Truth and Other Lies

by Maggie Smith

The Devil Wears Prada meets All the President's Men

Three women's careers hang in the balance: a famous journalist, a fledging politician, and the young reporter with ties to each who must navigate the tricky terrain between secrets and lies. 

Megan Barnes' life is in free fall. After losing both her job as a reporter and her boyfriend in the same day, she retreats to Chicago and moves in with Helen, her over-protective mother. Before long, the two are clashing over everything from pro-choice to #MeToo, not to mention Helen's run for US Congress which puts Megan's career on hold until after the election.

Desperate to reboot her life, Megan gets her chance when an altercation at a campus rally brings her face to face with Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist Jocelyn Jones, who offers her a job on her PR team. Before long, Megan is pulled into the heady world of fame and glamour her charismatic new mentor represents.

Until an anonymous tweet brings it all crashing down. To salvage Jocelyn's reputation, Megan must locate the online troll and expose the lies. But when the trail leads to blackmail, and circles back to her own mother, Megan realizes if she pulls any harder on this thread, what should have been the scoop of her career could unravel into a tabloid nightmare.

Fan of Jodi Picoult's topical plot twists and Liane Moriarty's character-driven novels will devour this fast-paced tale. 

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Literary Fiction, Womens Fiction

356 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2022

About the author

In a career that’s included work as a journalist, a psychologist, and the founder of a national art consulting company, Maggie Smith added novelist to her resume with the publication of her debut, Truth and Other Lies, a women’s fiction novel set in Chicago and released in March 2022 by Ten16 Press. It won NIEA’s Juror Grand Prize, the Star Award for Debut Fiction from Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Foreword INDIES Gold Metal for General Fiction, and was selected for the Women’s Book Association Great Group Reads. Her second novel, a psychological suspense called Blindspot, releases in May 2024.

In addition to her writing, Maggie hosts the weekly podcast Hear Us Roar (225+ episodes), blogs monthly for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and is Managing Editor for Chicago Writer’s Association Write City E-Zine. She resides in Milwaukee WI with her husband and her aging but still adorable sheltie

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Megan Barnes is a young woman who is down on her luck. She recently lost her job and her boyfriend in the same day, so she is back to living with Mom in Chicago. Megan’s luck is about to change though because she bumps into her hero, veteran journalist Jocelyn Jones who offers her an interesting job opportunity.

Truth and Other Lies is Maggie Smith’s debut novel. I have followed Ms. Smith for a while on Twitter so I feel guilty about writing this review, but my reviews have always been authentic, and I want to be true to Ms. Smith and my readers.

This book is a textbook example of women’s literature. It has strong female characters and a predominately female cast. However, the main character, Megan Barnes was extremely naïve, and I would have encouraged her to read Lois Frankel’s Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office. The use of foreshadowing was too heavy handed to the point that it ruined the surprises. The “twists” could be seen a mile away.

The first half of the book was very slow and awkward. Megan and her friend just happen to be on their old campus to pick up job postings (What college doesn’t have their job postings online?) and discover a sexual assault protest. The author completely glosses over the stories of the sexual assault survivors. It felt like the author was trying to cram this event into the plotline, and it just wasn’t smooth.

The novel took a while to get going, but things did pick up in the second half of the book. The ending was lackluster and should been stronger. I speculate that the author wanted to leave the ending a bit open, but it isn’t very memorable.

Overall, Lies and Other Truth is a solid women’s literature debut novel with some additional finetuning needed especially in the areas of foreshadowing.

*Thanks, NetGalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities

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[A.H. Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haiku review:
Life comes crashing down
Megan Barnes goes home again
Truths and lies abound

[Barbara Conrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Smith brings an energy to her debut, Truth and Other Lies, that will keep you up into the wee hours of the night.

