Getting Away with It

by Julie Cohen

A gorgeously romantic, funny and heartbreaking read for anyone who's ever run away from home - and found their way back...Liza Haven couldn't wait to escape the small village where she grew up with her perfect identical twin sister, Lee. Her life in LA as a stunt woman is reckless, fast and free - and that's just the way she likes it. But when a near-fatal mistake drives her home, she finds Lee gone and everyone in the village mistaking her for her twin sister. Liza has to deal with her ailing mother, the family ice cream business, and Lee's dangerously attractive boyfriend. Liza's always been the bad twin, but as she struggles to keep up the masquerade and puzzle out where her sister has gone, she realises it's not so simple. She's spent her whole life getting away with it - is it finally time to face up to who she really is and where she really belongs?

Genres: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Short Stories, Womens Fiction, Christmas

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Julie Cohen (also writing as Julie Mae Cohen) is an award-winning, bestselling author and a popular teacher of creative writing. She was born in Maine in the USA, and currently lives in the UK with her family and a terrier of dubious origin.

Reviews

[Salma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review contains 2 parts the first one is about the novella ( The Black Sheep ) & the other one is about the full length novel ( Getting Away With It) :

(The Black Sheep ) :
5 stars
This novella introduced Liza & Lee to us , identical twins with 100% different personalities , the devil & the angel .. or in this case virgin Mary & the black sheep
Funny introduction to L&L , definitely will read the full book - if i find it -
What I didn't like is that both the full novel & the extra chapter are merged together here , if I haven't read the reviews i wont have any idea why a +500 page novel turned to be only 26 pages one :/ so I switched the editions and tadaaaa one edition title is : the black sheep & the other is getting away with it !!! That was really very confusing .

( Getting Away With It) :
3 stars
While I enjoyed reading the novella - and it was the reason i want to read the whole book - idk what happened but the full length novel just let me down !
The idea of the book was so beautiful.. Lee & Liza have super great personalities and people of stonegaured were the perfect neighbors anyone hope to get ..
So what was the problem?
The novel was so long , about 500 pages but the author kept it slow $ dry most of the time, it was like watching 2 hours movie in slow motion!
Why she kept the good stuff for the last chapters and never give us an end for it ? Like Lee and Tim ? Liza & her relationship with her mother ? Who knew that Liza pretended to be Lee ? ( and other things )
Idk why the author gave us all those characters ( the sister, her lover , the dozen and so friends & neighbors) and kept them in the front raw of event if she wont tell us what will happen after .. how everything will end with them at least with them & the twin -right-?
+500 pages people and the author failed to give us a proper ending and thats was just really sad .
If you read the novella and you are determined to read the novel .. prepare yourself for a big fat let down .

[Watermelon Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm barely a teenager, this is one of my favourite stories of all time.

Everything about it screams original, from the way Liza and Lee switch places and to how they manage to overcome their challenges in their own way. Something I really loved, is how this story didn't include ANY stereotypical characters. There was Lee, which if you read the book, also has a dark side which is nowhere NEAR what she's known for.

Then there's Liza, who pretends she doesn't care about anything, but deep in her narration you can see her emotions and reactions for certain types of things.

There are so many original things, I'm going to name some of them:

They own an ice cream shop.

Their mother is suffering from dementia and forgets a lot of things, but somehow, never mixes the twins up.

Then there's Will, the love interest. But instead of being stereotypically rich and handsome, he has another side which you'll find during the story.

I think his name was Rock. The one who believes in aliens.

Overall, I loved this. Has a place on my favouites.

Remy xx

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published: 21/07/2011
Author: Julie Cohen
Recommended for: fans of short stories
Edition: Kindle

I found this incredibly short story ( 19 pages) on the Kindle Store for free and so I thought that I would give it a go. I thought that this was a very good short read, perfect if you have a couple of minutes to spare. It is the kind of book that leaves you with a nice warm fuzzy feeling when you have finished it. The author is clearly very talented as she manages to combine the theme of being twins, Alzheimer's and the great time of sibling rivalry. I would definately recommend this book to readers who dont have a lot of time to read and would just like a little book to read while they have a little spare time.

