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See on lugu tormilisest sõprusest… ja selle varjus luuravatest süngetest saladustest. Pärast keerulist abielu on Mary Wilson õnnelik oma lihtsas elus, keskendudes oma kaheteistkümneaastasele pojale. Ta on alati oma väikese perekonnaga rahul olnud…, aga siis leiab ta vana postkaardi, mis muudab kogu tema mineviku tõepärasuse küsitavaks… Kui saabub kutse kooli kokkutulekule, kasutab Mary võimalust mõtteid šokeerivast avastusest eemale saada. Kohtumine kunagise klassikaaslase Apriliga tundub nagu kingitus. Hoolimata sellest, et ta Aprili vaevu mäletab, viskub Mary uude sõprussuhtesse ja leiab oma varem vaikse seltsielu taas elusa. Aga kui nende vahel tekivad sidemed, leiab Mary, et on üha sügavamale Aprili ellu ja abiellu tõmmatud, üha rohkem kartes, et kõik ei ole nii täiuslik, nagu näib. Kas tema enda valus minevik varjutab ta otsustusvõimet või on Maryl õigus kahtlustada, et inimesed, keda ta kõige rohkem usaldab, on need, kellel on kõige rohkem varjata?
327 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2021
199 people are currently reading
2487 people want to read
About the author
Gail Schimmel
10 books104 followersGAIL SCHIMMEL has been writing stories since she could put pen to paper. By day she is a qualified attorney, and the CEO of the South African Advertising Regulatory Board. But she still makes sure that to write!
In South Africa, Gail published a children’s book, Claude & Millie, in 2007, under her married name Gail van Onselen. Her first
adult novel, Marriage Vows, was published in 2008, by Kwela Books. Whatever Happened to the Cowley Twins? was published by Kwela in June 2013. The Park, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2017 and The Accident in 2019 (The Accident was released internationally as The Aftermath in 2021). Two Month was published in South Africa in 2020.
Gail is also half of the writer Katie Gayle.
Gail's newest book - Never Tell A Lie - will be available internationally on 30 November 2021.
Gail lives in Johannesburg with her husband, two children, two naughty dogs and one very very old cat.
In South Africa, Gail published a children’s book, Claude & Millie, in 2007, under her married name Gail van Onselen. Her first
adult novel, Marriage Vows, was published in 2008, by Kwela Books. Whatever Happened to the Cowley Twins? was published by Kwela in June 2013. The Park, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2017 and The Accident in 2019 (The Accident was released internationally as The Aftermath in 2021). Two Month was published in South Africa in 2020.
Gail is also half of the writer Katie Gayle.
Gail's newest book - Never Tell A Lie - will be available internationally on 30 November 2021.
Gail lives in Johannesburg with her husband, two children, two naughty dogs and one very very old cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
July 14, 2022
It has taken me so long to finish this book. I could easily blame it on the reader's block I had in the beginning of the year when I started reading this book but that is not the case.
The book started off on a promising note but by midway I simply just kept reading it at intervals because I didn't want to leave it unfinished. I guess the main reason was I just didn't warm up to most of the characters, the main one being the protagonist Mary Wilson. Even though she is a domestic abuse survivor herself, I felt she was quite judgemental in her views and slow to pick up on the signs of domestic abuse where her friend April is concerned. I felt Stacey, her best friend, and Joshua were much better examples of what good and unconditional friends should be like.
I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher Amazon Publishing UK and the author via NetGalley.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
The book started off on a promising note but by midway I simply just kept reading it at intervals because I didn't want to leave it unfinished. I guess the main reason was I just didn't warm up to most of the characters, the main one being the protagonist Mary Wilson. Even though she is a domestic abuse survivor herself, I felt she was quite judgemental in her views and slow to pick up on the signs of domestic abuse where her friend April is concerned. I felt Stacey, her best friend, and Joshua were much better examples of what good and unconditional friends should be like.
I received an e-Arc of the book from the publisher Amazon Publishing UK and the author via NetGalley.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
October 22, 2021
I received an e-ARC version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
“Never Tell a Lie” by Gail Schimmel begins with two friends going to their 20th school reunion. Both end up making connections with former classmates - and that’s where things start taking off. The main character is Mary Wilson, who has an enjoyable life - raising her son by herself, doing freelance writing gigs, keeping tabs on her wonderful father, and keeping in touch with her bestie. But between the reunion and helping her father clean out some shelves, Mary’s life takes a few twists.
This is a difficult book for me to review because I cannot say that I liked it, but I never disliked it enough to feel like I was close to not finishing it. Mary has a lot of baggage, and while for the most part she’s consistent in her thoughts/actions, some of her actions seemed inconsistent (such as telling someone to not contact her again, and then the next day wondering why she hadn’t been contacted); her son is having difficulties at school, but the reader never learns why; she reunites with a family member and says she’s hesitant, but then (seemingly) a chapter later all hesitancy is gone. Also, one of my big pet peeves is unreliable characters - and April (former classmate at the reunion) and Leo (April’s husband) are two of the largest. Even at the end, I’m still not convinced that April’s version of everything is the true version (and, on that note, I saw the ending scene between Leo and Mary coming from a mile away - great foreshadowing from Ms. Schimmel). So, I think it’s a fair summary to say that while this book was interesting and engaging, it wasn’t the book for me. I do feel compelled to add, though, that a book focusing on Steve, Joshua, and Stacy I might read as I found those characters reliable and entertaining (and consistent!).
“Never Tell a Lie” by Gail Schimmel begins with two friends going to their 20th school reunion. Both end up making connections with former classmates - and that’s where things start taking off. The main character is Mary Wilson, who has an enjoyable life - raising her son by herself, doing freelance writing gigs, keeping tabs on her wonderful father, and keeping in touch with her bestie. But between the reunion and helping her father clean out some shelves, Mary’s life takes a few twists.
