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Too Good to Be True
ONE LOVE STORY. TWO MARRIAGES. THREE VERSIONS OF THE TRUTH.
Too Good to Be True is an obsessive, addictive love story for fans of Lisa Jewell and The Wife Upstairs, from Carola Lovering, the beloved author of Tell Me Lies.
Skye Starling is overjoyed when her boyfriend, Burke Michaels, proposes after a whirlwind courtship. Though Skye seems to have the world at her fingertips—she’s smart, beautiful, and from a well-off family—she’s also battled crippling OCD ever since her mother’s death when she was eleven, and her romantic relationships have suffered as a result.
But now Burke—handsome, older, and more emotionally mature than any man she’s met before—says he wants her. Forever. Except, Burke isn’t who he claims to be. And interspersed letters to his therapist reveal the truth: he’s happily married, and using Skye for his own, deceptive ends.
In a third perspective, set thirty years earlier, a scrappy seventeen-year-old named Heather is determined to end things with Burke, a local bad boy, and make a better life for herself in New York City. But can her adolescent love stay firmly in her past—or will he find his way into her future?
On a collision course she doesn’t see coming, Skye throws herself into wedding planning, as Burke’s scheme grows ever more twisted. But of course, even the best laid plans can go astray. And just when you think you know where this story is going, you’ll discover that there’s more than one way to spin the truth.
Too Good to Be True is an obsessive, addictive love story for fans of Lisa Jewell and The Wife Upstairs, from Carola Lovering, the beloved author of Tell Me Lies.
Skye Starling is overjoyed when her boyfriend, Burke Michaels, proposes after a whirlwind courtship. Though Skye seems to have the world at her fingertips—she’s smart, beautiful, and from a well-off family—she’s also battled crippling OCD ever since her mother’s death when she was eleven, and her romantic relationships have suffered as a result.
But now Burke—handsome, older, and more emotionally mature than any man she’s met before—says he wants her. Forever. Except, Burke isn’t who he claims to be. And interspersed letters to his therapist reveal the truth: he’s happily married, and using Skye for his own, deceptive ends.
In a third perspective, set thirty years earlier, a scrappy seventeen-year-old named Heather is determined to end things with Burke, a local bad boy, and make a better life for herself in New York City. But can her adolescent love stay firmly in her past—or will he find his way into her future?
On a collision course she doesn’t see coming, Skye throws herself into wedding planning, as Burke’s scheme grows ever more twisted. But of course, even the best laid plans can go astray. And just when you think you know where this story is going, you’ll discover that there’s more than one way to spin the truth.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2021
1475 people are currently reading
61232 people want to read
About the author
Carola Lovering
6 books2,879 followersCarola Lovering is the author of Tell Me Lies, Too Good to Be True, Can’t Look Away, and Bye, Baby. She is a graduate of Colorado College, and her work has appeared in Vogue, The Cut, Marie Claire, W Magazine, National Geographic, and Yoga Journal, among other publications. Her novel, Tell Me Lies, has been adapted into a television series for Hulu. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two young children.
Instagram: @carolatlovering
Twitter: @carolatlovering
Facebook: /carolatlovering
Instagram: @carolatlovering
Twitter: @carolatlovering
Facebook: /carolatlovering
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,254 reviews
June 12, 2022
Too Good to Be True had me hooked hard for the first half of the book. Three narrators, with at least two of them seeming questionable to me, led me along, with chapters alternating between the three. And then a huge twist at the halfway mark...it was a gotcha moment for me and I love that, when I am outfoxed, not suspecting something very big.
But then the second half of the book, with the same three alternating points of view, seemed to be like a very long epilogue. We knew almost everything at this point and it then just seemed like a long telling of the details. I do think it would have helped if two of the characters had been more likable, if two of the characters had been stronger. I call the first half of the book 5 stars and the second half of the book 3 stars so will be rating the book 4 stars. I'm not saying any more about the story because it requires going in with as little knowledge of the book for the first half to hit you like it hit me.
Pub: March 2, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
But then the second half of the book, with the same three alternating points of view, seemed to be like a very long epilogue. We knew almost everything at this point and it then just seemed like a long telling of the details. I do think it would have helped if two of the characters had been more likable, if two of the characters had been stronger. I call the first half of the book 5 stars and the second half of the book 3 stars so will be rating the book 4 stars. I'm not saying any more about the story because it requires going in with as little knowledge of the book for the first half to hit you like it hit me.
Pub: March 2, 2021
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 17, 2022
Three POVs, a struggling couple in mid-forties who has insufferable financial problems and a nearly thirty years old young woman who can be a great solution to fix everything goes wrong in their lives :
Heather, longing to perfectly balanced, wealthy life since the beginning of their marriage and her husband Burke is the reason they lost everything with his tremendous mistake and now he thinks they have a chance to way out. He’s going to seduce trust fund baby: Skye who is getting closer to be 30, suffering from OCD, cannot build a real relationship because of her mental illness.
The plan is simple: Burke will marry with the girl without prenup and when they get divorce, he’ll also get his share of money which will help him to compensate the financial loss and provide a better life for his family. That’s what written on Burke’s diary. But the plans can change or the narrators can be inaccurate so be wise and careful when you decide who is telling the truth, who is keeping big secrets for conducting his/ her dangerous plan to serve his/ her hidden agenda.
This book is so smart, addictive and entertaining with too many jaw dropping, WTF moments and shocking twists. Especially two biggest twists are perfectly crafted. Thanks to my spider senses I found out one of them from the beginning but the other one caught me off guard. I still nod my head in disbelief and tell myself how I didn’t see it coming.
I’m not gonna give more spoilers but I have to admit: this book is brilliant and all those flawed characters’ narration parts may be too long but you cannot stop reading and you want to learn more about their dark secrets and how their minds work. You dislike those characters but you start to understand what they’ve been through clearly and begin to question yourself what you would do if you were exactly at the same situation.
The romance parts are a little exaggerated and I just rolled my eyes when I read some parts but it also help me to empathize with the characters.
Overall: If some pages have been discarded, shortened, this would have been more fast paced and intriguing read. So I’m cutting one star and giving four mind bending, entertaining, whirlwind, exciting stars!
I’m looking forward to read the other works of the author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this unputdownable ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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Heather, longing to perfectly balanced, wealthy life since the beginning of their marriage and her husband Burke is the reason they lost everything with his tremendous mistake and now he thinks they have a chance to way out. He’s going to seduce trust fund baby: Skye who is getting closer to be 30, suffering from OCD, cannot build a real relationship because of her mental illness.
The plan is simple: Burke will marry with the girl without prenup and when they get divorce, he’ll also get his share of money which will help him to compensate the financial loss and provide a better life for his family. That’s what written on Burke’s diary. But the plans can change or the narrators can be inaccurate so be wise and careful when you decide who is telling the truth, who is keeping big secrets for conducting his/ her dangerous plan to serve his/ her hidden agenda.
This book is so smart, addictive and entertaining with too many jaw dropping, WTF moments and shocking twists. Especially two biggest twists are perfectly crafted. Thanks to my spider senses I found out one of them from the beginning but the other one caught me off guard. I still nod my head in disbelief and tell myself how I didn’t see it coming.
I’m not gonna give more spoilers but I have to admit: this book is brilliant and all those flawed characters’ narration parts may be too long but you cannot stop reading and you want to learn more about their dark secrets and how their minds work. You dislike those characters but you start to understand what they’ve been through clearly and begin to question yourself what you would do if you were exactly at the same situation.