[Nicola Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderfully warm novel from Julie Cohen.

It made me smile and sniffle and ultimately left me feeling warm and fuzzy.

She skilfully tackles themes of twins, sibling rivalry, Alzheimer's and blends them into small town life.

Really enjoyed it.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few of Julie Cohen's Mills & Boon books in the past, but not any of her more mainstream stuff. I was recommended to read her latest 'The Summer of Living Dangerously' and I saw this one at the same time so I thought I would give it a go.

Let me tell you... This will definitely not be my last of hers, I loved it!

I was really intrigued by how the author would make the whole 'twin-switch' idea work, it had potential to be very cliché ridden, but it wasn't at all. Instead this was a slick, fun, and emotional read.

What I particularly liked about this book is that the heroine isn't very loveable, or in fact likeable, especially at the beginning. She is ballsy, prickly and brittle, but also vulnerable and she has rare moments of showing that she does care.

Julie Cohen doesn't hold anything back; her characters behave badly, the fishbowl-ness that is village life is captured perfectly, and the difficulties of caring for a relative are also explored all in glorious and honest detail that is woven into a compelling story.

A wonderful read from start to finish.

Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liza Haven couldn’t wait to escape the small village where she grew up with her perfect identical twin sister, Lee. Her life in LA as a stunt woman is reckless, fast and free – and that’s just the way she likes it. But when a near-fatal mistake drives her home, she finds Lee gone and everyone in the village mistaking her for her twin sister. Liza has to deal with her ailing mother, the family ice cream business, and Lee’s dangerously attractive boyfriend. Liza’s always been the bad twin, but as she struggles to keep up the masquerade and puzzle out where her sister has gone, she realises it’s not so simple. She’s spent her whole life getting away with it – is it finally time to face up to who she really is and where she really belongs?

I’ve been a huge fan of Julie Cohen’s Little Black Dress novels since I first read Honeytrap early in 2009. I thought it was a fantastic read so when I heard Julie was writing her first novel for Headline Review I was thrilled. As soon as I heard the plot for the book I was even more excited to read the book as it sounded unique and nothing I’ve ever read before. So when a hardback copy, with the beautiful Autumnal cover, arrived I was got stuck into it straight away, staying up until midnight to finish the book!

Getting Away With It is a huge chunk of a book, coming in at just over 500 pages and with such a large book there’s always a worry it might be overly long but I didn’t have such a worry with Getting Away With It. I got stuck into the book almost immediately and I could barely put it down. The book is completely engaging and the book begins by Liza, a stunt woman, having her big accident that will eventually lead to her heading back home to Stonegate after many years away. I found the opening very intriguing, and I found it very interesting how it came about that Liza ended up impersonating her twin sister Lee. Liza has always been known as the ‘bad’ twin whereas sister Lee is the ‘good’ twin, so to see the switch between the two of them was fascinating as Liza suddenly finds herself being the good twin and ends up enjoying it whereas Lee, always known for being the dependable twin suddenly does a 180 and does some Liza-like things.

I thoroughly enjoyed Liza’s twin switch and how she suddenly began acting like Lee because it was easier than being thought of as the bad twin. I’ve never read anything like it, and I found it astounding how nobody, bar the twins’ mother, knew Liza was actually Liza and not Lee. Liza managed to fool everybody, even Lee’s boyfriend Will. The book not only focuses on Liza’s attempts to be Lee, but we also every once in a while learn what the real Lee is up to as she has her mini breakdown. I thought those chapters added a lot to the book and it was nice to learn a bit more about the real Lee. The book also deals with the terrible disease Alzheimers, which Lee and Liza’s mum suffers from. It was very touching how Cohen portrayed the disease and it was interesting to see her in her more lucid moments but it was also heartbreaking when she had her more difficult moments. But what was most interesting was the way Liza dealt with her mum’s disease. At times she was a bit cruel, but she eventually ‘got’ what having Alzheimers meant.