This is a difficult book for me to review because I cannot say that I liked it, but I never disliked it enough to feel like I was close to not finishing it. Mary has a lot of baggage, and while for the most part she’s consistent in her thoughts/actions, some of her actions seemed inconsistent (such as telling someone to not contact her again, and then the next day wondering why she hadn’t been contacted); her son is having difficulties at school, but the reader never learns why; she reunites with a family member and says she’s hesitant, but then (seemingly) a chapter later all hesitancy is gone. Also, one of my big pet peeves is unreliable characters - and April (former classmate at the reunion) and Leo (April’s husband) are two of the largest. Even at the end, I’m still not convinced that April’s version of everything is the true version (and, on that note, I saw the ending scene between Leo and Mary coming from a mile away - great foreshadowing from Ms. Schimmel). So, I think it’s a fair summary to say that while this book was interesting and engaging, it wasn’t the book for me. I do feel compelled to add, though, that a book focusing on Steve, Joshua, and Stacy I might read as I found those characters reliable and entertaining (and consistent!).
June 23, 2022
One never knows when secrets are held how they can determine our life path and how things could have been different, so much different. Mary Wilson has been raised by a single parent and loves her dad very much but wonders a lot about her mother who was killed and what her relationship with her would have been like.
Mary attends a high school reunion and past friendships take on a new light. These lead to many eventful events happening and life is about to change. This is a strong story that I enjoyed right up until the end except for one thing. I really liked Mary's character throughout the book, she has great qualities and is someone you could count on if required. Then I felt the author spoilt the story near the end where Mary does something that I did not think was true to her character. Up until this point I would have given it 5 stars but this made me reduce them to four. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
Mary attends a high school reunion and past friendships take on a new light. These lead to many eventful events happening and life is about to change. This is a strong story that I enjoyed right up until the end except for one thing. I really liked Mary's character throughout the book, she has great qualities and is someone you could count on if required. Then I felt the author spoilt the story near the end where Mary does something that I did not think was true to her character. Up until this point I would have given it 5 stars but this made me reduce them to four. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 25, 2022
2.5/5 ⭐️
Eeeehhhhh
Eeeehhhhh
May 10, 2022
Disclaimer: Pan Macmillan South Africa kindly sent me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review, and as a global read-along with Tandem Collective.
South African author Gail Schimmel’s novel Never Tell A Lie is one of five novels that she has written, and after picking up this 2021 domestic thriller I will definitely be reading more of Schimmel’s work in the very near future.
“I don’t joke and I never tell a lie”.
The protagonist Mary Wilson is a single mother of her son Django, and a widow. She is content with her life and spends her days working as a freelance writer. She is very close with her father Sean who brought up Mary all on his own. For almost her entire childhood Mary lived with the knowledge that her mother died, and though she missed the opportunity to grow up with a mother, Mary and Sean have always managed quite well on their own. Everything seems to be going quite fine until Mary spends an afternoon helping her dad clean up his house, and quite by accident she discovers an old postcard hidden in one of her father’s books. A simple postcard that will challenge everything Mary ever knew about her mother and a childhood she feels was possibly built on a lie.
If that’s not enough to rock Mary’s world she also receives an invitation to attend her 20-year high school reunion. The possibility of meeting all her old school friends becomes a pleasant distraction for Mary, and along with her best friend Stacey, they attend the reunion. As reunions go this is as successful as they come. Mary ends up seated at a table with old friends who all get along famously, and after the event, they promise to keep in touch.
April Goldstein also attended the reunion, and for some strange reason Mary has no recollection of April, but despite this, they hit it off, and soon the two women are meeting for regular coffee dates and bond over motherhood.
April’s husband, Leo Goldstein is a well-known and wealthy advocate of women’s rights and is as charming as they come. The relationship between April and Leo is in no way perfect though. Something seems suspicious about Leo, and when Mary becomes more entangled in her new friend’s life, she begins to suspect that April might be in a controlling and abusive relationship with her seemingly perfect husband. For some reason though April is reluctant to leave her cushy existence, which is very frustrating for Mary who also has other things on her mind.
She has recently started up a new relationship with Joshua, an old friend from school whom she reunited with at the reunion. Once upon a time, Mary had a crush on Joshua, and to her delight the feeling was mutual. Starting a new relationship proves challenging for Mary because her marriage to Travis, Django’s father, was not an easy one. It becomes clear that Travis was possibly abusive towards Mary, and it has tainted her view of relationships.
Reuniting with Joshua and April, as well as a few other old friends from school, Mary’s new social life has given her a new lease on life, and made her realize that she was hiding a huge part of herself after Travis’ accidental death a few years earlier.
Whilst juggling her relationship with Joshua, and the unraveling drama with April and Leo, Mary is also still trying to solve the mystery of the postcard and is reluctant to bring its discovery up with Sean whom she doesn’t want to hurt unintentionally with her questions that involve the mother she never got to know.
Gail Schimmel’s novel is about secrets and lies. It is about family and trust, and past traumas that have the unfortunate ability to shape our view of the world and the people in it. April and Leo’s relationship, and the stories they share with Mary will have you switching allegiances until the very end, and will make you question just how dangerous a lie can become. Can we justify telling a lie to protect those we love, and when exactly do we draw the line? This is a phenomenal thriller that will have you reading way past any normal bedtime. It’s that good!
South African author Gail Schimmel’s novel Never Tell A Lie is one of five novels that she has written, and after picking up this 2021 domestic thriller I will definitely be reading more of Schimmel’s work in the very near future.
“I don’t joke and I never tell a lie”.
The protagonist Mary Wilson is a single mother of her son Django, and a widow. She is content with her life and spends her days working as a freelance writer. She is very close with her father Sean who brought up Mary all on his own. For almost her entire childhood Mary lived with the knowledge that her mother died, and though she missed the opportunity to grow up with a mother, Mary and Sean have always managed quite well on their own. Everything seems to be going quite fine until Mary spends an afternoon helping her dad clean up his house, and quite by accident she discovers an old postcard hidden in one of her father’s books. A simple postcard that will challenge everything Mary ever knew about her mother and a childhood she feels was possibly built on a lie.