The romance parts are a little exaggerated and I just rolled my eyes when I read some parts but it also help me to empathize with the characters.
Overall: If some pages have been discarded, shortened, this would have been more fast paced and intriguing read. So I’m cutting one star and giving four mind bending, entertaining, whirlwind, exciting stars!
I’m looking forward to read the other works of the author.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this unputdownable ARC with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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August 12, 2020
The Twist Got Me Good!
3.5 stars
Too Good to Be True is a psychological thriller about revenge, deception, and one very smart sociopath.
I am not going to write a summary, because I don’t want to give anything anyway.
Narrated by three characters, I never knew where this was going.
Too Good to Be True is a page-turner. It is fast-paced and has some very surprising twists and turns. There is one huge twist that I thought about potentially being an option early on, but I thought no, that’s just crazy-- but crazy it is! Even though I had thought about this possible twist, I was still taken aback and surprised when it was revealed. I got tricked, my friends!
The plot borrows a few notes from soap operas, including some cheesy names, i.e. Burke Michaels and Skye Starling, but I enjoy soaps!
At a certain point, after all of the revelations, the tone shifts and it becomes a bit of a different book that had my eyes rolling. I wanted a darker, more sinister ending versus a sappy one. This could have been accomplished in the epilogue, but even the darkest character turns a little soft at the end. Apparently, I prefer my thrillers to be dark and evil.
Despite my gripes, this book is SO MUCH FUN to read. I will be reading more by Carola Lovering in the future.
Thanks to all my GR friends for putting this book on my radar.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Too Good to Be True is a psychological thriller about revenge, deception, and one very smart sociopath.
I am not going to write a summary, because I don’t want to give anything anyway.
Narrated by three characters, I never knew where this was going.
Too Good to Be True is a page-turner. It is fast-paced and has some very surprising twists and turns. There is one huge twist that I thought about potentially being an option early on, but I thought no, that’s just crazy-- but crazy it is! Even though I had thought about this possible twist, I was still taken aback and surprised when it was revealed. I got tricked, my friends!
The plot borrows a few notes from soap operas, including some cheesy names, i.e. Burke Michaels and Skye Starling, but I enjoy soaps!
At a certain point, after all of the revelations, the tone shifts and it becomes a bit of a different book that had my eyes rolling. I wanted a darker, more sinister ending versus a sappy one. This could have been accomplished in the epilogue, but even the darkest character turns a little soft at the end. Apparently, I prefer my thrillers to be dark and evil.
Despite my gripes, this book is SO MUCH FUN to read. I will be reading more by Carola Lovering in the future.
Thanks to all my GR friends for putting this book on my radar.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2020
I think it's best if you go in as blind as possible for this story, so I'll keep my review brief, but I love how the author chose to blend multiple POVs in a way that makes the reader question what is accurate and what is not throughout. Each character has a view of the others, and this made for a deeper look into the story, one that has you wondering if we don't do something similar with the people in our own lives. How well do we really know the ones that we love? And at the end of the day, can we trust our perspective to be the correct one? Definitely put this on your TBR for early 2021!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
January 5, 2021
Too Good to be True by Carola Lovering is a 2021 St. Martin’s Press publication.
Wickedly good!
This is one of those books that falls into ‘the less you say, the less you know, the better’ category- so to that end-all I’m going to say is:
This is one clever little mind-trip- highly absorbing, and wildly entertaining. If you like getting sucked so completely into a story that you lose track of time, this might be one you want to consider.
There is no agenda- no messages- no sermons, just a good, original, well-plotted thriller with one amazing twist that completely took me by surprise!!
I got a little more than I was expecting from this one! I will definitely read this author again!
Wickedly good!
This is one of those books that falls into ‘the less you say, the less you know, the better’ category- so to that end-all I’m going to say is:
This is one clever little mind-trip- highly absorbing, and wildly entertaining. If you like getting sucked so completely into a story that you lose track of time, this might be one you want to consider.
There is no agenda- no messages- no sermons, just a good, original, well-plotted thriller with one amazing twist that completely took me by surprise!!
I got a little more than I was expecting from this one! I will definitely read this author again!
April 27, 2021
Another book synopsis that says MUCH more than it needs to.
I just read it, and I am so glad that I hadn’t before starting the book.
As others have said, it is best to go in blind.
*SPOILER FREE*
Is Burke- “too good to be true”?
Well, the first POV shares HEATHER’s opinion.
And, the second POV fills you in on how SKYE feels about him.
But, maybe you will need to hear from BURKE himself, in the 3rd POV before you ultimately decide! 🤔
The three POV’s were EQUALLY COMPELLING as they alternate in the FAST paced first half, that set everything up, even as I guessed a LOT of what was to come.
BUT, I didn’t guess one SHOCKING twist!
Unfortunately though, the second half was NOT as strong for me as the pace slowed down QUITE a bit, as everything that was revealed was too drawn out.
It is A fun “🍿 type” psychological suspense book..
But the long, drawn out explanation and the anticlimactic ending (that just didn’t fit) disappointed.
Thanks to the St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy, through NetGalley!
Available NOW!
I just read it, and I am so glad that I hadn’t before starting the book.
As others have said, it is best to go in blind.
*SPOILER FREE*
Is Burke- “too good to be true”?
Well, the first POV shares HEATHER’s opinion.
And, the second POV fills you in on how SKYE feels about him.
But, maybe you will need to hear from BURKE himself, in the 3rd POV before you ultimately decide! 🤔
The three POV’s were EQUALLY COMPELLING as they alternate in the FAST paced first half, that set everything up, even as I guessed a LOT of what was to come.
BUT, I didn’t guess one SHOCKING twist!
Unfortunately though, the second half was NOT as strong for me as the pace slowed down QUITE a bit, as everything that was revealed was too drawn out.
It is A fun “🍿 type” psychological suspense book..
But the long, drawn out explanation and the anticlimactic ending (that just didn’t fit) disappointed.
Thanks to the St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy, through NetGalley!
Available NOW!
July 21, 2020
4 Wild Stars.
Oh No He Didn’t! Oh Yes, He Most Certainly Did!
Baawaaah! There were times when I actually clapped and times when I cringed. It doesn’t get better than that.
A Brilliantly Plotted Car Crash Waiting to Happen.
Significant others who are less than trustworthy? AS IF!
Character development at its best.
Three cheers for Carola Lovering for writing a stellar, character driven domestic suspense, told from several POV’s that grabbed my attention from the get go and kept me glued to the edge of my seat.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Carola Lovering for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 6.7.20.
Oh No He Didn’t! Oh Yes, He Most Certainly Did!
Baawaaah! There were times when I actually clapped and times when I cringed. It doesn’t get better than that.
A Brilliantly Plotted Car Crash Waiting to Happen.
Significant others who are less than trustworthy? AS IF!
Character development at its best.
Three cheers for Carola Lovering for writing a stellar, character driven domestic suspense, told from several POV’s that grabbed my attention from the get go and kept me glued to the edge of my seat.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Carola Lovering for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 6.7.20.
April 27, 2021
Is this a 5 star thriller or is it TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? Unfortunately it’s the latter.
I was riveted from the beginning, and loved the voices of the 3 different narrators. The characters were very well-developed:
- Skye, wealthy and privileged but left with crippling anxiety and OCD after her mother’s death, she has trouble meeting men who can tolerate her unusual tendencies. Until Burke.
- Burke. He’s perfect. Mr. Right. Skye’s one and only. Or is he? His chapters are told as journal entries and are so compelling, I couldn’t wait to get back to them.