I really liked Liza. What she does by impersonating Lee is undoubtedly wrong, but I could completely see why she carried on the charade. Because she’s always been perceived as the bad twin, it’s understandable that suddenly being perceived as the good twin would be quite a change and would be something anyone would want to continue to be. I also loved the fact she was a stunt-woman, it’s such a strange job but I loved her fearlessness. Up until her accident, anyway. The fact is, Liza wasn’t a bad person, not really, and I liked her so much. I also really liked Lee. I could completely understand how being perfect and looking after her mum, the ice-cream business and everything made her crack and run away. Her life was so organised that she had no time to do anything fun. I didn’t really know what to make of the twins’ mum. Obviously her disease has changed the real her, but she had her lucid moments and above everything she seemed to come across as a very formidable woman. The only other main character is Will, Lee’s boyfriend who Liza finds herself attracted to. He sounded fantastic and I loved him.

The majority of the book is set in the town of Stoneguard and although the town sounded a bit suffocating it also sounded as if the people of the town would do anything for one of their own and I liked the community feel. And as Liza spends more time there, she, too, learns that Stoneguard might not be as terrible as she remembers it. Yes Ma Gamble was a nosy parker, but the majority of those who live in the town were really great. I particularly loved those who worked at Ice Cream Haven, the ice-cream company the Haven family built up. My biggest worry for the book would be how it all ended – how can a person impersonating another person really come out of it OK? – but I was impressed with the ending. It wasn’t rushed and it didn’t seem convenient, and I liked that. I loved how the book was about finding yourself but more importantly finding your way home. Cohen has hit a total winner with her novel and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tja, wat zal ik zeggen? Ik ben fan van Julie Cohen. Samen, Louis en Louise vond ik fantastisch. Dit boek had zeker hele goede stukken, maar ergens tussen ca blz 100 en 300 was het iets te veel chicklit naar mijn smaak. Dus stukken die ik 5 sterren zou geven gemengd met stukken die 1 ster waard zijn, geven een gemiddelde van een acceptabele 3 sterren.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik lees nooit romans. Maar vond het wel weer eens tijd worden voor een roman. Dit boek toevallig tegengekomen in de boekenwinkel en meegenomen. Heerlijk boek en vlot uitgelezen! Leuk verhaal!

