Still lying by your side even in the great divide: TELL ME LIES.

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Because I live under a rock, I had no idea that this book was made into a TV show. I also thought this was supposed to be more of a thriller, based on other books of Lovering's that I've read. Still, I found this to be a captivating story about unlikable people in toxic relationships.

Lucy meets Stephen at Baird College, where they begin a toxic on-and-off relationship that spans years. The book alternates between Lucy and Stephen's POVs, so you can see how easily Lucy falls for Stephen's charms and how Stephen is a sociopathic, awful person. Lucy's obsession with Stephen is rooted in trauma and we see her struggles with an eating disorder (please note that trigger).

The hardest part of this story was how awful the characters are. Lucy grows on you, but she and Stephen spend so much of the book drinking and doing drugs--that part is too much at times. But the nuanced look into how someone can stay, or return, to a terrible relationship is honestly quite well-done, and I found the book incredibly difficult to put down. It was honest and raw and different.

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The years go by like days: BYE, BABY.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Went in expecting more thrills...

Lovering's latest is billed as a thriller, but I'd deem this more women's fiction, as it focuses mainly on a friendship between two women. Billie and Cassie became fast friends in childhood, forming a tight bond that lasted into adulthood. But lately they've drifted apart, especially with Cassie's marriage--one that propelled her into a wealthier part of society. She's now a mom, too, and a fairly well-known influencer. Billie can't help but feel resentful of Cassie and her seemingly perfect life, most of which she only knows about via Instagram stories. However, Billie upends this perfection when she "accidentally" steals Cassie's baby daughter during a party, terrifying Cassie.

BYE, BABY is a close examination of friendship and delves into a lot of issues: classism, Alzheimer's, social media, and more. A lot to cover, it seems, and yet I kept waiting for more to happen, wondering when that huge reveal or twist would happen. While the book does (slowly) build up to the story of what truly bonded Cassie and Billie in their teen years, there are no huge surprises here. Instead, we learn why each woman is the way they are. Billie, at first not particularly likable, grows more sympathetic as you learn about her childhood, while perfect Cassie becomes less likable as you see her ongoing quest for wealth and social media followers. She lives her entire life online, Billie seems to be saying, yet she cannot even take care of her daughter? Doesn't she deserve this? The book would be more interesting if it really delved deep into this topic, or any one of its many topics, but it stays surface level, lightly covering Cassie and Billie's toxic friendship and never going much deeper. It ended, and I still found myself wanting and waiting for more.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.

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Too bad you had to have a better half: CAN'T LOOK AWAY.

Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Molly Diamond is a twenty-three-year-old aspiring writer when she reluctantly agrees to go out with friends and sees the lead singer of a band, Jake Danner, up on stage. It's love at first sight and before she knows it, the two are locked in a sweeping but sometimes tumultuous romance. Ten years later, Molly finds herself married and raising her daughter, Stella, in the wealthy suburb of Flynn Cove... and married to someone who is not Jake. Lonely, she befriends a woman, Sabrina, who attends one of Molly's yoga classes. But she'll soon learn Sabrina has a reason for showing up at Molly's class--and it all has to do with Jake.

First of all, I'm not sure this book should be marketed as a mystery/thriller. There are some dramatic pieces as we try to unravel Sabrina's role, but very little is left for the reader to figure out. This is almost a romance, or at least a story of people trying to find their way and find themselves. Don't go in expecting some grand mystery and a bunch of twists and turns (there are a few, but they are more character-driven).

AWAY reads like a weird soap opera and, honestly, it's hard to turn away from its pages. In that way, it's strangely captivating, even if a little melodramatic at times. I flew through it, because I was fascinated to find out exactly what went down with Molly, Jake, and Sabrina. The characters aren't exactly endearing (besides Molly's new husband and her cute daughter). Molly comes across as a bit self-absorbed and unable to stand up for herself. Jake takes selfish to a new level. And Sabrina... well she's just special, let's say that. But they do make for some crazy reading! The book also honestly looks at infertility (trigger warning for miscarriage discussions).

There is a lot of angst and pining for Jake (who, as stated above, is not worthy of any of this) in this book. If that's not your thing, I would skip this one. If you enjoy some romantic suspense, it's a quick read, though probably easily forgotten once finished. 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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Same old stories, girls and glory: TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A compelling and twisty thriller

Skye Starling is beautiful, wealthy, and smart. She has a good job and a group of close friends. But she's never found lasting love thanks to her horrible OCD, which she's suffered from since her mother's death when she was young. But when Skye meets Burke Michaels, that all changes. Yes, he's older, but Skye can't help falling for this handsome man who wants her. However, Burke has a secret of his own: he's married, and he's using Skye for her family's money.

"All I'm saying is that if he seems too good to be true, he probably is."

This is one of those fun, twisty thrillers that keeps you reading and guessing. It's filled with wild characters and if you're willing to slightly suspend disbelief while reading, it's a great ride. Skye is a sympathetic yet enjoyable protagonist, and Burke is complex in his own way. The book is told from Skye's point of view and interspersed with letters from Burke to his therapist. We also get the perspective of Heather, a young woman, speaking from her past, who knew Burke when they were kids.

The result is quite compelling, and I blew through this one in a couple of days. The first half is probably a bit stronger than the second, though the last half certainly unveils some crazy surprises. Some you can work out; others caught me off guard.

Overall, I went into this one looking for a fun thriller, and it delivered. It also has a bit of romance thrown in, too. It's crazy and twisty and an excellent distraction. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review. It releases on March 2nd.

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