- Heather. I won’t say who she is, but through her we get a lot of backstory.
It seems that all may not be as idyllic as it seems and a diabolical plot is in play. The short chapters and shifting perspectives make this a propulsive read.
THEN…poof….the propulsive mystery/thriller turned into a sappy ridiculous Lifetime movie romance, and not a very good one at that. I can’t say anything more without spoilers but luckily I had my reading buddy Marialyce to rant with over this one.
An author doesn’t owe me a story arc that I like but it has to make SOME kind of rational sense for me to enjoy it. If I had been reading a physical book I would have tossed it across the room.
The first 50-75% was a solid 4 or 5 stars…then POOF it was truly too good to be true, as I was suddenly reading an entirely different genre.
4 stars for the first half. One star for the second. 2 stars because I finished it.
I want to end on a positive note so I will say that although this was a BOTM club book I downloaded the audio on Hoopla to supplement my reading, and found I much preferred listening. The narrators were SUPERB! Especially Burke’s character.
October 22, 2021
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
First off I’d like to say that a 3 star from me means that it was an ok book, just not one I could highly recommend.
I think this book started off with a bang. The first 50% of the book was a quick, fast paced roller coaster of a ride and I enjoyed it. I did start to have believability issues pretty early on, but this is fiction and I went with it.
Skye seems to be very naïve considering she is 29 years old. She is, however, still grieving from the loss of her mother who in her own words was her best friend. Her father is around but doesn’t seem to spend a lot of time with Skye, nor does he seem to be invested in helping her work through her problems. Skye does have several good friends, in particular Andy, who has been questioning Skye’s quick moving romance, she does continue to be there for Skye.
From the blurb you will know that Burke, is a 40 something-year-old man that appears to be totally smitten with Skye. He throws everything into the romance and sweeps her off her feet, to the point that she’s willing to go ahead and marry him. Considering that Skye’s family is extremely wealthy, it was surprising to me that her father didn’t research this individual who is going to be part of their family.
Meanwhile another point of view shows us Heather who is the consummate controller. She has gotten a glimpse of the good life when she was younger and wants it all. The big house by the ocean, great schools,for her kids, money to be able to spend extravagantly on whatever she wants. At one point her life seemed to be leading in this direction, but then things with her husband‘s job just do not work out and Heather is one unhappy wife.
While we’re reading what’s going on in the present, there are also entries in a diary which appear to be from Burke. This will either confuse or enlighten you, depending on how you feel about the authenticity of the journal.
The second half of the book moves at a much slower pace. It has the style of writing where the author is “ telling” you what happens rather than “showing” you through an active narrative.
The second half then leads to many revelations most of which I had already figured out. The ending I felt was a somewhat “sappy” and unbelievable, to put it mildly.
Go into this blind and see what you think. For pure entertainment this novel is fine. If you are looking for something stellar, I’d look elsewhere. All opinions of course are my own.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
This book is set to publish on March 2, 2021.
First off I’d like to say that a 3 star from me means that it was an ok book, just not one I could highly recommend.
I think this book started off with a bang. The first 50% of the book was a quick, fast paced roller coaster of a ride and I enjoyed it. I did start to have believability issues pretty early on, but this is fiction and I went with it.
Skye seems to be very naïve considering she is 29 years old. She is, however, still grieving from the loss of her mother who in her own words was her best friend. Her father is around but doesn’t seem to spend a lot of time with Skye, nor does he seem to be invested in helping her work through her problems. Skye does have several good friends, in particular Andy, who has been questioning Skye’s quick moving romance, she does continue to be there for Skye.
From the blurb you will know that Burke, is a 40 something-year-old man that appears to be totally smitten with Skye. He throws everything into the romance and sweeps her off her feet, to the point that she’s willing to go ahead and marry him. Considering that Skye’s family is extremely wealthy, it was surprising to me that her father didn’t research this individual who is going to be part of their family.
Meanwhile another point of view shows us Heather who is the consummate controller. She has gotten a glimpse of the good life when she was younger and wants it all. The big house by the ocean, great schools,for her kids, money to be able to spend extravagantly on whatever she wants. At one point her life seemed to be leading in this direction, but then things with her husband‘s job just do not work out and Heather is one unhappy wife.
While we’re reading what’s going on in the present, there are also entries in a diary which appear to be from Burke. This will either confuse or enlighten you, depending on how you feel about the authenticity of the journal.
The second half of the book moves at a much slower pace. It has the style of writing where the author is “ telling” you what happens rather than “showing” you through an active narrative.
The second half then leads to many revelations most of which I had already figured out. The ending I felt was a somewhat “sappy” and unbelievable, to put it mildly.
Go into this blind and see what you think. For pure entertainment this novel is fine. If you are looking for something stellar, I’d look elsewhere. All opinions of course are my own.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
This book is set to publish on March 2, 2021.
March 15, 2021
If he seems too good to be true...well he probably is! Holy twist!! I love a good twist and well this one got me good. This is best to go in blind because...well it just is...so on that note..
Skye has trouble with men. They can't seem to accept her for who she is. Sure she is pretty, rich and fun.. but she has OCD and that has lead to some cruel treatment by...pretty much everyone...then along came Burke. Gorgeous, older and totally in love with Skye. He sweeps her off her feet. However, not everyone is as blown away by Burke...
My heart broke for Skye- all the cruel behavior she had endured. I hoped that she finally found "the one" but I was like her BFF Andie...we didn't quite trust old Burke.
I need to stop right there because seriously this book is super twisty and I don't want to give it away. Afterwards I was like...why didn't I see that coming??? Yet, I didn't! This was a fun, wild ride!
Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for my gorgeous gifted copy!
Skye has trouble with men. They can't seem to accept her for who she is. Sure she is pretty, rich and fun.. but she has OCD and that has lead to some cruel treatment by...pretty much everyone...then along came Burke. Gorgeous, older and totally in love with Skye. He sweeps her off her feet. However, not everyone is as blown away by Burke...
My heart broke for Skye- all the cruel behavior she had endured. I hoped that she finally found "the one" but I was like her BFF Andie...we didn't quite trust old Burke.
I need to stop right there because seriously this book is super twisty and I don't want to give it away. Afterwards I was like...why didn't I see that coming??? Yet, I didn't! This was a fun, wild ride!
Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for my gorgeous gifted copy!
March 8, 2021
I enjoyed this one so much! Yes, the ending was an unbelievable one but I went with it.
Too Good To Be True was a page-turner suspense with a great twist that I did not see coming. I actually had an "Oh wow" moment.
Skye Starling is a young woman who is working as an editor. She is also a very rich woman. She has a trust that would make anyone more than comfortable in life. Yet, even though it looks like she has everything or she could buy it if she wanted to, she is unlucky in love. She has OCD and is unable to stop her compulsions of knocking on all pieces of wood or kissing clocks. So the men she has met so far, fall short 100%. Some of them total losers for sure. And then, Skye meets Burke Michaels.
Burke is a man in his forties. He looks like a successful businessman who is also handsome and interesting. He is a recovering addict who doesn't hide it. Burke doesn't care about Skye's compulsions. He understands her. There is of course one tiny problem. He is already married!!!
I think that in order to get the maximum enjoyment of Too Good To Be True, is to not read the blurb. It has way too much information and since I went in blind, I had a blast reading it.
Skye had all my sympathy. Dealing with a debilitating OCD is hard. Her meds were not completely useful but at least her therapist was a great one.
I won't comment on Burke because I don't want to give out any spoilers. Just know my friends that you might want to have an open mind about the ending.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Too Good To Be True was a page-turner suspense with a great twist that I did not see coming. I actually had an "Oh wow" moment.