If that’s not enough to rock Mary’s world she also receives an invitation to attend her 20-year high school reunion. The possibility of meeting all her old school friends becomes a pleasant distraction for Mary, and along with her best friend Stacey, they attend the reunion. As reunions go this is as successful as they come. Mary ends up seated at a table with old friends who all get along famously, and after the event, they promise to keep in touch.
April Goldstein also attended the reunion, and for some strange reason Mary has no recollection of April, but despite this, they hit it off, and soon the two women are meeting for regular coffee dates and bond over motherhood.
April’s husband, Leo Goldstein is a well-known and wealthy advocate of women’s rights and is as charming as they come. The relationship between April and Leo is in no way perfect though. Something seems suspicious about Leo, and when Mary becomes more entangled in her new friend’s life, she begins to suspect that April might be in a controlling and abusive relationship with her seemingly perfect husband. For some reason though April is reluctant to leave her cushy existence, which is very frustrating for Mary who also has other things on her mind.
She has recently started up a new relationship with Joshua, an old friend from school whom she reunited with at the reunion. Once upon a time, Mary had a crush on Joshua, and to her delight the feeling was mutual. Starting a new relationship proves challenging for Mary because her marriage to Travis, Django’s father, was not an easy one. It becomes clear that Travis was possibly abusive towards Mary, and it has tainted her view of relationships.
Reuniting with Joshua and April, as well as a few other old friends from school, Mary’s new social life has given her a new lease on life, and made her realize that she was hiding a huge part of herself after Travis’ accidental death a few years earlier.
Whilst juggling her relationship with Joshua, and the unraveling drama with April and Leo, Mary is also still trying to solve the mystery of the postcard and is reluctant to bring its discovery up with Sean whom she doesn’t want to hurt unintentionally with her questions that involve the mother she never got to know.
Gail Schimmel’s novel is about secrets and lies. It is about family and trust, and past traumas that have the unfortunate ability to shape our view of the world and the people in it. April and Leo’s relationship, and the stories they share with Mary will have you switching allegiances until the very end, and will make you question just how dangerous a lie can become. Can we justify telling a lie to protect those we love, and when exactly do we draw the line? This is a phenomenal thriller that will have you reading way past any normal bedtime. It’s that good!
November 30, 2021
There are two sides to every story, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Supposedly.
Mary Wilson is a single mom, having been widowed when her abusive husband died in a car accident. It was the escape she needed for her and her son Django and, for a while, things were calm for them.
When Mary receives an invitation to her 20-year high school reunion, her and her best friend Stacey decide to go because, well, they couldn't think of a decent excuse not to.
There, Mary reconnects with old friends, makes some new ones and even rekindles an old flame. From here, her life changes rapidly. All while she is trying to get her head around a shock revelation that will have you searching your bookshelves for clues to long-hidden secrets. Her father, the sort of guy you'd love to have around your braai (bbq), has some serious explaining to do.
Mary is fairly self-absorbed, but also pretty relatable. April is the stylishly unhinged bestie she didn't know she needed. April's husband Leo is aggressively charming. And Mary's new love interest Joshua is a slightly confused ally. There are also a host of characters on the sidelines bringing everything from intense drama to light comic relief.
Never Tell a Lie is ultimately about the nature of relationships and the psychology of men, women and society. It asks some interesting questions. Do people typically believe women when they say they have been abused? Does society protect women from abuse? What does an abuser look like? Would you recognise one?
Perhaps the biggest question: Who can you really trust? In this book, you can never quite tell.
I wouldn't say it's an incredibly gripping rollercoaster of a thriller. It's more of an easy flowing river, with an unsettling undercurrent of tension. I sailed right through it.
Mary Wilson is a single mom, having been widowed when her abusive husband died in a car accident. It was the escape she needed for her and her son Django and, for a while, things were calm for them.
When Mary receives an invitation to her 20-year high school reunion, her and her best friend Stacey decide to go because, well, they couldn't think of a decent excuse not to.
There, Mary reconnects with old friends, makes some new ones and even rekindles an old flame. From here, her life changes rapidly. All while she is trying to get her head around a shock revelation that will have you searching your bookshelves for clues to long-hidden secrets. Her father, the sort of guy you'd love to have around your braai (bbq), has some serious explaining to do.
Mary is fairly self-absorbed, but also pretty relatable. April is the stylishly unhinged bestie she didn't know she needed. April's husband Leo is aggressively charming. And Mary's new love interest Joshua is a slightly confused ally. There are also a host of characters on the sidelines bringing everything from intense drama to light comic relief.
Never Tell a Lie is ultimately about the nature of relationships and the psychology of men, women and society. It asks some interesting questions. Do people typically believe women when they say they have been abused? Does society protect women from abuse? What does an abuser look like? Would you recognise one?
Perhaps the biggest question: Who can you really trust? In this book, you can never quite tell.
I wouldn't say it's an incredibly gripping rollercoaster of a thriller. It's more of an easy flowing river, with an unsettling undercurrent of tension. I sailed right through it.
November 23, 2021
Mary is a widow raising her 12-year-old son, Django. Her and her best friend Stacy reluctantly decide to go to their 20th class reunion and surprisingly have a great time. She reconnects with a bunch of old friends and one, April, that she doesn't really remember but seems to have a secret following her. April and Mary become close and Mary suspects that April is being abused by her husband. Mary is a free lance writer and the insurance from her late husband pays for Django's tuition.
I really didn't like Mary very much. She is close with her father who raised her alone since her mother died when she was two. She makes everything about herself and even though Stacy is super supportive of her she never seems to return the favors. With April she is the same, always trying to think of a way to interject her troubles into a conversation rather than really listening to what April has to say. One of her assignments is to write reviews of whiskey for a small magazine. She never tastes the whiskey and writes some pretty lame reviews. She thinks it's funny that she is pulling the wool over their eyes but I found the behavior childish.