Not afraid to delve into the big topics of today: abortion, sexual harassment, ethics, and ambitions, Smith’s writing also reflects her ability to portray the beauty of friendship and loyalty, along with the timeless angst of mother-daughter issues. And secrets. Smith is a genius with secrets.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Truth and Other Lies

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read -- quick-paced, witty, and with a powerful story line and lots of surprises. Megan Barnes is a journalist struggling at a career crossroads, and her affection and devotion to a seasoned reporter she happens to meet sends this book on his roller-coaster journey. I love how Smith created such strong characters who make tough decisions and must live with the consequences of their actions. And I also oved how she held her characters accountable for their decisions, and how the climax led to new revelations -- for both Megan and the reader. A well-told story that feels very relevant for our time

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dejected after losing her job as an investigative reporter at a local New York City newspaper and a bad break-up, twenty-five-year-old Megan Barnes heads back to Chicago to start again. With no job and little savings, she moves in with her mother Helen, who shocks her that she is running for U.S. Congress. Megan does not share any of Helen’s conservative core values and needs to find a job and her own place. Luckily, Megan meets her idol, journalist and Pulitzer winner Jocelyn Jones, who is about to publish her memoir. With no job prospects in sight, she takes a PR position to assist Jocelyn, who offers to recommend her to the Chicago Tribune if she does a good job on her book launch. It soon appears that Jocelyn’s past may have a dark secret as someone is posting incriminating tweets which could derail the legendary journalist’s career. Megan needs to figure out the truth about her hero. Her moral compass and loyalties are tested.

In an impressive debut, author Maggie Smith tackles some important issues including ethics and the political divide. Smith delves into the complexities of female relationships - family, friends, mentors, lovers and co-workers. I particularly enjoyed the evolving relationship between Megan and her mother Helen. An interesting cast of supporting characters, including best friend Becca and co-worker Nick, added a nice dimension to this engaging story which addresses the decisions people make in their lives and its ramifications. I enjoyed Smith’s storytelling writing style and will be on the lookout for her next book.

Many thanks to the author and Ten16 Press for the opportunity to read Truth and Other Lies in advance of its March 8, 2022 release.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Tai Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great ride! I held my breath as I learned more about Megan, Helen, Jocelyn, and everything going on. The progression felt realistic, I never knew what or who would be revealed next, and I found myself guessing what happened to try to solve this along with the characters. There's no clean-cut happy ending (as there isn't in our everyday life,) which makes this so much easier to relate to. Unanswered questions can be interpreted many ways, and we can all speculate about the outcomes of the decisions the characters make. We all make mistakes and say things we shouldn't, but this fantastic whirlwind reinforces the idea that making amends and trying to be the best we can be will never go out of style.
Thanks for having a book club discussion guide at the end, I could see this easily being utilized by readers.
And thank you Ten16 Press, NetGalley, and Maggie Smith for the ARC.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan Barnes loses her job as an investigative reporter in New York and breaks up with her boyfriend Luke on the same day. She returns home to Chicago, moves in with her divorced mother Helen Watkins and she doesn’t plan on staying with her for long. Megan’s shocked to discover her mum’s running for the open house seat in the ninth district and they have very different political views.

Helen the former helicopter parent, is now an active supporter of pro-life movement, she’s anti-abortion and she’s not a fan of the ME Too movement. Her mother’s political ambitions won’t help Megan find a job, luckily they have different last names and she refuses to be involved in her mum’s campaign. Megan becomes involved in a disturbance at her former university’s campus, her best friend Becca is stunned by how quickly the violence erupts and afterwards Megan meets Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Jocelyn Jones

Jocelyn offers Megan a job working on her public relations team, she’s about to release a memoir, it’s about her time working as a war correspondent and news anchor. Megan looks up to Jocelyn, she’s a successful woman, famous and lives a lavish lifestyle. When three anonymous tweets are sent, people start questioning Jocelyn’s reputation and integrity.

Megan has to locate the online troll, with the help from Nick Russo and his friend Harry. Megan uncovers a story that would restart her career as a journalist, it gets nasty when someone threatens to reveal a secret about Megan’s mother’s past and uses blackmail to keep everyone silent.

Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith is a story set in today’s world, where social media and computer hackers can quickly spread information about a person, expose their secrets, lies and leave their reputation in tatters. Morals and ethics are questioned in the narrative, such as cheating, divorce, abortion, mental illness, gas lighting, abuse of power, plagiarism and the influence and impact of social media.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Ten16 Press in exchange for an honest review, Megan defiantly has preconceived opinions about others, I found it interesting how her relationships changes with these characters during the novel, especially with her mother, Jocelyn, Nick and Dragan and five stars from me.
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[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often use "heartfelt" and "politically provocative" in the same sentence but Smith’s smartly paced book bridges that divide with dimensional characters and a tightly woven plot that made me laugh, hope, cheer, and brace for impact.