Skye Starling is a young woman who is working as an editor. She is also a very rich woman. She has a trust that would make anyone more than comfortable in life. Yet, even though it looks like she has everything or she could buy it if she wanted to, she is unlucky in love. She has OCD and is unable to stop her compulsions of knocking on all pieces of wood or kissing clocks. So the men she has met so far, fall short 100%. Some of them total losers for sure. And then, Skye meets Burke Michaels.
Burke is a man in his forties. He looks like a successful businessman who is also handsome and interesting. He is a recovering addict who doesn't hide it. Burke doesn't care about Skye's compulsions. He understands her. There is of course one tiny problem. He is already married!!!
I think that in order to get the maximum enjoyment of Too Good To Be True, is to not read the blurb. It has way too much information and since I went in blind, I had a blast reading it.
Skye had all my sympathy. Dealing with a debilitating OCD is hard. Her meds were not completely useful but at least her therapist was a great one.
I won't comment on Burke because I don't want to give out any spoilers. Just know my friends that you might want to have an open mind about the ending.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
March 21, 2021
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to!
https://youtu.be/-Vgds8Hv5mM
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to!
https://youtu.be/-Vgds8Hv5mM
September 22, 2021
3.75 - 4 Stars
All I know is, if my name was Carola Lovering, I would put a hit out on the asshat that wrote the blurb for this thing.
I mean, really though...talk about throwing open the barn doors and letting all the horses out.
The blurb literally spoils the entire book. If not for the blurb, this would have been amazing.
As it was though, the blurb basically does all the earning for you and you enter the story knowing already what the twist is...or at least having all the tools necessary to easily put together what the twists are without having to work for them.
I mean, I knew immediately what was going on the whole time. And I'm not even all that smart.
I just kept thinking, this can't be it, right? The author couldn't have really have thought we all wouldn't figure out these connections so readily...right?
But, then again, she probably didn't bank on an idiot penning the blurb.
So there's that.
Now, all that said, I still really enjoyed this book.
I am sucker for any form of domestic drama, marriage in trouble, and/or basically any form of sociopathy. It's like catnip to me. And this book had some dynamics I really enjoyed. I also really related to Skye. We had a lot of childhood...similarities. Except for the mega rich part. I unfortunately missed out on that one.
But anyway. This book wasn't mind-blowing or all that thrilling (for a thriller), but I still really enjoyed my afternoon spent reading it.
All I know is, if my name was Carola Lovering, I would put a hit out on the asshat that wrote the blurb for this thing.
I mean, really though...talk about throwing open the barn doors and letting all the horses out.
The blurb literally spoils the entire book. If not for the blurb, this would have been amazing.
As it was though, the blurb basically does all the earning for you and you enter the story knowing already what the twist is...or at least having all the tools necessary to easily put together what the twists are without having to work for them.
I mean, I knew immediately what was going on the whole time. And I'm not even all that smart.
I just kept thinking, this can't be it, right? The author couldn't have really have thought we all wouldn't figure out these connections so readily...right?
But, then again, she probably didn't bank on an idiot penning the blurb.
So there's that.
Now, all that said, I still really enjoyed this book.
I am sucker for any form of domestic drama, marriage in trouble, and/or basically any form of sociopathy. It's like catnip to me. And this book had some dynamics I really enjoyed. I also really related to Skye. We had a lot of childhood...similarities. Except for the mega rich part. I unfortunately missed out on that one.
But anyway. This book wasn't mind-blowing or all that thrilling (for a thriller), but I still really enjoyed my afternoon spent reading it.
March 2, 2021
I have to admit that Carola Lovering got me good with that twist! I love nothing more than having the rug pulled out beneath me while reading. When you are so certain about something only to find out that you are entirely wrong. That is so damn satisfying.
Skye is a 29 year old woman that has not been lucky in love. Living in NYC as an editor she has debilitating OCD in which she must knock on wood so many times and in so many ways that most of the men she meets hightail it before date number two. Until she meets handsome Burke Michaels. He's a forty-six year old successful business man that is also a recovering addict. He accepts Skye for who she is including her compulsions. Skye is finally genuinely happy with her life and with Burke who she has fallen madly in love with. After only 6 months the two get engaged and begin planning their whirlwind wedding.
But is Burke too good to be true?
I loved her debut Tell Me Lies and her sophomore effort proves this lady has a knack for writing an exceptional psychological thriller. This isn't a fast paced read but its a compelling one with short chapters that demand you keep turning the pages. The ending surprised me but to elaborate more would be a spoiler. Just know that I will be the first in line for her next book. 4 stars!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me a physical ARC of this book.
Skye is a 29 year old woman that has not been lucky in love. Living in NYC as an editor she has debilitating OCD in which she must knock on wood so many times and in so many ways that most of the men she meets hightail it before date number two. Until she meets handsome Burke Michaels. He's a forty-six year old successful business man that is also a recovering addict. He accepts Skye for who she is including her compulsions. Skye is finally genuinely happy with her life and with Burke who she has fallen madly in love with. After only 6 months the two get engaged and begin planning their whirlwind wedding.
But is Burke too good to be true?
I loved her debut Tell Me Lies and her sophomore effort proves this lady has a knack for writing an exceptional psychological thriller. This isn't a fast paced read but its a compelling one with short chapters that demand you keep turning the pages. The ending surprised me but to elaborate more would be a spoiler. Just know that I will be the first in line for her next book. 4 stars!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me a physical ARC of this book.
April 26, 2021
Too Good to Be True is an intriguing, well-written thriller that is distributed by a major publishing house, so don't let the drab cover that looks like a self-published DIY job fool you.
Carola Lovering has crafted a story that will pull you in and make you feel for characters you might otherwise despise at the hands of a lesser author. It's particularly interesting that one suffers from OCD, which feels like a fresh plot point for the thriller genre.
There are dual timelines and multiple POVs, but the novel is well structured and easy to follow. There are also many twists, but unfortunately (what I assume is supposed to be) the main shocker was pretty obvious to this reader. Had I not seen it coming so blatantly, it might have been a 5-star read for me.
Trigger warnings for drug use, rape, cancer, and the death of a child.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press and the author for the advance readers copy via NetGalley.
Blog: www.confettibookshelf.com
IG: @confettibookshelf
Carola Lovering has crafted a story that will pull you in and make you feel for characters you might otherwise despise at the hands of a lesser author. It's particularly interesting that one suffers from OCD, which feels like a fresh plot point for the thriller genre.
There are dual timelines and multiple POVs, but the novel is well structured and easy to follow. There are also many twists, but unfortunately (what I assume is supposed to be) the main shocker was pretty obvious to this reader. Had I not seen it coming so blatantly, it might have been a 5-star read for me.
Trigger warnings for drug use, rape, cancer, and the death of a child.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press and the author for the advance readers copy via NetGalley.
Blog: www.confettibookshelf.com
IG: @confettibookshelf
March 1, 2021
If it seems too good to be true....
Go in as blind as possible. The synopsis is more than enough.
I enjoyed the various POV chapters and letters/journal entries in this book. Half of the fun was trying to figure out when the truth would come out. But here is the thing.... what is the truth? This aspect of the book won me over right away. I love putting on my super sleuth hat and trying to figure things out. There is a big twist and reveal halfway through the book. A big "aha" moment which turns things on a dime. Will you see THAT coming? I had some inklings as to what was going on but was still surprised with the big twist.