Django seems like a good kid but really hates his name. He seems to have problems in school, perhaps bullying, but instead of getting to the bottom of it she only thinks of how she can get him out of the car so she can get about her day.
There was a little bit of a thriller element and some romance with Joshua. I found the story easy to read and the setting was in South Africa which is different for me. I didn't feel a strong sense of place though.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon UK.
I really didn't like Mary very much. She is close with her father who raised her alone since her mother died when she was two. She makes everything about herself and even though Stacy is super supportive of her she never seems to return the favors. With April she is the same, always trying to think of a way to interject her troubles into a conversation rather than really listening to what April has to say. One of her assignments is to write reviews of whiskey for a small magazine. She never tastes the whiskey and writes some pretty lame reviews. She thinks it's funny that she is pulling the wool over their eyes but I found the behavior childish.
Django seems like a good kid but really hates his name. He seems to have problems in school, perhaps bullying, but instead of getting to the bottom of it she only thinks of how she can get him out of the car so she can get about her day.
There was a little bit of a thriller element and some romance with Joshua. I found the story easy to read and the setting was in South Africa which is different for me. I didn't feel a strong sense of place though.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon UK.
May 5, 2022
"𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦."
I participated in the first-ever South African readalong hosted by @tandemcollectiveglobal and @panmacmillansa. We kicked the readalong off with Never Tell A Lie by the amazing Gail Schimmel, a local South African author.
This book has everything, from mystery and suspense to an edge of danger. I want to say it's almost impossible to guess the ending unless you are a detective in training. Filled with deception and secrets, Schimmel captures the reader's attention from the very first page. Leaving bread crumbs throughout the chapters, the reader starts second-guessing themself while having the truth just within reach. Everything starts with a high school reunion and then the story takes a dramatic turn as it focuses on several intense situations, all having Mary somehow involved.
The anticipation to find out what happens grow after every chapter until you feel you can't put the book down until it's finished. The characters are well developed and the short chapters add to the tension. I read this book alongside a group of wonderful SA bookstagrammars, we discussed characters and chapters and completed challenges. This book deserves more hype, it needs to be on everyone's list to read. Never Tell A Lie is perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Lisa Jewell.
I participated in the first-ever South African readalong hosted by @tandemcollectiveglobal and @panmacmillansa. We kicked the readalong off with Never Tell A Lie by the amazing Gail Schimmel, a local South African author.
This book has everything, from mystery and suspense to an edge of danger. I want to say it's almost impossible to guess the ending unless you are a detective in training. Filled with deception and secrets, Schimmel captures the reader's attention from the very first page. Leaving bread crumbs throughout the chapters, the reader starts second-guessing themself while having the truth just within reach. Everything starts with a high school reunion and then the story takes a dramatic turn as it focuses on several intense situations, all having Mary somehow involved.
The anticipation to find out what happens grow after every chapter until you feel you can't put the book down until it's finished. The characters are well developed and the short chapters add to the tension. I read this book alongside a group of wonderful SA bookstagrammars, we discussed characters and chapters and completed challenges. This book deserves more hype, it needs to be on everyone's list to read. Never Tell A Lie is perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Lisa Jewell.
October 25, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Mary is a widow with a son and a loving, helpful father, living in Johannesburg. When she gets an invitation to go to her 20-year high school reunion she and her best friend decide to go and end up having a great time. She reconnects with a woman who she never really hung out with at school and they become fast friends. They meet often and slowly Mary suspects all is not well with her friend's marriage. She's drawn in more and more until it becomes a bit of a nightmare. Are her friend and her two children in danger from the father/husband?
I really liked Mary and thoroughly enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book. But towards the end I had to suspend my belief a bit, it felt unrealistic and hurried and was slightly disappointed. Nevertheless I enjoyed it enough to order one of her earlier books.
A good read that I definitely recommend.
Mary is a widow with a son and a loving, helpful father, living in Johannesburg. When she gets an invitation to go to her 20-year high school reunion she and her best friend decide to go and end up having a great time. She reconnects with a woman who she never really hung out with at school and they become fast friends. They meet often and slowly Mary suspects all is not well with her friend's marriage. She's drawn in more and more until it becomes a bit of a nightmare. Are her friend and her two children in danger from the father/husband?
I really liked Mary and thoroughly enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book. But towards the end I had to suspend my belief a bit, it felt unrealistic and hurried and was slightly disappointed. Nevertheless I enjoyed it enough to order one of her earlier books.
A good read that I definitely recommend.
November 15, 2021
“We check their privilege for them, because they don’t check it themselves.”
Emoji Description: 👩👦🎓🥂💬☕️🥢🥴🍷👊🏼💔
🚨: Abuse, manipulation
There were so many things I loved and hated about this book, but I couldn’t put it down!
This book was very well written. Not much happened in the beginning, but it keeps you engaged and form a connection to the characters. I found some of it a little too smooth and wish there was more substance to her family. I did not like Mary. She is an unreliable and unconcerned friend. She complains that Stacey never cares about her rants, but doesn’t care about April’s rants and calls her annoying. She thinks April is dramatic and that Leo is not that bad and “no Travis”. Then contradicts herself by saying that she knows how controlling he can be and is unsure of him. She ignores obvious signs or shrugs it off completely. After April calls saying that Leo is going to kill her, she said that Leo is “better-looking than usual” She complained that April is a horrible drunk for no reason. At one point she says “I’m angry with April because she’s not as strong as I am. And I’m not sure if that’s fair.” and ALMOST jokes and says that she will hit her if she repeated herself one more time after she suspects that April is being abused. April did seem off, but I still enjoyed her character. I like Joshua, but I feel he was too easily manipulated by Leo despite his line of work. Leo really was a very charming man and easily manipulated every person in the story including myself
Overall, I was engaged through the whole thing. I do not think domestic violence is something talked about as often as it should be and I encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out. Both men and women face this on a daily basis and I pray that you never forget how strong and brave they are.
Emoji Description: 👩👦🎓🥂💬☕️🥢🥴🍷👊🏼💔
🚨: Abuse, manipulation
There were so many things I loved and hated about this book, but I couldn’t put it down!
