forth. The book spilled the beans in regards to showing how people respond to gossip about others but the minute their on the receiving end of gossip, they can get a clear picture of the double standard they hold. This book dealt with pedophilia & demonstrated that all families have secrets; some worse than others. Another area covered was bullying. This time it was not just a child....A parent was destroying the village's comraderie because of their bullying ways which reflected in their child.
If you read this book, take your time. The story builds up to the crescendo of the story & will emotionally tear at your heart.
April 11, 2020
I have read books by this author before but this is not the same stuff and I have to say that it fits her like a glove too.
I really like both genres she writes. They are both emotional, but this book is heavier and spookier.
I not only fell in love with the gorgeous cover, but I also totally enjoyed the story.
What would you do when you are the center of some vicious gossip? What would you do when you don’t know why you are their victim? What would you do when the people you trusted and loved the most become strangers? What would you do when your world is turned upside down?
These are all questions Thea has to deal with. And what she finds out is more than devastating …
Sometimes you hate the way people treat you. You feel like they deceive you, but when you dig deeper, you will understand why they acted this way. Is it out of love? Out of protection? Out of shame or grief? Or a combination of more than one emotion?
I utterly enjoyed the book. I did not like the way some people behaved. After all you need baddies to add a darker side, but I could put myself in their shoes and understand them. 4,5 stars.
Thank you, Emma Davies and Bookouture.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress. com
I really like both genres she writes. They are both emotional, but this book is heavier and spookier.
I not only fell in love with the gorgeous cover, but I also totally enjoyed the story.
What would you do when you are the center of some vicious gossip? What would you do when you don’t know why you are their victim? What would you do when the people you trusted and loved the most become strangers? What would you do when your world is turned upside down?
These are all questions Thea has to deal with. And what she finds out is more than devastating …
Sometimes you hate the way people treat you. You feel like they deceive you, but when you dig deeper, you will understand why they acted this way. Is it out of love? Out of protection? Out of shame or grief? Or a combination of more than one emotion?
I utterly enjoyed the book. I did not like the way some people behaved. After all you need baddies to add a darker side, but I could put myself in their shoes and understand them. 4,5 stars.
Thank you, Emma Davies and Bookouture.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress. com
March 19, 2020
My Husband's Lie by Emma Davies was a really interesting story that kept my attention. It was more of general fiction than a thriller though. With that said, the book was very enjoyable.
Thea is thrilled to see her childhood home on the market, It's an old Victorian in the country. She and her husband can work from home together in the town they were born in, send their girls to the primary school they attended. She loved her village and her home, and never really knew why her parents moved her away from it all.
But her homecoming isn't what it seems. There are rumors. Unfriendly people and blatant hate for her and her family. Why? Is this behavior somehow connected to why her parents left the area? When the rumors only get worse, Thea stands to lose everything that is dear to her - friends, family and maybe even her beloved husband.
I liked the book, but I think the husband Drew got a bad rap in the title. To me Her Husband's Lies is less about Drew's lies and more about the lies of the past. Title or not, read the book, it's good.
Thea is thrilled to see her childhood home on the market, It's an old Victorian in the country. She and her husband can work from home together in the town they were born in, send their girls to the primary school they attended. She loved her village and her home, and never really knew why her parents moved her away from it all.
But her homecoming isn't what it seems. There are rumors. Unfriendly people and blatant hate for her and her family. Why? Is this behavior somehow connected to why her parents left the area? When the rumors only get worse, Thea stands to lose everything that is dear to her - friends, family and maybe even her beloved husband.
I liked the book, but I think the husband Drew got a bad rap in the title. To me Her Husband's Lies is less about Drew's lies and more about the lies of the past. Title or not, read the book, it's good.
August 14, 2020
A disappointing thriller based on family lies, village ties, and an old unsolved crime.
READ IF YOU…
* Enjoy thrillers
* Want a read set in an English village
Based on the title alone, My Husband's Lie, I expected a twisted, even menacing husband, but found a man who was trying to protect his wife from hurt. The book didn't deliver for me, as I kept expecting a darker, deeper secret to emerge, but found myself wanting more.
Initially, the book paced well and I kept reading to find out the menacing secret everyone was hiding. Thea seemed to be unaware of things, but knew something was wrong, considering the rudeness and suspiciousness of the villagers around her.
Then, when Thea finds an old newspaper clipping, and then an old photograph of her husband when he was younger, the story starts piecing together for her. Expect, she doesn't piece the entire story and she's left in the dark about the old village crime.
Thea herself is an annoying, immature character who I found myself disliking as the story went on. She's far too shallow in her emotionality, and I kept rolling my eyes at her reactions to things. Drew was also shallow, and frankly, every other character was, as well.