This was a fun one people! Seriously, pure enjoyment. Sit back and enjoy the ride. This book caught my attention right away and the author knows who to suck the reader in, keeps us invested in the story all the while taking us down and twisty and turning road. This is a fast read which does not disappoint. The snippets from the past will give you some info, but will it be enough?
Will you need to suspend some disbelief while reading this? You betcha! Will this book have you thinking "Seriously, come on, this is getting ridiculous!" It just might; however, it is so engrossing and fun that I really did not mind.
Beautifully crafted and cleverly plotted, Too Good to Be True, is a fast paced page turner which entertains, delights and delivers.
This was my first book by this author, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Go in as blind as possible. The synopsis is more than enough.
I enjoyed the various POV chapters and letters/journal entries in this book. Half of the fun was trying to figure out when the truth would come out. But here is the thing.... what is the truth? This aspect of the book won me over right away. I love putting on my super sleuth hat and trying to figure things out. There is a big twist and reveal halfway through the book. A big "aha" moment which turns things on a dime. Will you see THAT coming? I had some inklings as to what was going on but was still surprised with the big twist.
This was a fun one people! Seriously, pure enjoyment. Sit back and enjoy the ride. This book caught my attention right away and the author knows who to suck the reader in, keeps us invested in the story all the while taking us down and twisty and turning road. This is a fast read which does not disappoint. The snippets from the past will give you some info, but will it be enough?
Will you need to suspend some disbelief while reading this? You betcha! Will this book have you thinking "Seriously, come on, this is getting ridiculous!" It just might; however, it is so engrossing and fun that I really did not mind.
Beautifully crafted and cleverly plotted, Too Good to Be True, is a fast paced page turner which entertains, delights and delivers.
This was my first book by this author, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 16, 2021
3.5 STARS
I really thought I had this last twist figured out, but boy was I wrong!
It was pretty entertaining and the characters surprised me over and over again. I think I would have liked it to be a bit shorter with fewer pages of diary entries. The pace could have been improved, but I still had fun reading it.
If you enjoy a domestic drama with some melodrama, you may enjoy this one too.
Thanks to NG for my advanced copy. OUT on March 02,2021
I really thought I had this last twist figured out, but boy was I wrong!
It was pretty entertaining and the characters surprised me over and over again. I think I would have liked it to be a bit shorter with fewer pages of diary entries. The pace could have been improved, but I still had fun reading it.
If you enjoy a domestic drama with some melodrama, you may enjoy this one too.
Thanks to NG for my advanced copy. OUT on March 02,2021
March 17, 2023
Oh, no. She didn't! Why am I rating this higher than many of my Goodreads friends? 1) The exploration of OCD is one reason. Skye Starling has a full-blown case of OCD that is highly visible to anyone who spends time with her. 2) The musical references -- Earth, Wind, and Fire; Billy Joel -- one of my all-time faves; U2 -- also a perennial favorite. 3) The diary. 4) Exploration of love, revenge, and courage. The synopsis of the plot has been hashed and rehashed. The multiple POVs. The twists. It is a bit like taking 'Gone Girl,' 'The Wife Between Us,' and 'The Wife Stalker' and put them in a blender with a secret ingredient. Pour this book into your glass and enjoy.
This is my favorite so far from Lovering.
This is my favorite so far from Lovering.
March 7, 2021
I can’t handle the truth...🤦🏼♀️
Shortest Summary Ever: Skye just found the right guy - older, handsome Burke, except whoops - he’s already married to Heather. Flashback to Heather and Burke’s story as young people ready to take on the world... now back to Skye and her battle with OCD and Burke’s scheme and a psycho ex.... well now you’re in the middle of the crazy ride.
Thoughts: before my opinion let me say - many of you WILL like this book. It IS twisty. It IS different, and the alternating POVs are enthralling for about half of the book. But I just ain’t the kind of woman going for this.
I am the kind of woman who uses her head above all else. I’m a rare female INTJ (if you know your Myers-Briggs, we are crazy rare “like a dude” types who make for good CEOs), it suffices to say I’m not prone to falling with emotion. I fall in love between my ears, and because the 3 characters in this book are evocative of the dysfunctional “dumbery” of Jerry Springer (well that’s EVERY episode), thus...I’m out yo.
I can’t tolerate what I view as stupidity. Don’t get me wrong... I love love. I FEEL, but well... the actions of all three characters kind of had me cheering for the villain. So mostly I felt smug. I admit it. You may not feel the same, and I fully acknowledge this is MY personality. For me, My main comment was, “Really? Really?” Like Seth Myers. Over and over. So much seemed unrealistic because I couldn’t relate. I couldn’t empathize because there’s certain deal breakers shattered here that made me reel. And felt unreal. Not. For. Me.
I have the O part of OCD so I appreciated that a mental health disorder was incorporated in a novel so well.
But I can’t spoil it for you because I’m not that twisted or unfeeling. Really. I promise.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Domestic Fiction/Women’s Lit
Recommend to: Those who just love the love and feel GUSH that love conquers ALL.
Not recommended to: If you’re like me and can’t tolerate weak female leads. Or believe that there are deal breakers to love.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review.
Shortest Summary Ever: Skye just found the right guy - older, handsome Burke, except whoops - he’s already married to Heather. Flashback to Heather and Burke’s story as young people ready to take on the world... now back to Skye and her battle with OCD and Burke’s scheme and a psycho ex.... well now you’re in the middle of the crazy ride.
Thoughts: before my opinion let me say - many of you WILL like this book. It IS twisty. It IS different, and the alternating POVs are enthralling for about half of the book. But I just ain’t the kind of woman going for this.
I am the kind of woman who uses her head above all else. I’m a rare female INTJ (if you know your Myers-Briggs, we are crazy rare “like a dude” types who make for good CEOs), it suffices to say I’m not prone to falling with emotion. I fall in love between my ears, and because the 3 characters in this book are evocative of the dysfunctional “dumbery” of Jerry Springer (well that’s EVERY episode), thus...I’m out yo.
I can’t tolerate what I view as stupidity. Don’t get me wrong... I love love. I FEEL, but well... the actions of all three characters kind of had me cheering for the villain. So mostly I felt smug. I admit it. You may not feel the same, and I fully acknowledge this is MY personality. For me, My main comment was, “Really? Really?” Like Seth Myers. Over and over. So much seemed unrealistic because I couldn’t relate. I couldn’t empathize because there’s certain deal breakers shattered here that made me reel. And felt unreal. Not. For. Me.
I have the O part of OCD so I appreciated that a mental health disorder was incorporated in a novel so well.
But I can’t spoil it for you because I’m not that twisted or unfeeling. Really. I promise.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Domestic Fiction/Women’s Lit
Recommend to: Those who just love the love and feel GUSH that love conquers ALL.
Not recommended to: If you’re like me and can’t tolerate weak female leads. Or believe that there are deal breakers to love.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review.
February 15, 2023
On the one hand, that was a page turner. On the other, the OCD rep genuinely made me cry (and not in a good way).
Plot: To the people who have compared this to Gone Girl, you are absolutely spot on. They both have the same thrilling, page-turning appeal while also being unbelievable. But if you can overlook that fact, it’s super easy to get caught up in the intricate scheming and plot twists.
Characters: I really can’t say too much about the characters, because revealing who I liked/disliked would be little bit of a spoiler in itself. I will say that all of them did have a ton of depth, and I definitely hated/pitied/loved the ones that I was supposed to.