This book was very well written. Not much happened in the beginning, but it keeps you engaged and form a connection to the characters. I found some of it a little too smooth and wish there was more substance to her family. I did not like Mary. She is an unreliable and unconcerned friend. She complains that Stacey never cares about her rants, but doesn’t care about April’s rants and calls her annoying. She thinks April is dramatic and that Leo is not that bad and “no Travis”. Then contradicts herself by saying that she knows how controlling he can be and is unsure of him. She ignores obvious signs or shrugs it off completely. After April calls saying that Leo is going to kill her, she said that Leo is “better-looking than usual” She complained that April is a horrible drunk for no reason. At one point she says “I’m angry with April because she’s not as strong as I am. And I’m not sure if that’s fair.” and ALMOST jokes and says that she will hit her if she repeated herself one more time after she suspects that April is being abused. April did seem off, but I still enjoyed her character. I like Joshua, but I feel he was too easily manipulated by Leo despite his line of work. Leo really was a very charming man and easily manipulated every person in the story including myself
Overall, I was engaged through the whole thing. I do not think domestic violence is something talked about as often as it should be and I encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out. Both men and women face this on a daily basis and I pray that you never forget how strong and brave they are.
November 22, 2021
One of my most reads for 2021
This was such an interesting book, you didn't know who to believe and it really challenged your perceptions. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book and thank the publishers and netgalley.
I read this in one setting as I needed to know how the story would pan out and who was in the right - the ending was just brilliant.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but this in no way influenced my review.
This was such an interesting book, you didn't know who to believe and it really challenged your perceptions. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book and thank the publishers and netgalley.
I read this in one setting as I needed to know how the story would pan out and who was in the right - the ending was just brilliant.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but this in no way influenced my review.
November 13, 2021
Summary:
Only reluctantly, Mary decides to attend her school reunion. But somehow she is feeling an instant connection to April, a woman she hardly remembers. As the two women grow closer over the weeks, Mary, who has been an abused wife before her husband died, notices that something in April's picture-perfect marriage is terribly wrong. But why does no one else see the abuser in charming Leo? And what did really happen at school camp, and why does April keep mentioning one certain incident?
My opinion:
You guys, this book was AWESOME! It leads you in one direction, only to find out you're completely wrong. Then you think you've figured it out, but nope - wrong again! But you've certainly figured it out after that twist, didn't you? Guess what? You're wrong. And I loved being led astray by the author. And even though it covers really hard topics like domestic violence, Gail Schimmel somehow managed to talk about these topics in a sensitive manner and still write a book that is straight up hilarious. I found myself laughing hysterically multiple times. It might have helped that the character of Mary was so similar to myself. Not only did I see my strengths in hers, I also got annoyed by things that annoy me about myself and found her making mistakes I could've easily made. I loved Mary, and I loved the book!
This was my first book by Gail Schimmel, and it certainly won't be my last!
Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
- A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
Only reluctantly, Mary decides to attend her school reunion. But somehow she is feeling an instant connection to April, a woman she hardly remembers. As the two women grow closer over the weeks, Mary, who has been an abused wife before her husband died, notices that something in April's picture-perfect marriage is terribly wrong. But why does no one else see the abuser in charming Leo? And what did really happen at school camp, and why does April keep mentioning one certain incident?
My opinion:
You guys, this book was AWESOME! It leads you in one direction, only to find out you're completely wrong. Then you think you've figured it out, but nope - wrong again! But you've certainly figured it out after that twist, didn't you? Guess what? You're wrong. And I loved being led astray by the author. And even though it covers really hard topics like domestic violence, Gail Schimmel somehow managed to talk about these topics in a sensitive manner and still write a book that is straight up hilarious. I found myself laughing hysterically multiple times. It might have helped that the character of Mary was so similar to myself. Not only did I see my strengths in hers, I also got annoyed by things that annoy me about myself and found her making mistakes I could've easily made. I loved Mary, and I loved the book!
This was my first book by Gail Schimmel, and it certainly won't be my last!
Parts of this book reminded me of:
- Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris
- A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight
June 23, 2022
This is my third book by this author, though The Aftermath remains my favourite of hers. This one all seemed to get extremely rushed toward the end and I wasn't really satisfied with how it all got finalised. Mary tended to get my back up as I thought she was a bit of a nitwit and I found April another unlikeable person as well. I really liked Joshua a great deal, and Leo too. It was just the females that got my hackles up (aside from Stacey who is a gem) !! Liars always irritate me, too, though the author keeps you guessing as to who is speaking with a forked tongue throughout. I was also less than impressed with the way Mary treats one particular person in her life.....
Considering a big part of the story is with reference to Mary's upbringing, I found those chapters are all a little glossed over as well for some reason.
Once again there are some funny little remarks in this-I got a kick out of the Tinder reference and the retort for the Thrupps' delivery chap !
She writes crow's and not crows' feet and got the apostrophes wrong another couple of times, too, wrote roller coaster not rollercoaster and spilt not split ! Luckily, this time I didn't need to keep pausing to head to Google to look up some South African idiom, because the Kindle dictionary actually knew what they were this time.
If not for the (what I considered) quite abrupt ending, it would've been 5* from me.
Considering a big part of the story is with reference to Mary's upbringing, I found those chapters are all a little glossed over as well for some reason.
Once again there are some funny little remarks in this-I got a kick out of the Tinder reference and the retort for the Thrupps' delivery chap !
She writes crow's and not crows' feet and got the apostrophes wrong another couple of times, too, wrote roller coaster not rollercoaster and spilt not split ! Luckily, this time I didn't need to keep pausing to head to Google to look up some South African idiom, because the Kindle dictionary actually knew what they were this time.
If not for the (what I considered) quite abrupt ending, it would've been 5* from me.
June 2, 2022
"The whole business of organizing school reunions is for those people whose lives peaked at High School and have gone nowhere since."