[Wal.li · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosaroter Mini
Liza führt ein atemberaubendes Leben als Stuntfrau. Alles läuft bestens, in LA ist sie gefragt. Bis zu ihrem 30. Geburtstag, an dem sie einen schweren Unfall hat. Was gibt es nach der langen Reha also Besseres zu tun als nach England in die Heimat zu fliegen und zu schauen, ob nicht dort ein Job zu finden ist und die Zwillingsschwester Lee zu besuchen, die schon lange meint, Liza solle sich daheim mal wieder blicken lassen. Besonders viel liegt Lee daran, dass Liza zu einer von ihrer Schwester organisierten Alzheimer-Wohltätigkeitsparty (die Mutter der beiden ist leidet an der Krankheit) kommt. Dort ist es allerdings Lee, die nicht auftaucht und Liza schlüpft in die Rolle der Abtrünnigen und muss feststellen, dass deren Leben lange nicht so perfekt ist wie gedacht.
Welch ein Lesevergnügen, eigentlich etwas Leichtes für Zwischendurch, dachte ich, als ich das Buch zu Hand nahm. Damit lag ich nicht ganz falsch, doch hat das Buch trotz der Leichtigkeit einiges an Tiefgang. Die beiden unterschiedlichen Zwillinge, jede auf ihre Art auf der Flucht vor dem alten Leben, dass so nicht mehr weitergeht. Beide wollen aus ihrem Leben ausbrechen und geraten zunächst mal ins Stolpern bevor sie auf ihren Weg finden. Auch die Beziehung zur der vormals herrischen Mutter ist alles andere als einfach. Schließlich hat diese immer den Ton angegeben und nun ist sie zwar hilfsbedürftig, hat aber dabei nichts von ihrer Sturheit verloren. Gerade für Liza, die glaubt, sie sei die ungeliebte Tochter, ist dieser Teil des Rollenwechsels sehr schwer. Obwohl ihre Mutter diejenige ist, die sich nicht hinters Licht führen lässt und Liza sofort erkennt. Und dann noch Will, den Liza für den Freund ihrer Schwester hält. Natürlich stellt sich da die Frage, wie verhält man sich. Zum einen fängt man nichts mit dem Freund der Schwester an, zum anderen wie führt man ihn hinters Licht, um ihn im Glauben zu lassen, man sei sie. So gibt es ernsthafte, lustige und tragische Verwicklungen, die mich beim Lesen an das Buch gefesselt haben. Ein südenglisches (glaube ich) Sommermärchen zum mitlachen, leiden, die Daumen halten, mitfiebern. Alles was das Leserherz begehrt, um ein schönes Leseerlebnis zu bekommen, wird hier geboten, ohne platt oder hohl zu sein. Gerade die richtige Mischung aus Leichtigkeit und Ernsthaftigkeit und ohne Schwermut. Ein Roman, der gute Laune hinterlässt, nachdem man das Buch zugeklappt hat.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Getting Away With It’ is a funny, warm read with an addictive plot, likeable and relatable characters.
Liza Haven returns to her hometown. She’s not been there since she ran following some shocking news from her mother and an argument with her sister Lee.
Liza arrives and Lee is nowhere to be found. When Lee does eventually get in touch and asks Liza to look after things for a while, Liza reluctantly agrees.
However, Liza starts to like being mistaken as her twin, ‘the good twin.’ She takes the opportunity to step into her sister’s shoes for a while but it doesn’t take long for her little lie to spiral out of control.
I don’t want to give too much away as I don’t want to ruin it for any potential readers. I loved this story. I’d be lying if I didn’t sometimes wish I could step into someone else’s life for a while; to see what it’s like. It’s my nosy nature. Therefore, that element of the plot appealed to me.
Although mostly told from Liza’s point of view, you get to see life from Lee’s side too. The plot gives you enough information to retain your sympathy for the characters, regardless of behaviour.
A sensitive issue was handled well and with realism.
The action begins immediately, the plot develops well and the ending, for me, definitely has the ‘awww’ factor.
I recommend ‘Getting Away With It.’ I couldn’t stop reading. It’s wonderful escapism.

[Rosie Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taken from my blog: www.rosiereview.wordpress.com

So the gist of this book is there are two twins, one a “good” (Lee) then other “bad” (Liz). Lee disappears and Liz returns home to take her place running the family ice cream business. Liz takes her place because in their home village she’s not liked at all and feels it’s easier to pretend to be the good twin. I thought that it would be confusing as the twins have quite similar names but the story when following Liz is in first person where when following Lee it’s in third person. There’s also the standard complication of a love interest for Liz who happens to be Lee’s boyfriend! It’s a good read, something to save for a rainy day.

Follow me on Twitter: @RosieReview

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are not enough stories like this, one off books where the story is perfect from start to finish, where all the loose ends are tied up so there is no need for a sequal and a story so entertaining it leaves the reader wanting more but at the same time the reader knows the story is best left where it ended. I loved it completely no critisisms not this could have been done better or I would have changed this here because it was fantastic. I loved Liza I loved Lee and I fancy Will what could be better than that!!!

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A story about twins, sibling rivalry, mothers, small towns, escaping responsibilities and facing up to the inevitable. All with a scoop or two of ice-cream (perhaps the most fun part!) mixed with a dash of aliens and speeding cars. Yes, a little eclectic!