Overall: I enjoyed the story (more the first half than second), but got stressed out by the OCD rep. It was like someone took everything I fear about having OCD, and then wrote about it. The people who pretend to be ok with it, who actively think you’re a freak, that you belong in an institution. That part was really painful (and possibly a little harmful?) so keep that in mind.
Content warnings: Drowning, death of a family member, cancer, on page sexual assault
Click here for the full review on my blog!
--------------------------------------------
8/28/21: Over a year later, I'm halfway through and feel very conflicted so far ahhhhh
--------------------------------------------
8/15/20: As someone who has diagnosed OCD I am SOOOO EXCITED to read this!!
Thank you NetGalley for approving me
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
Plot: To the people who have compared this to Gone Girl, you are absolutely spot on. They both have the same thrilling, page-turning appeal while also being unbelievable. But if you can overlook that fact, it’s super easy to get caught up in the intricate scheming and plot twists.
Characters: I really can’t say too much about the characters, because revealing who I liked/disliked would be little bit of a spoiler in itself. I will say that all of them did have a ton of depth, and I definitely hated/pitied/loved the ones that I was supposed to.
Overall: I enjoyed the story (more the first half than second), but got stressed out by the OCD rep. It was like someone took everything I fear about having OCD, and then wrote about it. The people who pretend to be ok with it, who actively think you’re a freak, that you belong in an institution. That part was really painful (and possibly a little harmful?) so keep that in mind.
Content warnings: Drowning, death of a family member, cancer, on page sexual assault
Click here for the full review on my blog!
--------------------------------------------
8/28/21: Over a year later, I'm halfway through and feel very conflicted so far ahhhhh
--------------------------------------------
8/15/20: As someone who has diagnosed OCD I am SOOOO EXCITED to read this!!
Thank you NetGalley for approving me
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
January 16, 2021
I think I might be an outlier on this one.
This was another one of those books I finished early this morning, and as I sat down to write the review, I had to re-read the synopsis to remind myself of the plot. It was that forgettable.
Too Good to Be True had glaringly obvious red herrings (including the synopsis - I recommend you don't even read it if you're contemplating this book), an unmemorable story line, and an absolutely ridiculous conclusion. If you like happily ever after, this one is for you.
I honestly don't have anything more to say. Meh.
2.5 stars
Available March 2, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy.
This was another one of those books I finished early this morning, and as I sat down to write the review, I had to re-read the synopsis to remind myself of the plot. It was that forgettable.
Too Good to Be True had glaringly obvious red herrings (including the synopsis - I recommend you don't even read it if you're contemplating this book), an unmemorable story line, and an absolutely ridiculous conclusion. If you like happily ever after, this one is for you.
I honestly don't have anything more to say. Meh.
2.5 stars
Available March 2, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy.
April 27, 2021
Let's just say, one need a massive dose of the "unbelievable" potion to read and enjoy this book. Truly it started out like gangbusters with a group of characters that seemed to exhibit some "strange" tendencies. I will admit I was immediately sucked into the story from page one as we follow Skye Starling, a woman of 29 years, that always seemed to be in the grip of her OCD which occurred after her beloved mom passed away. We also have Burke Michaels, who has that rough boy now man demeanor and with his wife, Heather, a true zealot trying to get her piece of the pie and her compulsive need for revenge.
And now it's time for that potion! As we head into the second half, the story that had a five-star potential dropped like a stone and went from 100 mph to a drippy 10mph. I realize this is fiction, but really the things that happened and the tied up in a bow ending with none the of culprits receiving one bit of punishment made my head spin. Having high hopes for this book, I found myself wandering around in the "this can't possibly be real" territory where once again disappointment followed my every step.
So, all I can give this sappy book is a 2 rating. While the premise was good, the ending just blew all that allure right out the window.
Jan and I laughed over and got steamed up over this hard to believe story that felt like we were reading a fairly tale. Too good to be true...indeed!
Grumpy me.....plus I bought this book as well!
I know lots of my book friends, loved it, so please take a look at their reviews!
And now it's time for that potion! As we head into the second half, the story that had a five-star potential dropped like a stone and went from 100 mph to a drippy 10mph. I realize this is fiction, but really the things that happened and the tied up in a bow ending with none the of culprits receiving one bit of punishment made my head spin. Having high hopes for this book, I found myself wandering around in the "this can't possibly be real" territory where once again disappointment followed my every step.
So, all I can give this sappy book is a 2 rating. While the premise was good, the ending just blew all that allure right out the window.
Jan and I laughed over and got steamed up over this hard to believe story that felt like we were reading a fairly tale. Too good to be true...indeed!
Grumpy me.....plus I bought this book as well!
I know lots of my book friends, loved it, so please take a look at their reviews!
March 2, 2021
*Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Carola Lovering for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.2.21!*
**NOTE: My first caution with this book, as many others have mentioned, is to go in absolutely blind, spoiler-free, and whatever you do, do NOT read the synopsis before cracking this one open! The setup will become very clear to you immediately while reading, and no real background is necessary to enjoy the story...but as for a quick version of the premise?**
Burke? The perfect, swoon-worthy dreamboat, complete with the requisite chiseled jaw and killer smile. Skye? Your basic beautiful blond princess....who seemingly has everything except a complete grip on her mental health, as she battles a severe case of OCD brought on during her mother's tragic death. When these two bump into each other in Montauk, Skye Starling not only sees stars, but hears violins, bells, and everything becomes hazy. As the two connect, a budding romance quickly blooms and Skye starts to believe she has found the only man who really SEES her. But what she fails to see about him could not only change her mind, but could actually put not just her perfect marriage in danger...and could even destroy her
This book had me hooked so quickly, and bouncing POVs kept the narrative interesting: I was essentially enthralled from page one. As the story progressed however, the 'big twist' was revealed about halfway through the book...and everything pretty much came grinding to a halt after that. I was honestly shocked to find out basically everything I even had minor questions about at this point and I was left wondering what else there was to say. Unfortunately, after the villain is revealed, Too Good To Be True goes into almost painstaking detail of showing the reader EXACTLY how the 'mastermind' executed their scheme, which is normally the device I expect to find in perhaps the last chapter of a book, rather than over the course of many, many chapters. While this was interesting for a while, it quickly got repetitive, and as the reader since I didn't have too many questions remaining to begin with, I didn't really find it necessary. I had one lingering hope that a certain character had secret and devious intentions that would be revealed at the last possible moment to add an extra layer of intrigue...but unfortunately, this too didn't come to pass.
This novel takes such a turn at the midpoint that after finally finishing it I almost felt like I read two different books, and the fact that it has sort of a strange ending (especially for the genre) in my opinion just really left me feeling especially disappointed. There was a world of potential and plenty of room for at least another twist or two, but I think Lovering chose to go with a more straightforward approach (perhaps to help along a reader who is less acclimated to this type of book) and personally I would've liked more left to the imagination, especially since I enjoyed the version of events I cooked up mentally more than what actually transpired. I thoroughly enjoyed the setup and the characters, however, and would certainly give another one of Lovering's books a shot! 3.5 ⭐
**NOTE: My first caution with this book, as many others have mentioned, is to go in absolutely blind, spoiler-free, and whatever you do, do NOT read the synopsis before cracking this one open! The setup will become very clear to you immediately while reading, and no real background is necessary to enjoy the story...but as for a quick version of the premise?**
Burke? The perfect, swoon-worthy dreamboat, complete with the requisite chiseled jaw and killer smile. Skye? Your basic beautiful blond princess....who seemingly has everything except a complete grip on her mental health, as she battles a severe case of OCD brought on during her mother's tragic death. When these two bump into each other in Montauk, Skye Starling not only sees stars, but hears violins, bells, and everything becomes hazy. As the two connect, a budding romance quickly blooms and Skye starts to believe she has found the only man who really SEES her. But what she fails to see about him could not only change her mind, but could actually put not just her perfect marriage in danger...and could even destroy her
This book had me hooked so quickly, and bouncing POVs kept the narrative interesting: I was essentially enthralled from page one. As the story progressed however, the 'big twist' was revealed about halfway through the book...and everything pretty much came grinding to a halt after that. I was honestly shocked to find out basically everything I even had minor questions about at this point and I was left wondering what else there was to say. Unfortunately, after the villain is revealed, Too Good To Be True goes into almost painstaking detail of showing the reader EXACTLY how the 'mastermind' executed their scheme, which is normally the device I expect to find in perhaps the last chapter of a book, rather than over the course of many, many chapters. While this was interesting for a while, it quickly got repetitive, and as the reader since I didn't have too many questions remaining to begin with, I didn't really find it necessary. I had one lingering hope that a certain character had secret and devious intentions that would be revealed at the last possible moment to add an extra layer of intrigue...but unfortunately, this too didn't come to pass.