First of all, I can't believe how long it's taking me to write a review for this brilliant read. But with a hectic school schedule, an unplanned wonderful vacation and load shedding during the hours set out for blogging and reviewing, it's quite understandable (or excusable).
All these typical South African excuses, are one of the biggest reasons that I loved this book so much. I t was a brilliant decision by Tandem Collective to choose a book by a South African author, set in South Africa, for their first readalong with South African readers and bloggers. The setting is Johannesburg and the language, the bring-and-braai, the malls, the school dynamics and friendships, are as South African as you can get.
High School reunions is a tried and tested plot for a number of thriller/suspense authors. Books like Nighttime is my Time by Mary Higgins Clark, are long time favorites. What a thrill to be adding a South African read to this list. I've never been to any of my high school reunions, so I can't really say if there is always a shadowy figure lurking in the wings, or that one person at your table you just can't remember from school. Or even worst, you can remember the person, but not the lurking secret...
When Mary Wilson attends her 20 year High School reunion, she reunites with an old acquaintance with whom se forms a whirlwind friendship. While battling with a couple of secrets on the home front, it initially takes Mary some time to discover that the picture perfect life that April recedes in, has a few serious cracks in. As these things tend to go, Mary soon finds herself slam dunk the middle of questionable domestic drama and suspected abuse. But whose story do you believe and who can you trust with the truth?
Never Tell a Lie was the perfect choice for a readalong. It kept me on my seat and I couldn't wait to jump onto our Instagram group to chat about the latest chapters read. With thought provoking cue cards added to our copies and inquisitive comments by my fellow readers, this book lingered in my mind 24/7 for the week of the readalong.
If Domestic Thrillers and suspenseful plots are your cup of tea, do take a tea break with this one.
A huge thank you to Tandem Collective UK and Pan Macmillian SA for providing me with a copy of Never Tell a Lie and for inviting me to take part in the readalong. It's been a once in a lifetime experience and I will gladly do it again.
This review was first published @ Elza Reads
First of all, I can't believe how long it's taking me to write a review for this brilliant read. But with a hectic school schedule, an unplanned wonderful vacation and load shedding during the hours set out for blogging and reviewing, it's quite understandable (or excusable).
All these typical South African excuses, are one of the biggest reasons that I loved this book so much. I t was a brilliant decision by Tandem Collective to choose a book by a South African author, set in South Africa, for their first readalong with South African readers and bloggers. The setting is Johannesburg and the language, the bring-and-braai, the malls, the school dynamics and friendships, are as South African as you can get.
High School reunions is a tried and tested plot for a number of thriller/suspense authors. Books like Nighttime is my Time by Mary Higgins Clark, are long time favorites. What a thrill to be adding a South African read to this list. I've never been to any of my high school reunions, so I can't really say if there is always a shadowy figure lurking in the wings, or that one person at your table you just can't remember from school. Or even worst, you can remember the person, but not the lurking secret...
When Mary Wilson attends her 20 year High School reunion, she reunites with an old acquaintance with whom se forms a whirlwind friendship. While battling with a couple of secrets on the home front, it initially takes Mary some time to discover that the picture perfect life that April recedes in, has a few serious cracks in. As these things tend to go, Mary soon finds herself slam dunk the middle of questionable domestic drama and suspected abuse. But whose story do you believe and who can you trust with the truth?
Never Tell a Lie was the perfect choice for a readalong. It kept me on my seat and I couldn't wait to jump onto our Instagram group to chat about the latest chapters read. With thought provoking cue cards added to our copies and inquisitive comments by my fellow readers, this book lingered in my mind 24/7 for the week of the readalong.
If Domestic Thrillers and suspenseful plots are your cup of tea, do take a tea break with this one.
A huge thank you to Tandem Collective UK and Pan Macmillian SA for providing me with a copy of Never Tell a Lie and for inviting me to take part in the readalong. It's been a once in a lifetime experience and I will gladly do it again.
This review was first published @ Elza Reads
November 12, 2021
This is the first time I have read a book in the South African setting and the plot sounded intrigued to me so I was so happy when I got this as the ARC.
Plot:- Mary Wilson has been living happily with her twelve year old son Django after a tumultuous marriage. She gets invited to a twenty year old high school reunion where she reconnects with many including a woman named April. Mary doesn't have any memories of April but the two become best friends. And soon, she finds that April is living a life of secret and lies.
Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Mary. The story talks mainly about the victims of domestic abuse and the consequences it has on the victims. Mary herself was a victim of domestic abuse and so is April so I give five stars to the author for addressing such an issue. The writing was spot on. Initially, the beginning was a bit of a slow burn but gradually it got more intense with some twists along the way. However, I kind of expected the ending so the ending was nothing new. Overall, I was hooked into the story and didn't realize I finished reading the book until I came to the end!
Characters:- April and Mary are victims of abuse and so I do feel sympathy towards their characters. I do like Mary having a strong father-daughter relationship with her father and also mother son relationship with Django.
Overall:- this was a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story--worth four stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
Plot:- Mary Wilson has been living happily with her twelve year old son Django after a tumultuous marriage. She gets invited to a twenty year old high school reunion where she reconnects with many including a woman named April. Mary doesn't have any memories of April but the two become best friends. And soon, she finds that April is living a life of secret and lies.
Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Mary. The story talks mainly about the victims of domestic abuse and the consequences it has on the victims. Mary herself was a victim of domestic abuse and so is April so I give five stars to the author for addressing such an issue. The writing was spot on. Initially, the beginning was a bit of a slow burn but gradually it got more intense with some twists along the way. However, I kind of expected the ending so the ending was nothing new. Overall, I was hooked into the story and didn't realize I finished reading the book until I came to the end!
Characters:- April and Mary are victims of abuse and so I do feel sympathy towards their characters. I do like Mary having a strong father-daughter relationship with her father and also mother son relationship with Django.
Overall:- this was a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story--worth four stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
May 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this book written by a South African author nogal!
This may have been my first Gail Schimmel book but it certainly won't be my last. The book was fast paced and gripping.