Megan Barnes may have lost her job as a reporter, but she hasn’t lost her instinct for a good story. And when she finds herself inserted into a celebrity’s story, not just working the beat, her relentless pursuit of the truth puts her in conflict with her own carefully placed lies of omission. Insert a liberal daughter boomeranging home to a conservative mother’s budding political career launch, and the slope keeps getting slipperier as secrets cover over lies, lies cover over truths, and old friendships and new loves are put to the test.

I wanted to keep turning pages and savor each page’s twists and turns. If you’re looking for a well-plotted novel with thought-provoking character dilemmas leading to a well-earned ending, you’ll in good hands.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Truth and Other Lies in exchange for an honest review the book. So, honestly speaking...the author's storytelling captivated me, her characters were relatable, and I really appreciated Maggie Smith's willingness to dive into muddy waters where no one comes out totally clean.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

After losing both her job and her boyfriend, Megan Barnes heads back home to Chicago. She’s not thrilled to be living with her over-protective mother, especially when her mother announces a run for Congress. Megan and her mother are polar opposites politically speaking, and clash often. After an incident at a rally, Megan gets the chance to work for a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Jocelyn Jones. When Jocelyn’s reputation is threatened, Megan resolves to solve the case: but when the case also involves her mother, Megan has to decide between her family and her career.
I really enjoyed this book and found it to be an engrossing and topical read. Megan was an immensely relatable character, and I enjoyed reading about her dynamics with her mother and Jocelyn. This is a multilayered story where we see each woman’s dreams, struggles, and determination, and the lengths each one will go to to protect them. The author didn’t shy away from addressing certain “hot button” political topics, and lest this detract some readers, she actually presented them in a fair and balanced way.
There are some great discussion topics that would make this a good pick for book clubs.

[Monika Armet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Barnes is a journalist who recently lost her job at a New York newspaper. To top it off, she caught her boyfriend cheating. She decides to return home to Chicago to stay with her mother, Helen Watkins.

Upon her arrival, Megan discovers that her mother is running for Congress with a backing from the Republican Party. Megan is a starch liberal, always has been, and her views on issues such as abortion differ from her mother’s. She decides to stay away from her mother’s political campaign.

One day, Megan attends a protest to end violence against women, where she has an altercation with a skinhead from the opposing side. This gets noticed by Jocelyn Jones, a prominent and world famous journalist, who was making a speech there. Jocelyn is a feminist and someone that Megan admires.

You can imagine Megan’s surprise when Jocelyn offers her a job in PR, which she accepts as she is desperate for money.

When Megan confides to her mother about her new job, Helen gives her a warning and tells her to be careful, which obviously riles Megan, who is in awe of Jocelyn and her success.

However, some anonymous account on Twitter starts posting messages accusing Jocelyn of being a liar… Megan is desperate to prove that Jocelyn was set up by a jealous troll. What will she uncover?

I really enjoyed this book. There were some strong female characters there, including Megan, Helen, and Jocelyn.

Megan started off naive and somewhat annoying (especially when she talked about her mother). However, towards the end of the book, when she discovers the truth about Jocelyn and what Helen has been through, she is tough and ready to protect the ones she loves.

Helen was an overprotective mother – despite Megan being an adult, she would check up on her daughter and it would cause friction between the two of them. However, Helen had a reason for this and it was heartbreaking to read. I was glad that the two of them managed to reconcile at the end.

Jocelyn was power and fame driven. She didn’t have a partner nor any close friends (which to me sets the alarm bells ringing!) and her work was her everything. She would drop people when she didn’t need them anymore.

Overall, it is a great psychological thriller where every character is keeping a secret.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic debut! Truth and Other Lies takes on the topics of the day, focusing on a plagiarism accusation against a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. Sounds simple, right? Well of course it’s not. There’s always more to the story.

Leaving a cheating boyfriend behind, Megan Barnes is a young journalist who has just learned an important lesson—always check the facts. Leaving a cheating boyfriend behind, Megan comes back to Chicago and is surprised by her mother, Helen Watkins, who informs her she’s running for Congress. Megan and Helen have never seen eye to eye on the issues, so while Megan looks for jobs, she keeps the tidbit about her mother’s identity a secret.