This novel takes such a turn at the midpoint that after finally finishing it I almost felt like I read two different books, and the fact that it has sort of a strange ending (especially for the genre) in my opinion just really left me feeling especially disappointed. There was a world of potential and plenty of room for at least another twist or two, but I think Lovering chose to go with a more straightforward approach (perhaps to help along a reader who is less acclimated to this type of book) and personally I would've liked more left to the imagination, especially since I enjoyed the version of events I cooked up mentally more than what actually transpired. I thoroughly enjoyed the setup and the characters, however, and would certainly give another one of Lovering's books a shot! 3.5 ⭐
August 20, 2025
Skye Starling, even the name is as beautiful as she is. Skye seems to have it all youth, money, beauty, career, family and friends who love her except a partner who can truly love and accept her for who she is as well as her flaws because Skye suffers from a very crippling and embarrassing form of OCD and all her relationships have dissolved due to the intensity and strangeness of her illness. Then Burke Michaels comes along, handsome, apparently successful, kind and older which might be what Skye needs right now in her life. Then there is another storyline thirty years prior where you meet Heather who is only fifteen years old and beautiful who also has a boyfriend named Burke. The story of Heather will keep you on your toes because one day the three will have a crash collision in the future and where all their lives will be destroyed in a blink of an eye.
Wow! What a story. This book was deliciously sinful, fun, sassy, dark, tearful and everything else one can think of. The story is told from three pov's and also a thirty year timeline in the past which is so integral to a few shocking twists that I never saw coming which was a fantastic surprise for me and I'm sure for other readers. I had no real expectations of this book for myself so I was very surprised at the quality of writing and how the twists and turns caught myself off guard. There were a couple of times I was almost in tears because of feeling the sadness of the moment (The writing was that good). This was not a realistic story (thank goodness) but that's why it was so enjoyable and entertaining for me. I started off loving a character and despising them at the end and I disliked another character and then was rooting for them at the end. This book takes a reader on a wild ride which I really didn't want to come to an end. I will be looking forward to reading more of Carola Lovering books in the future. Please don't miss out on this one if you would really like to get an escape from your normal everyday life. Too Good To Be True!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific novel and any thoughts and opinions are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this wonderful book a rating of 4 1/2 Tantalizing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
Wow! What a story. This book was deliciously sinful, fun, sassy, dark, tearful and everything else one can think of. The story is told from three pov's and also a thirty year timeline in the past which is so integral to a few shocking twists that I never saw coming which was a fantastic surprise for me and I'm sure for other readers. I had no real expectations of this book for myself so I was very surprised at the quality of writing and how the twists and turns caught myself off guard. There were a couple of times I was almost in tears because of feeling the sadness of the moment (The writing was that good). This was not a realistic story (thank goodness) but that's why it was so enjoyable and entertaining for me. I started off loving a character and despising them at the end and I disliked another character and then was rooting for them at the end. This book takes a reader on a wild ride which I really didn't want to come to an end. I will be looking forward to reading more of Carola Lovering books in the future. Please don't miss out on this one if you would really like to get an escape from your normal everyday life. Too Good To Be True!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific novel and any thoughts and opinions are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this wonderful book a rating of 4 1/2 Tantalizing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
March 15, 2021
The ole' cliche 'You know what they say if it is too good to be true ...it probably is'. This domestic suspense makes you read between the lines and leave you suspicious of the characters.
Skye may be the only lovable character that falls deeply in love with a much older handsome man__ Burke Michaels. While the wedding planning is underway, we learn a lot more about Burke's past and present situation.He not only has spent time in prison, but has a family and happily married to Heather.
So what is going on?
The dynamics of the book is told in revolving chapters and POV .....Burke's story told through letters written to his therapist about his current love for Skye and his calamities but deep love for his wife. ??
Then we weave in and out with Skye's POV and her debilitating OCD and Heather's story that takes you to her teenage years when she was dating Burke. All of these subplots are interesting and intertwined with the main plot to make the overall story worth binge reading.
There are many radical changes when I thought the direction was a collision course it would veer off with another unexpected outcome of the plot. I devoured it and marveled at the cleverness Carola Lovering devised. I tried to predict or key into some subtle foreshadowing, but I think I was too shocked in how Burke was scheming 2 women that I wasn't looking the right way. The ending was slightly implausible but cohesive.
Skye may be the only lovable character that falls deeply in love with a much older handsome man__ Burke Michaels. While the wedding planning is underway, we learn a lot more about Burke's past and present situation.He not only has spent time in prison, but has a family and happily married to Heather.
So what is going on?
The dynamics of the book is told in revolving chapters and POV .....Burke's story told through letters written to his therapist about his current love for Skye and his calamities but deep love for his wife. ??
Then we weave in and out with Skye's POV and her debilitating OCD and Heather's story that takes you to her teenage years when she was dating Burke. All of these subplots are interesting and intertwined with the main plot to make the overall story worth binge reading.
There are many radical changes when I thought the direction was a collision course it would veer off with another unexpected outcome of the plot. I devoured it and marveled at the cleverness Carola Lovering devised. I tried to predict or key into some subtle foreshadowing, but I think I was too shocked in how Burke was scheming 2 women that I wasn't looking the right way. The ending was slightly implausible but cohesive.
April 18, 2022
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this
"One LOVE story, two marriages" book
by author Carola LOVERing.
This book was fast-paced and sizzled; taking the concept of "unreliable narrators" to exciting new levels.
Unfolding from three alternating POVs: Skye (a smart, beautiful, "trust fund" millennial with OCD), Burke (an older man who has just proposed to Skye), and Heather (Burke's wife and mother of his three children)....this book never missed a beat.
These alternating viewpoints/timelines were brilliantly executed; working very well for the book's flow and conveying the book's compelling twists, turns, and cringe-worthy moments.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was that it was not the "same old, same old".
The author did a superb job of creating dialogue that was fresh, original, and gasp-worthy and characters that were complex, unpredictable, and relatable.
Many times, just when I thought I knew where the story was going --I did not know where the story was going.
I listened to the book's audio version, read by three outstanding narrators. I always love it when a book has multiple narrators and this book's narrators were perfectly cast.
This is my first Carola Lovering book and I will be looking forward to listening to this author's future titles. To date, this book was one of my "best reads" of 2021!
"One LOVE story, two marriages" book
by author Carola LOVERing.