I was completely sucked in right from the beginning of the book and just when I thought I had everything figured out, I realised I didn't. The writing is so good and I'm not going to say much more other than you need to read this book and support local authors like Gail Schimmel, they have so much to offer.
Highly recommended!
This may have been my first Gail Schimmel book but it certainly won't be my last. The book was fast paced and gripping.
I was completely sucked in right from the beginning of the book and just when I thought I had everything figured out, I realised I didn't. The writing is so good and I'm not going to say much more other than you need to read this book and support local authors like Gail Schimmel, they have so much to offer.
Highly recommended!
May 5, 2022
A suspenseful mystery set in South Africa, where our main character reconnects with old schoolmates at a school reunion. We follow Mary as she faces her past while she gets pulled into the mysterious domestic life of her former classmate, April.
Throughout the book, Gail Schimmel kept me on my toes, guessing and suspicious of the characters and their intentions. From the first chapter I was hooked, and the closer to the end we came, the more difficult it was to put the book down! Well written, intriguing plot and mysterious characters make this an enjoyable book to pick up if you’re in search of a quick mystery to read.
Ratings:
Characters 7/10 Atmosphere 6/10 Writing 8/10 Plot 8/10 Intrigue 8/10 Logic 7/10 Enjoyment 8/10
Overall: 7.43/10
A big thank you to the Tandem Collective and Pan Macmillan SA for the opportunity to participate in the Never Tell A Lie read-along!
Throughout the book, Gail Schimmel kept me on my toes, guessing and suspicious of the characters and their intentions. From the first chapter I was hooked, and the closer to the end we came, the more difficult it was to put the book down! Well written, intriguing plot and mysterious characters make this an enjoyable book to pick up if you’re in search of a quick mystery to read.
Ratings:
Characters 7/10 Atmosphere 6/10 Writing 8/10 Plot 8/10 Intrigue 8/10 Logic 7/10 Enjoyment 8/10
Overall: 7.43/10
A big thank you to the Tandem Collective and Pan Macmillan SA for the opportunity to participate in the Never Tell A Lie read-along!
December 19, 2021
I got this book as an arc from NetGalley in return for a honest review.
This book was not what I was expecting. Mary and her best friend go back to their high school reunion and become reacquainted with some friends. After the night she starts dating one of the guys but takes it slow as she doesn’t trust easily due to her late husband and the way he was.
She also becomes friends with April. They don’t live to far from each other and their sons are close in age. As time goes on things April say don’t seem to make sense. She is always late and forgetting things. Slowly it seems that her husband might be an abused but on the surface you would never know. Especially with the job he has supporting those who are victims of abuse.
You think you finally have the story figured out but then things change and your not sure who is in the wrong and where they stand…..
This book was not what I was expecting. Mary and her best friend go back to their high school reunion and become reacquainted with some friends. After the night she starts dating one of the guys but takes it slow as she doesn’t trust easily due to her late husband and the way he was.
She also becomes friends with April. They don’t live to far from each other and their sons are close in age. As time goes on things April say don’t seem to make sense. She is always late and forgetting things. Slowly it seems that her husband might be an abused but on the surface you would never know. Especially with the job he has supporting those who are victims of abuse.
You think you finally have the story figured out but then things change and your not sure who is in the wrong and where they stand…..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2022
Very slow. Not a fast paced mystery like I thought it was going to be
April 23, 2022
I so enjoyed this South African novel where I am familiar with the different places that people meet. This is a clever story line that keeps you guessing until the end and I could not put it down.
April 11, 2024
Just a little bit stupid 🤣
December 15, 2021
This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Amazon Publishing UK and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
Compelling characters, unique premise, suspenseful read.
Compelling characters, unique premise, suspenseful read.
October 27, 2021
I started reading NEVER TELL A LIE, Gail Schimmel, yesterday morning after breakfast and was immediately hooked. Even took a peek at the loadshedding schedule, something I never do AND am always surprised when the lights go off.
329 pages of twisty tensions. Having read The Park, The Accident and Two Months, I was touched by the narrator's insights though she was on the outside looking in.
How do you help a friend in need? How do you know that a friend is in need of help?
This is a fantastic story to read which sheds light on the challenges women face when they are between a rock and a hard place, with children to consider. Insightful. Reflective. How women are gaslighted by men and women who claim to be "here" for them. How crippling and arresting domestic abuse is. Can't breathe. Can't dream. Can't plan. Everything one does and says is to fulfill this idea of perfection. Doubt, my God! Self-doubt and this incessant need to re-do, reinvent, recreate the self to fit into the other's idea of who and what you should be.
Is obsessive compulsiveness a sign of latent trauma?
Money: the imbalance of power leading to systematic problems and the need to show gratitude by the one who is made to feel weak.
The last quarter of the book was a bit dicey, had me gawking in disbelief. A bit rushed perhaps, but lives were at stake so a bit more active drama was required...?!
NEVER TELL A LIE has a pull factor. Clear your schedule. After reading NEVER TELL A LIE, maybe we will start hearing what is not being said by our friends.
329 pages of twisty tensions. Having read The Park, The Accident and Two Months, I was touched by the narrator's insights though she was on the outside looking in.
How do you help a friend in need? How do you know that a friend is in need of help?
This is a fantastic story to read which sheds light on the challenges women face when they are between a rock and a hard place, with children to consider. Insightful. Reflective. How women are gaslighted by men and women who claim to be "here" for them. How crippling and arresting domestic abuse is. Can't breathe. Can't dream. Can't plan. Everything one does and says is to fulfill this idea of perfection. Doubt, my God! Self-doubt and this incessant need to re-do, reinvent, recreate the self to fit into the other's idea of who and what you should be.
Is obsessive compulsiveness a sign of latent trauma?
Money: the imbalance of power leading to systematic problems and the need to show gratitude by the one who is made to feel weak.
The last quarter of the book was a bit dicey, had me gawking in disbelief. A bit rushed perhaps, but lives were at stake so a bit more active drama was required...?!