I don’t like to give away plot points or spoilers, so just know this: Maggie Smith does a great job of keeping this relevant story engaging. It’s fast-paced and twisty and covers a range of timely issues: alternative facts, sexual harassment, abortion, nepotism, and more. And at the core of the story is the power of the relationships between mothers and daughters and best friends. If you’re looking for a read with intelligent, strong, relatable characters, then this is the book for you. Can’t wait to read more from Maggie Smith!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hit all the right chords with me: fast-paced plot, journalism angle, slight mystery, hot topics in current events, family secrets. What’s not to like?

Megan, an aspiring journalist, has moved back home to Chicago with her mom - who she learns is running for the local seat in the House of Representatives. Megan stumbles across a potential career opportunity when she unexpectedly meets Jocelyn Jones, a famous and well-respected journalist, who promises to pass along her connections if Megan will work on Jocelyn’s PR team in preparation for her new memoir. Things get dicey, though, when anonymous threats come in calling Jocelyn out for plagiarism in her past, and Megan doesn’t know whether to trust her idol or trust an online stranger. Mix in some political drama - specifically about abortion (TW) - and this book was the perfect mix of fun and light while keeping you on your toes and turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan Barnes is a twenty five year old investigative reporter who lost both her job and her boyfriend on the same day and has returned to Chicago to reinvent herself.

Her mother, Helen Watkins, is a former stay at home mom whose politically conservative, pro-life beliefs have made her the frontrunner in a local Congressional race.

Pulitzer Prize winning, legendary journalist Jocelyn Jones plans to cement her long, successful career with a best selling memoir until anonymous allegations surface on social media.

What these three women have in common are the lies they have told, the secrets that they have been keeping and their ambition. What they will do with that ambition makes the difference.

Truth and Other Lies, a compulsively readable novel, is part romance, part criticism of social media and part thriller. The plot is strong and fast paced. The characters, although not all likable, are well drawn and realistic. I especially enjoyed Megan and Nick’s budding romance, Helen’s attempts to have a closer relationship with her daughter and Dragan’s computer prowess. Serious subjects are treated: Computer hacking, mental illness, the Me Too movement, abortion, rape and others. This is a must read novel! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ten16 Press and Maggie Smith for this ARC.

[chasingholden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Barnes has just lost both her job as a reporter and her boyfriend in the same day, Her life in shambles, she makes the decision to head back home to Chicago determined to reinvent herself and her life. Its not long before she remembers the frustration of living with her over-protective mother, especially when her mother announces a run for Congress; With so m any hot topics becoming a focus its not long long before Megan and her mother are sparring constantly from the major differences in their opinions. After receiving a job offer from a woman she idolizes everything is at stake once again.

Sharp, Witty, and completely raw, Truth and other Lies shines a spotlight on what its like to be a woman, a mother, and a journalist by weaving together the lies, secrets, and ambition with different motivations painting a brilliantly crafted picture of how our choices mold not just our lives but the lives of everyone we're close to, making this story readers won't be able to put it down.

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance e-copy, providing me with the opportunity to honestly recommend this book to every one looking for a relevant and compelling story

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Smith’s debut novel concerns three women trying to find their way in the world. They’re of different ages with different backgrounds and different secrets that may hold them back. Their stories are artfully woven together and challenge the reader to decide what’s allowable when you want to have a career. Lots of discussion possibilities for book clubs.

[Joan Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This multi-layered , beautifully crafted story takes a time-honored classic conflict—daughter versus mother—and packs it with the fresh punch of today’s Millennial/Boomer mashup. The tale begins when Megan, an almost-30 journalist is scrambling to find her footing after failing at “adulting.” When a lover’s betrayal and naïve mistake gets her abruptly fired, Megan must return home to the very last person she wants to see--her overreaching, helicoptering mother, Helen. Blind to her own naivete and stiff-arming her mother’s overtures, Megan is easy prey for the polished world-renowned journalist Jocelyn Jones, who befriends Megan. When an accusation pops up on Twitter intimating that Jocelyn may have an unethical past, Megan is caught in the sticky cross-hairs of loyalty versus accusation, coverup versus truth. But, as time and again Megan returns to the ideal of journalism integrity, she ultimately uncovers many truths, including her own bias against seeing her mother as the imperfect admirable woman she is in her own right.