This book was fast-paced and sizzled; taking the concept of "unreliable narrators" to exciting new levels.
Unfolding from three alternating POVs: Skye (a smart, beautiful, "trust fund" millennial with OCD), Burke (an older man who has just proposed to Skye), and Heather (Burke's wife and mother of his three children)....this book never missed a beat.
These alternating viewpoints/timelines were brilliantly executed; working very well for the book's flow and conveying the book's compelling twists, turns, and cringe-worthy moments.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about this book was that it was not the "same old, same old".
The author did a superb job of creating dialogue that was fresh, original, and gasp-worthy and characters that were complex, unpredictable, and relatable.
Many times, just when I thought I knew where the story was going --I did not know where the story was going.
I listened to the book's audio version, read by three outstanding narrators. I always love it when a book has multiple narrators and this book's narrators were perfectly cast.
This is my first Carola Lovering book and I will be looking forward to listening to this author's future titles. To date, this book was one of my "best reads" of 2021!
June 5, 2023
This is an extremely well-plotted novel. Told from multiple points of view at different times in the characters’ lives, this story pulls you in and keeps you turning pages.
The characters were all flawed, but their motivations were understandable, if often underhanded and wildly unethical. So even though this is a captivating tale, it’s not exactly fun or a light read, so you just have to be in the right mood for this.
I’m not going to tell you anything about the plot—the book jacket copy I read on Goodreads gives away far too much in my opinion.
The characters were all flawed, but their motivations were understandable, if often underhanded and wildly unethical. So even though this is a captivating tale, it’s not exactly fun or a light read, so you just have to be in the right mood for this.
I’m not going to tell you anything about the plot—the book jacket copy I read on Goodreads gives away far too much in my opinion.
February 28, 2021
HOLY WOW! I can't even begin to express how much I enjoyed this book!! Five stars doesn't do it justice and I have and will be recommending it to everyone I know! Too Good To Be True is definitely my favorite read of 2021 so far and I imagine it will be in my top ten (maybe top five!!) of the year!
Skye is a wealthy woman in her late 20s. She has a group of close girlfriends who she's steadily watching get married, have children, and settle down and Skye is wanting those things for herself. However, Skye is held back by her OCD - a disease that presents itself in the form of compulsions that she cannot control. Time and again, Skye has been humiliated and hurt by opening up about her disease with men she cares about and she worries that she's doomed to a life on her own.
Burke is down on his luck. After working for the same financial company for twenty years, he's unexpectedly let go with only two weeks' of severance. A wife and three children to care for, he's desperate for a new source of income. But Burke's past continues to haunt him. Shortly after his hard work to join a reputable financial firm out of college, Burke made a bad decision and ended up in prison for a year for insider trading. The crime was basically a death sentence to his future in finance, and now that he lost his low paying job at the only firm that would take him in, he seems to be out of options.
Needing an escape, Burke decides to treat himself to a nice weekend away. At the hotel, he sees Skye and is instantly taken in by her beauty. The two strike up a conversation and sparks immediately fly. And so begins Burke's web of lies to seduce Skye, deceive his wife, and possibly even support his family.
This book was full of SO MANY SURPRISES and in all the best ways. I'm often over or underwhelmed by the twists in a book - feeling they are too far fetched or too predictable. But Too Good To Be True was just the right amount of crazy and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.
I loved the altering viewpoints, timelines and styles of narration. We hear from Skye in real time, Heather (Burke's wife) back when Burke was courting her, and Burke about six months behind Skye in the form of an electronic diary. The book is also broken up into parts which worked well for the flow.
Lovering did a phenomenal job of creating complex and relatable characters. I felt so attached to them and had such strong feelings toward them that I often felt my blood pressure rising with anxiety as particularly stressful parts arose! I also loved how she handled Skye's OCD - though it was a debilitating diagnosis in many ways for Skye, we really learn that there's so much more to her than the label. I also think mental illnesses aren't portrayed enough in literature, particularly with main characters and in an overall positive light, so this was a fresh and unique approach to normalizing a stigmatizing diagnosis.
This is one of those books that you should go into as blind as possible. I thought it was so fun watching the story unfold and flipping back and forth between who I trusted and who I was rooting for. I really couldn't put it down and it kept me up well past my bedtime!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of this exceptional novel.
Skye is a wealthy woman in her late 20s. She has a group of close girlfriends who she's steadily watching get married, have children, and settle down and Skye is wanting those things for herself. However, Skye is held back by her OCD - a disease that presents itself in the form of compulsions that she cannot control. Time and again, Skye has been humiliated and hurt by opening up about her disease with men she cares about and she worries that she's doomed to a life on her own.
Burke is down on his luck. After working for the same financial company for twenty years, he's unexpectedly let go with only two weeks' of severance. A wife and three children to care for, he's desperate for a new source of income. But Burke's past continues to haunt him. Shortly after his hard work to join a reputable financial firm out of college, Burke made a bad decision and ended up in prison for a year for insider trading. The crime was basically a death sentence to his future in finance, and now that he lost his low paying job at the only firm that would take him in, he seems to be out of options.
Needing an escape, Burke decides to treat himself to a nice weekend away. At the hotel, he sees Skye and is instantly taken in by her beauty. The two strike up a conversation and sparks immediately fly. And so begins Burke's web of lies to seduce Skye, deceive his wife, and possibly even support his family.
This book was full of SO MANY SURPRISES and in all the best ways. I'm often over or underwhelmed by the twists in a book - feeling they are too far fetched or too predictable. But Too Good To Be True was just the right amount of crazy and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.
I loved the altering viewpoints, timelines and styles of narration. We hear from Skye in real time, Heather (Burke's wife) back when Burke was courting her, and Burke about six months behind Skye in the form of an electronic diary. The book is also broken up into parts which worked well for the flow.
Lovering did a phenomenal job of creating complex and relatable characters. I felt so attached to them and had such strong feelings toward them that I often felt my blood pressure rising with anxiety as particularly stressful parts arose! I also loved how she handled Skye's OCD - though it was a debilitating diagnosis in many ways for Skye, we really learn that there's so much more to her than the label. I also think mental illnesses aren't portrayed enough in literature, particularly with main characters and in an overall positive light, so this was a fresh and unique approach to normalizing a stigmatizing diagnosis.
This is one of those books that you should go into as blind as possible. I thought it was so fun watching the story unfold and flipping back and forth between who I trusted and who I was rooting for. I really couldn't put it down and it kept me up well past my bedtime!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of this exceptional novel.
February 3, 2021
Too Good to Be True is more of a real psychological suspense than anything I've written, and I'm so excited to share it with readers.
November 12, 2020
I’d been looking forward to receiving a print copy from a Goodreads Give-away and it was worth the wait!
Twists, deception, and a trio of interesting narrators kept me off balance wondering who to believe. The truth could lie (intended) in any of their stories. Who's spinning tales?
I don’t want to spoil and detail additional plot lines not covered in the synopsis, but I enjoyed this story about marriage entanglements, perception, and lies. I will also say that the first half is a much stronger read than the second half and I wish the momentum could have carried through its entirety.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher St Martins, and the author for my advance reader’s hard copy!
Twists, deception, and a trio of interesting narrators kept me off balance wondering who to believe. The truth could lie (intended) in any of their stories. Who's spinning tales?
I don’t want to spoil and detail additional plot lines not covered in the synopsis, but I enjoyed this story about marriage entanglements, perception, and lies. I will also say that the first half is a much stronger read than the second half and I wish the momentum could have carried through its entirety.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher St Martins, and the author for my advance reader’s hard copy!
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