NEVER TELL A LIE has a pull factor. Clear your schedule. After reading NEVER TELL A LIE, maybe we will start hearing what is not being said by our friends.
October 21, 2022
Mary and her friend Stacy attend their 20th high school reunion. What a hoot! They all laugh and laugh and snort and laugh some more. Mary is enthralled with April, but doesn’t remember her from high school. They become fast friends but something sinister is going on behind closed doors. Mary becomes a complete idiot. I was getting whiplash from her ping ponging on her position. He did it. No, she did it. For sure he did it. It’s so obvious she did it. I could not stand her character. And…why did Django hate school so much?
May 4, 2022
I read this book in two sittings - 58% on one night and finished the next. I literally read til I could not keep my eyes open after 1am. Exactly what you want instead of mindless phone scrolling.
Never tell a lie by Gail Schimmel is a story about a couple of lies and what happens when the truth eventually unfolds. It has themes of friendship, family and (content warning) domestic abuse (but no actual incidents). Lots of tension keeps you turning the pages so it’s the perfect book to dive into on a weekend.
The book is set in Johannesburg and feels South African in all the best ways. It’s written exactly how we all talk so doesn’t feel contrived or like it’s trying to be something it’s not. I loved it and rated it 4.5🌟 due to the slightly rushed ending. I highly recommend this one, The Aftermath (published in SA as The Accident) and The Park, which I also loved.
Fun fact - I used to work at the same company as Gail’s husband.
Never tell a lie by Gail Schimmel is a story about a couple of lies and what happens when the truth eventually unfolds. It has themes of friendship, family and (content warning) domestic abuse (but no actual incidents). Lots of tension keeps you turning the pages so it’s the perfect book to dive into on a weekend.
The book is set in Johannesburg and feels South African in all the best ways. It’s written exactly how we all talk so doesn’t feel contrived or like it’s trying to be something it’s not. I loved it and rated it 4.5🌟 due to the slightly rushed ending. I highly recommend this one, The Aftermath (published in SA as The Accident) and The Park, which I also loved.
Fun fact - I used to work at the same company as Gail’s husband.
December 4, 2023
This book did not do it for me. I added it to my TBR based on a Kindle recommendation from another book I read and the synopsis seemed interesting but as I started reading it I was waiting for the twist to come or the shoe to drop and every time I thought here it is, it wasn't. Mary seemed very adamant about befriending this girl from her HS that she hadn't spoken to in years so much so that it seemed like she was pushing her current friend to the side. Then when she wanted to help her new friend she went so hard so much so that she was willing to lose her own relationship because of it just to flip flop at the end that I was like what the hell. I felt like there was a big build up to what I thought was the actual twist and the ending just felt flat to me. Overall this was a 3.5 star read for me.
October 27, 2021
Never Tell a Lie is a domestic suspense novel set in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mary is a widow raising her son with the help of her dad. On a whim, she decides to go to her high school reunion even though she doesn’t really keep in touch with anyone except her good friend Stacy. She reconnects with April, who she doesn’t actually remember, but can’t tell her that. During their time at school, April had some sort of incident but Mary doesn’t know all the details, although April assumes she does. They quickly become intertwined in each other’s lives—double dates and play dates with kids. As they grow closer, Mary isn’t sure exactly what is going on with April and her husband Leo, but she knows it can’t be good.
and she wonders if she really knows April and if it has something to do with what happened when they were in school. The story moves along with a few elements of drama and then just kind of rapidly concludes. There are not a lot of thrills but there is some build up and a lot of questions about exactly what is going on. Can’t say too much without giving away a critical plot point. I do like that it is told from one point of view in a linear fashion with no flashbacks— rare these days!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 3.5 stars.
and she wonders if she really knows April and if it has something to do with what happened when they were in school. The story moves along with a few elements of drama and then just kind of rapidly concludes. There are not a lot of thrills but there is some build up and a lot of questions about exactly what is going on. Can’t say too much without giving away a critical plot point. I do like that it is told from one point of view in a linear fashion with no flashbacks— rare these days!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 3.5 stars.
October 20, 2021
Once again a really cleverly written novel that has you wondering who the real victim is the whole way through. I couldn’t put this book down and finished it in three days.
December 15, 2021
3.5 stars ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
Never Tell A Lie was actually an enjoyable easy read. I enjoyed getting to know the main character Mary and how she opened up more about herself as the story went on, for instance with the truth of how Travis really was.
The characters all went well together at the reunion which got me more invested in the story as I thought the lying would be focusing on her mother and father, but then it goes in a different direction. AND THEN even more twisty and surprising as I read on. I thought I worked out the truth and how the story was going to go BUT heck no and that really did took me by surprise. I really enjoyed reading this and was really pleased that It ended in a different way than I thought it was going to,
Never Tell A Lie was actually an enjoyable easy read. I enjoyed getting to know the main character Mary and how she opened up more about herself as the story went on, for instance with the truth of how Travis really was.
The characters all went well together at the reunion which got me more invested in the story as I thought the lying would be focusing on her mother and father, but then it goes in a different direction. AND THEN even more twisty and surprising as I read on. I thought I worked out the truth and how the story was going to go BUT heck no and that really did took me by surprise. I really enjoyed reading this and was really pleased that It ended in a different way than I thought it was going to,
April 25, 2022
I liked the title of this book so I wanted to see how the title tied into the story. Mary and her friend from high school decide to go to their high school reunion even though they think it will be uneventful.. When they get to the reunion they find they are seated at different tables. Mary is at a table with April whom she barely knew in high school but is feeling a connection at the reunion. They decide to have coffee together the next day to catch up further. They have a great time so decide to have further coffee dates and introduce their children to each other. As the bond grows Mary begins to feel that something is off in April's marriage. There is talk of abuse in this story that may make some uncomfortable. The suspense of the story keeps you guessing and the ending was satisfying. Thank you Netgalley for the arc and I would love to read my books by Gail Schimmel
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