I loved how author Maggie Smith deftly threaded multiple forms of truth and lies—a girlfriend’s secrets, a family’s hidden tragedy, anonymous sources, a politician’s stance, journalism’s rigorous fact-checking—each adding impetus to Megan’s growth. I loved how the main characters—Helen, Jocelyn and Megan--are each women with stubborn agency, fiercely protecting identities they’ve fought hard to realize. And I loved that journalism integrity is at the heart of this story, especially in light of the battering the media has taken of late. Author Smith orchestrates all of these elements with such smooth command that as Megan takes off on her journey for truth, it’s a fun ride!

[Rochelle Melander · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Megan Barnes loses her boyfriend and job as an investigative reporter, she returns home to Chicago. Her mother is running for US Congress, making it nearly impossible for Megan to find a job at a local newspaper. A chance meeting with the famous journalist Jocelyn Jones changes everything. Suddenly, Megan has both a new mentor and job. But when someone calls out Jocelyn Jones for plagiarizing a prize-winning story, Megan must figure out who is telling the truth. I fell into the story’s seamless narrative, fascinated by Megan’s every move, looking forward to seeing what she would do next. The rich characters, snappy dialogue, and puzzle of truth and lies made this a page turner for me. This book pairs well with a glass of wine and a cozy blanket. Grab a copy and prepare to read late into the night! Thank you to Ten16 Press for providing me with an early review copy in exchange for sharing an honest review

[Mary Sheriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Smith's debut novel Truth and Other Lies captures the zeitgeist of the day (set just before Covid) addressing contemporary issues like the media, alternative facts, abortion, polarization, and privilege. At the heart of the story is an investigation of feminist icon Jocelyn Jones. The pursuit of the truth behind mysterious tweets creates a fast-paced narrative that kept me rapidly turning pages. I particularly like how Smith tackles the issue of polarization through the development of the main character Megan Barnes. Initially, Megan jumps to conclusions about other characters based on a particular action or belief. By the novel's conclusion, Megan comes to understand the characters' actions within the context of the situation making for a more nuanced discussion of issues than most contemporary work offers. Fans of Meg Wolitzer's The Female Persuasion will particularly enjoy this book.

[Desiree · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really hard for me to rate. I liked the journalism aspect, but the ending just didn’t sit right with me. I just cannot in any way imagine an ultra conservative candidate doing what this one did and I dropped my rating because of it. I felt like it was done to help bring mother and daughter together but it just felt off to me, considering where the world is right now. I also felt like the way Jocelyn spiraled was so out of character for her. I don’t know what the author was going for with the ending of this book, but it just didn’t work for me.

I could not stand Megan for most of the book. Her blind support for Jocelyn was odd. I get being starstruck, but you barely know this woman.

Ultimately I can’t say I enjoyed this one. It seemed like major political points were thrown in randomly to make Megan seem “woke” or something. I can’t really pinpoint what bothered me, but it just felt cheap and amateurish.

Thank you Ten16 Press for the gifted copy.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

TITLE: Truth and Other Lies
AUTHOR: Maggie Smith
PUB DATE: 3.8.2022

Compelling
Compulsive
Character Driven

I really enjoy debut novels, and Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith was a fast and fierce read. I love complex stories about families, friendships, and the role women play in competitive and high stakes setting. The themes this feminist book covers are so timely and relevant, such as social media, abortion, and the #metoo movement, and ethical decision making. I found this book hard to put down as Maggie Smith hooked me right from the start.

This was a thought provoking read that I highly enjoyed!

[Teres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fab book club selection 📚 Lots to dissect and discuss!

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5.0

A poignantly told yet easily readable story. With a masterful touch, this author successfully navigates such hard topics as politics, cover-ups, and a myriad of other timely topics!

Read full review in the 2022 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Cynthia Kumanchik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Integrity vs. ambition—how far will you go to be successful? Truth and Other Lies explores this dilemma as the protagonist, Megan, maneuvers her way through the glamourous world of a famous journalist as her protégé.

A young woman who calls herself a boomerang returns to live with her mother after a failed relationship and a job loss. Megan Barnes, a twenty-five-year-old newspaper reporter, comes back to her home in Chicago and discovers her world has changed. Her mother wants to be a politician, her best friend has cheated on her longtime boyfriend, and snagging a newspaper job is more complicated than she thought. Until Megan meets Joselyn Jones, a world-renowned journalist who Megan sees at a rally and finds she has idolized for years. Jones is impressed with Megan’s convictions and bravado when she defends Jones’ principles, hitting a skinhead in the nose. That gets Megan a public relations position for Jones’ upcoming memoir soon to be released.