Basically, Liza's twin disappears for a while, so Liza steps (literally) into her shoes. Along the way, she discovers what she has missed out on while pursuing her 'glamorous' career.

A little bit too predictable in parts, but an easy warm-fuzzy read.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Away With It features a great storyline about sisters Lee and Liza who are both getting away with it in their own ways. It focuses on the two sisters having to discover their true selves by being quite the opposite of what they are used to be doing. I loved the dynamic of the small town and how it just made me laugh at some parts. The romantic love line is quite predictable though, but still enjoyable.

[Pollypoptart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a weird book. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, as I read, and yet it was one of those stories I just couldn't put down. All in all, I really enjoyed it. Julie Cohen is a great author, and I think this is probably the best book I have read by her so far. I look forward to what comes next.

[Talli Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in a few days. A fantastic read, full of emotion. Loved it!

[Nell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable story from Julie Cohen. Ideal for a long holiday read.

[Liz Fielding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The emotional journey of the heroine is impressively described and the cast of characters is a joy.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story introducing the twins Liza and Lee Haven who appear in "Getting Away With It". Having read the book already, this mini story is a nice easy read.

[Podcast bücherreich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witzig, traurig, sexy - sehr gelungenes Buch!

Ihr Leben lang waren die Rollen der Haven-Zwillinge klar verteilt: Lee ist pflichtbewusst, immer freundlich und kümmert sich zuverlässig um den Eiscreme-Familienbetrieb, Stuntfrau Liza ist temperamentvoll, risikofreudig und immer auf Achse. Doch als Lee Reißaus nimmt, muss Liza für sie einspringen und entdeckt, dass Lees Leben doch nicht so perfekt ist - nur Lees fester Freund Will scheint erstaunlich gut zu Liza zu passen...Ein Roman über gesunde Angst, Identität, Verantwortung und Vergebung - und wie man aus Rote Bete Eiscreme macht...

Über die Autorin
Als Julie Cohen mit 11 Jahren Ursula LeGuins "Erdsee-Saga" in eine Liebesgeschichte umschrieb, musste sie noch viel lernen. Es folgten romantische Plagiate von "Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank" und "Per Anhalter durch die Galaxis", die nach Angabe der Autorin alle "fürchterlich" waren. Gut, dass Julie Cohen seitdem einiges dazugelernt hat: In ihrem Englisch-Studium an der Brown University in Rhode Island, USA, zum Beispiel, das sie mit summa cum laude abschloss. Und auch in ihrem Literatur-Aufbaustudium in Cambridge, für das die gebürtig aus Maine stammende Amerikanerin 1992 nach England zog. Obwohl ihre ersten drei Bücher wiederholt abgelehnt wurden, gab die mittlerweile hauptberuflich als Lehrerin arbeitende Cohen nicht auf - und siehe da, ihr viertes Buch zog als Finalist des "Golden Heart"-Awards des Schriftstellerverbands "Romance Writers of America" einen Buchvertrag nach sich. Mittlerweile sind es fünfzehn Bücher, die von Cohen, teilweise unter einem Pseudonym, veröffentlicht wurden. Warum unter einem Pseudonym? Weil Julie Cohen neben Liebesgeschichten auch Erotik schreibt. Unter dem Namen B.H. Dark veröffentlicht sie erotische Science Fiction mit einem Schuss Humor; als Electra Shepherd bringt sie Robotern bei, wozu ihre Körper gut sein können. Kein Wunder, dass ihre Schreibworkshops, in denen Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene lernen, wie man ordentliche Sexszenen schreibt, immer gut besucht sind. Julie Cohen lebt mit ihrem Mann und dem gemeinsamen Sohn, der Bücher und schnelle Autos liebt, in Berkshire, England. Auf ihrer Homepage findet man interessante Extra-Kapitel, Interviews, Diskusssionsgrundlagen für Lesezirkel und Tipps für angehende Schriftsteller.

