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Friends and Other Liars
To all my old friends:
So here you all are. Nice to see you can show up for a person once he's dead.
When Ruby St. James returns to her hometown, it is to the grave of her old friend Danny, a member of a group that was, ten years ago, Ruby's whole world. The crew made a pact back then: stay together, stay loyal, and stay honest. But that was before all of the lies.
Because even friends keep secrets. They just don't stay secret for long.
Now Danny has left behind a letter for each of them, issuing one final ultimatum: share your darkest betrayal to the group, or risk it coming out in a trap he has created. When past mistakes resurface, the lines of friendship blurb, and four old friends are left trying to understand what it means to lie to the ones you love best.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2018
About the author
Kaela Coble
2 books57 followersKaela Coble is an author of women’s fiction, represented by Stephanie Kip Rostan of Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Friends and Other Liars is her debut novel.
Kaela is a member of the League of Vermont Writers and the Women's Fiction Writers Association, and is a graduate of the Womentoring Project. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who offers career and writing coaching services.
She is also a voracious reader and a hopeless addict to bad television and good chocolate. She lives with her husband in Burlington, Vermont, and is a devoted mother to their rescued chuggle, Gus.
Kaela is a member of the League of Vermont Writers and the Women's Fiction Writers Association, and is a graduate of the Womentoring Project. She is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who offers career and writing coaching services.
She is also a voracious reader and a hopeless addict to bad television and good chocolate. She lives with her husband in Burlington, Vermont, and is a devoted mother to their rescued chuggle, Gus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 26, 2018
Friends and Other Liars... I know what you're all thinking. Another book with "LIE" in the title?!
Friends and Other Liars is about a "crew" that consist of Ruby, Murphy, Ally, Danny, and Emmett. The crew has grown up together in the small town of Chatwick. The crew has all stayed close together except for Ruby who escaped the small town after high school.
Fast forward 10 years, Ruby receives a phone call from a fellow crew member Ally who tells her that one of their friends Danny has committed suicide. Ruby, grudgingly, returns to her small town that she wanted to leave behind forever.
Ruby and the crews have a small surprise waiting for them by their fellow crew member Danny. Danny has left each of them a letter which contains their deepest and darkest secret. Even though Danny is no longer alive, the letters contain threats that their secrets will be revealed to everyone regardless if they fess up to their secrets or not.
Sounds pretty juicy and gossipy right?!
What I liked about this novel: the dual POV which alternates between past and present. Ironically, I was more entertained with the past storyline then the present day. I felt like the present storyline was dragging a little and was a tiny bit repetitive.
Characterization was pretty well developed in this novel as well so kudos to Kaela. So, I felt like this was a bit of a strange love story ish tied to small town drama and gossip. I felt like the character focused more on Murphy and Ruby which I didn't really like.
And, can I just say... Murphy you are a serious self-centered ass! lol. He made me so mad in this book! Grrrrr!!!!!
Overall, this book was entertaining. Not my favorite but glad I have been introduced to this author.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 2/1/18
Posted to GR: 1/26/18
Friends and Other Liars is about a "crew" that consist of Ruby, Murphy, Ally, Danny, and Emmett. The crew has grown up together in the small town of Chatwick. The crew has all stayed close together except for Ruby who escaped the small town after high school.
Fast forward 10 years, Ruby receives a phone call from a fellow crew member Ally who tells her that one of their friends Danny has committed suicide. Ruby, grudgingly, returns to her small town that she wanted to leave behind forever.
Ruby and the crews have a small surprise waiting for them by their fellow crew member Danny. Danny has left each of them a letter which contains their deepest and darkest secret. Even though Danny is no longer alive, the letters contain threats that their secrets will be revealed to everyone regardless if they fess up to their secrets or not.
Sounds pretty juicy and gossipy right?!
What I liked about this novel: the dual POV which alternates between past and present. Ironically, I was more entertained with the past storyline then the present day. I felt like the present storyline was dragging a little and was a tiny bit repetitive.
Characterization was pretty well developed in this novel as well so kudos to Kaela. So, I felt like this was a bit of a strange love story ish tied to small town drama and gossip. I felt like the character focused more on Murphy and Ruby which I didn't really like.
And, can I just say... Murphy you are a serious self-centered ass! lol. He made me so mad in this book! Grrrrr!!!!!
Overall, this book was entertaining. Not my favorite but glad I have been introduced to this author.
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 2/1/18
Posted to GR: 1/26/18
October 23, 2017
I pretty much blew through Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble. This one gave me some PLL and Love Letter to Whiskey kind of vibes. The book is told in past and present with multiple POVs (👍🏼👍🏼).
So what’s it about? The crew! Ruby, Ally, Danny, Murphy and Emmett are all in the crew. The crew grew up together and mostly all of them have stayed close except for Ruby. Ruby wanted to get the heck of their small town and never look back.
For 10 years that had worked out for Ruby, until Ally calls with the devastating news that one of their own, Danny, has committed suicide.
Ruby returns to her hometown, Chatwick, for the funeral of her old friend. Little does she, or the other crew members know that Danny has left them each a letter containing their worst secret that he knows. Even though Danny is dead there is threat in the letters that the secrets will come out if they do not reveal them to each other. Ooo juicy!!!
Lies, sex, betrayal, drugs, suicide and all the dramas!
I really enjoyed this. It kind of felt I was reading a YA novel because of the “past” chapters but there is a little mystery to it, as we slowly learn the secrets. 4.5 Stars. Recommended.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, via Netgalley. Many thanks.