The story unravels as Megan seeks the truth about Jones, who is being attacked on Twitter and accused of unethical behavior. And Megan’s mother reveals a shocking secret that happened to her as a young mother that changed her beliefs and threatened her candidacy for Congress. Using her journalistic skills, Megan digs deeper to find the truth and what integrity truly means.
I loved this story filled with strong characters, good dialog, and a fast-paced plot. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. #Truth and Other Lies #NetGalley #Political Fiction

[Jennifer Rupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith spotlights media, spin, and the tenuous trust between reader and journalist. Smith tells her story through the lens of Megan, a recent graduate with a keen desire to make her mark as a newspaper reporter. Megan is like a recently opened package of chest-thumping ambition. She wants a seat in the pressroom, to work alongside the truth-tellers, to take on the time-honored role of a news writer. It is from that implicit trust in the Fourth Estate, the unshakeable belief that a free press will always deliver the truth, that Megan discovers that true and false isn’t always black and white, what is right isn’t always good, and the power of spin can make the blackest lies palatable. The writing in this book is so good, it’s hard to believe this is a debut author. I received an ARC of this book i exchange for my honest review. Five stars for this one.

[Kristi Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilled to be able to have read this ARC from Ten16 press before the March 2022 release. This is my honest feedback.

I enjoyed this book very much and thought it kept up good pacing throughout, with just enough questions to keep me turning pages. I didn't always feel invested in the MC, but just when I was finding myself wondering if she was worth the continued read, I'd get a connection point and it kept me invested. That's a sign of masterful writing, in my opinion, because writing unlikeable characters is always a risk. Maggie Smith is a great storyteller and weaves an interesting tale with twists you don't expect and makes for an entertaining read. I wanted to know the mother a little more intimately, but I understand the craft of keeping her at somewhat of a distance. Overall this was an excellent book and I would recommend it.

[Linda Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Smith gives the reader a timely page-turner in this engrossing debut. I love a book that deals with secrets and lies and Smith hits us with that on every page. Politics, dirty journalism along with the itchiness between mothers and daughters makes this a novel you don’t want to miss.

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

RTC - thanks to net galley and Ten16 press for the arc!

[Cris Gómez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me he quedado con las ganas de mas y no de forma necesariamente positiva

[faythetraveler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5

"Everybody's got a secret"
"Most of us do. Some are worse than others."

Maggie Smith promises truth and lies, and she delivers! This story is not only about three women of different generations chasing their careers, and the diversity of their work ethics, but also about feminism, motherhood, and the world of media in which words have more power than they've ever had before. This story is tense, wise, and expresses the complexity of women's careers in different fields in great detail, without sparing the reader the ugly sides of climbing the success ladder.

Megan Barnes is a 25-year-old investigative journalist whose life's course took an unexpected, downward angle. She is determined to learn from her mistakes, nevertheless, she is forced to move back in with her mother, Helen, who has recently decided to run for US Congress, which jeopardizes Megan's career. Until she meets Jocelyn, a Pulitzer-price-winning journalist from the boomer generation, and a series of odd events and rush decisions results in Megan working in a field she has neither expertise nor experience in. Each of these women faces obstacles and is determined to overcome them to become successful. Until one anonymous tweet challenges the truth and demands the lies to be unraveled.

This story is tense, bold, wise, and gripping! I could see Maggie's journalistic expertise on every single page and it made my reading experience much more interesting. As a person who has neither experience nor education in journalism or any similar field, it was truly amazing to follow the dynamics of the industry from within and to realize that just like any other, it has its fair share of secrets.

I specifically admired the generational gap theme and how I believe Maggie Smith managed to wrap up the main characteristics of each generation's morals into these three women, interwind their stories, show their different colors for the reader to see clearly - that the times we live in, the issues world faces, the experiences we all have, they all greatly impact our view on life.

This story is much more than what I've mentioned! I definitely recommend you to go for it!

Read if you like:
- feminism
- women chasing career
- generational gap
- journalism from within
- women in politics
- confrontation of beliefs
- the power of media

Thank you, Maggie, @ten16press, and NetGalley.com for a chance to read it pre-release. I am leaving this review voluntarily.