[Mamenu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am Anfang hatte ich echt bedenken, ob mir das Buch überhaupt gefallen würde, da ich ja mehr der Thriller / Krimi Leser bin.Ich bin aber schnell eines besseren belehrt worden.
Zum einem fand ich es sehr interessant, wie Liza sich in der Rolle ihrer Schwester gefunden hat und auch hier ihre Höhen und tiefen miterleben durfte. Was bestimmt nicht immer ganz einfach für sie war.
Zudem ist ihre Mutter auch noch an Alzheimer erkrankt, was nicht sehr einfach für sie ist, obwohl es hier sehr gut im Buch beschrieben wurde.
In dieser Geschichte ist alles vorhanden, zu einem ist es Gefühlsvoll, zum anderen kann man auch Leid erfahren und natürlich gibt es auch immer wieder auseinandersetztungen der Schwestern, die man miterleben darf.
Die Figuren im Buch sind mir alle sehr sympatisch geworden, jeder auf seine Art und Weise.
Ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen, denn irgendwie habe ich immer wieder wissen wollen, wie es weitergeht und was das alles noch für ein Ende nehmen wird.
Der Schreibstil ist sehr flüssig, sodass man nur die Seiten so dahin lesen kann.
Ich kann nur sagen, das hier ein sehr schönes Gefühlvolles Buch zum Lesen angeboten wird. Ich kann es nur empfehlen.

[Rowena Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the gist of this book is there are two twins, one a “good” (Lee) then other “bad” (Liz). Lee disappears and Liz returns home to take her place running the family ice cream business. Liz takes her place because in their home village she’s not liked at all and feels it’s easier to pretend to be the good twin. I thought that it would be confusing as the twins have quite similar names but the story when following Liz is in first person where when following Lee it’s in third person. There’s also the standard complication of a love interest for Liz who happens to be Lee’s boyfriend! It’s a good read, something to save for a rainy day.

[S U M M E R · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

That took a while. A very long while to be precise. The storyline was predictable. The pace was a little draggy. I liked how the author focused on the development of Liza’s character. However, everything was cut short with her and Lee’s bond at the very end. So did Liza and Will’s relationship besides having physical attraction for one another since the very beginning of the book.

I hope the next book wouldn’t take this long to finish.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Black Sheep, two twin ten-year-old sisters are cast in the frist annual Christmas play in the village. One twin is the Virgin Mary and the other is a sheep in the pagent. One twin is considered the 'good' twin and the other is The Black Sheep that doesn't want to be a sheep and she does the unthinkable and ruins the play. It was wicked and very funny and a definite surprise!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for a long time but finally got around to reading it and wish I'd read it sooner. I absolutely loved the story of Liza, Lee and their Mother and the other inhabitants of Stoneguard. A great story about discovering who you really are and it's never too late to make changes! A sequel would be fab!!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has just the right amount of humour and depth I wanted. I really enjoyed all the different characters and the plot development. However, I would have liked to get an epilogue to know how people got on with their respective lives (for instance Lee). To summarise, this book was a pleasant surprise!

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into this book but once I did I couldn't put it down. I loved both main characters Liza and Lee Haven and all the supporting characters. A definite read! I can't wait to read more by Julie Cohen.

[buchwoerter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein netter Roman über Zwillingsschwestern die für sich eintreten, verloren scheinen und Neues wagen. Dabei müssen sie sich mit sich selber, ihrer Mutter und ihrer eigenen Beziehung zueinander auseinandersetzen.

[Malahat Niaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just went through the short story chapter called 'The Black Sheep' and it really potrayed the rivaleries, relationship and natures of the the twins Lee and Liz! Its another of story of a debate between Angel and Satan! A nice, light and comical read!

[Kate Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ice cream business and the crop circles were interesting and a really enjoyable part of the book - nice romance? very predictable... mostly unbelievable but thats this kind of fiction.