My Husband's Lie seemed to promise a dark, twisted story, but ended up with a predictable, and boring, plotline. The quaint village should have kept me intrigued, as I enjoy those settings, especially when a good crime is involved, but because of the predictability of the plot, the setting fell flat.
The story could have been good if it went a different way, and if the crime was better developed.
There were also what I consider some red herrings, which were likely meant to drive the plot and also provide subplot, but which also fell flat for me.
Overall, My Husband's Lie dragged on for me, and I found my attention drifting the last third of the book. I almost DNFed it a few times, but continued to see if a dark secret emerged that was deeper than what it seemed to be initially.
READ IF YOU…
* Enjoy thrillers
* Want a read set in an English village
Based on the title alone, My Husband's Lie, I expected a twisted, even menacing husband, but found a man who was trying to protect his wife from hurt. The book didn't deliver for me, as I kept expecting a darker, deeper secret to emerge, but found myself wanting more.
Initially, the book paced well and I kept reading to find out the menacing secret everyone was hiding. Thea seemed to be unaware of things, but knew something was wrong, considering the rudeness and suspiciousness of the villagers around her.
Then, when Thea finds an old newspaper clipping, and then an old photograph of her husband when he was younger, the story starts piecing together for her. Expect, she doesn't piece the entire story and she's left in the dark about the old village crime.
Thea herself is an annoying, immature character who I found myself disliking as the story went on. She's far too shallow in her emotionality, and I kept rolling my eyes at her reactions to things. Drew was also shallow, and frankly, every other character was, as well.
My Husband's Lie seemed to promise a dark, twisted story, but ended up with a predictable, and boring, plotline. The quaint village should have kept me intrigued, as I enjoy those settings, especially when a good crime is involved, but because of the predictability of the plot, the setting fell flat.
The story could have been good if it went a different way, and if the crime was better developed.
There were also what I consider some red herrings, which were likely meant to drive the plot and also provide subplot, but which also fell flat for me.
Overall, My Husband's Lie dragged on for me, and I found my attention drifting the last third of the book. I almost DNFed it a few times, but continued to see if a dark secret emerged that was deeper than what it seemed to be initially.
April 7, 2020
"And when it came down to it, that's what everything was about, wasn't it? Who was to blame..."
Thea and Drew are moving back to the town they grew up in. They have just bought the house Thea lived in and it finally feels like everything is on their side. It is a dream come true for Thea. But why are people not welcoming them with open arms? Why are some people openly hostile? What happened in the past? Will this tranquil life that Thea was dreaming of turn into a nightmare that will cost her everything that is dear to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I enjoyed the style of writing and storytelling. The title was a little bit misleading but I understand why it was used. Thea's husband is her everything. It's again that age-old question of what will we do to protect the people we love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thea and Drew are moving back to the town they grew up in. They have just bought the house Thea lived in and it finally feels like everything is on their side. It is a dream come true for Thea. But why are people not welcoming them with open arms? Why are some people openly hostile? What happened in the past? Will this tranquil life that Thea was dreaming of turn into a nightmare that will cost her everything that is dear to her.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I enjoyed the style of writing and storytelling. The title was a little bit misleading but I understand why it was used. Thea's husband is her everything. It's again that age-old question of what will we do to protect the people we love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 12, 2020
The prologue to this book sets the plot up nicely, as I spent the rest of the book trying to figure out how everything fit together (I had many theories throughout – most of them wrong). I thought the characters were interesting, and the author captured small-town life, which apparently is the same no matter what country it is! This is one to pick up for an escape, as it will pull you in and keep you entertained. For a full review, please check my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
April 27, 2020
Overall I enjoyed this book.
It was well written and easy to read. The title somewhat misleads the reader and it wasn't nearly as suspenseful as I thought it would be. I found the main character unlikeable and self centred which made the book less enjoyable to read.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy
It was well written and easy to read. The title somewhat misleads the reader and it wasn't nearly as suspenseful as I thought it would be. I found the main character unlikeable and self centred which made the book less enjoyable to read.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy
June 13, 2020
Definitely not a thriller but still a good read.
This took a long time to get going. That’s really my only complaint. I liked the writing, characters and premise. I really enjoyed the relationship between Thea and Drew.
This story does contain sensitive topics that some may find upsetting (child molestation, bullying). I would recommend this if you are in the market for a family drama. I will check out more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.
This took a long time to get going. That’s really my only complaint. I liked the writing, characters and premise. I really enjoyed the relationship between Thea and Drew.
This story does contain sensitive topics that some may find upsetting (child molestation, bullying). I would recommend this if you are in the market for a family drama. I will check out more by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.
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