So what’s it about? The crew! Ruby, Ally, Danny, Murphy and Emmett are all in the crew. The crew grew up together and mostly all of them have stayed close except for Ruby. Ruby wanted to get the heck of their small town and never look back.
For 10 years that had worked out for Ruby, until Ally calls with the devastating news that one of their own, Danny, has committed suicide.
Ruby returns to her hometown, Chatwick, for the funeral of her old friend. Little does she, or the other crew members know that Danny has left them each a letter containing their worst secret that he knows. Even though Danny is dead there is threat in the letters that the secrets will come out if they do not reveal them to each other. Ooo juicy!!!
Lies, sex, betrayal, drugs, suicide and all the dramas!
I really enjoyed this. It kind of felt I was reading a YA novel because of the “past” chapters but there is a little mystery to it, as we slowly learn the secrets. 4.5 Stars. Recommended.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, via Netgalley. Many thanks.
November 27, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“All things done in the dark have a way of coming to light.”
I hoarded a chunk of vacation time all year in order to take last week off, and then pretty much proceeded to unplug from the evils of the interwebs as well after . . . .
Just kidding. More like I changed from “sleeping pajamas” into “going to Wal-Mart pajamas” and plopped my fat ass on the reading chair all day. Well, that is after I made Christmas barf all over my house so this guy can spend the next month undecorating it for me . . . .
(Yes, he is absolutely sticking his tiny pink tongue out at me here.)
Anywho(ville), vacay amounted to me cooking some decent food for my humans in order to justify all of my not going anywhere and reading a crapton of books while not reviewing any of them. (Advance apologies for the inundation you are about to receive this week.) I started my reading quest with Mt. Advanced Reader Pile in hopes of persuading publishers to not put me on the naughty list and to continue to give me stuff that I will procrastinate reading : )
Friends and Other Liars was nearly an instant request simply from the title, but then I took a gander of the synopsis and I immediately got a little blast from the past in the form of . . . .
And not for the reason most of you would think . . . .
While The Big Chill wasn’t quite so in-yo-face about secrets of the past that letters were handed out by dearly deceased Kevin Costner (there’s a bit of worthless trivia everyone should know), Friends and Other Liars is similar in that the former members of “The Crew” have all been reunited for one member’s untimely death and the story proceeds to be very much . . . .
This may not work for everyone as the secrets are pretty easy to figure out and it’s more than a bit “chick litty,” but it was exactly what I had my heart set on so it worked out great for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!
“All things done in the dark have a way of coming to light.”
I hoarded a chunk of vacation time all year in order to take last week off, and then pretty much proceeded to unplug from the evils of the interwebs as well after . . . .
Just kidding. More like I changed from “sleeping pajamas” into “going to Wal-Mart pajamas” and plopped my fat ass on the reading chair all day. Well, that is after I made Christmas barf all over my house so this guy can spend the next month undecorating it for me . . . .
(Yes, he is absolutely sticking his tiny pink tongue out at me here.)
Anywho(ville), vacay amounted to me cooking some decent food for my humans in order to justify all of my not going anywhere and reading a crapton of books while not reviewing any of them. (Advance apologies for the inundation you are about to receive this week.) I started my reading quest with Mt. Advanced Reader Pile in hopes of persuading publishers to not put me on the naughty list and to continue to give me stuff that I will procrastinate reading : )
Friends and Other Liars was nearly an instant request simply from the title, but then I took a gander of the synopsis and I immediately got a little blast from the past in the form of . . . .
And not for the reason most of you would think . . . .
While The Big Chill wasn’t quite so in-yo-face about secrets of the past that letters were handed out by dearly deceased Kevin Costner (there’s a bit of worthless trivia everyone should know), Friends and Other Liars is similar in that the former members of “The Crew” have all been reunited for one member’s untimely death and the story proceeds to be very much . . . .
This may not work for everyone as the secrets are pretty easy to figure out and it’s more than a bit “chick litty,” but it was exactly what I had my heart set on so it worked out great for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, NetGalley!
November 10, 2023
My favourite novel.
Pretty amazing how this story starts and all fits together. The ending is extraordinary, it gave me full appreciation for the way the author planned out all the drama.
The big bold words Friends and Liars says it all.
Ten years ago Ruby left her home and built a new life for herself. But when one of her friends Danny commits suicide Ruby has return back to her old hometown.
Danny Deuso is dead and looking down on his friends. They are playing their part in mourning.
From the circle of friends Ruby is invited to go to the private service Danny requested. The thing is Ally and Ruby haven't spoken to each other in ten whole years. Within the ten years that all of the crew of friends haven't seen each other they all seemed to have moved on in their life.
Ruby seems to thinks she knows everything about everyone. But she didn't even pick up the phone in ten years to talk to any of her friends. Which is rather a very long time not to make contact with any of her friends.
Danny leaves an envelope for each of his friends that contain evidence of betrayal. Everyone there has a choice they can either share their letter with each other or keep it to themselves. If they all read their letters out loud secrets, betrayal, would be uncovered about every person in the group. Will the crew of friends want to risk their secrets being exposed. I think it would be quite embarrassing for any of the so called friends telling everyone what secret Danny has exposed about them. Will any of them dare to read their letter out loud what Danny has said about them?
It's clear here if you think you know all your friends think again.
I really enjoyed reading this work of fiction.
I have read a book a bit similar that was the fantastic story with characters, reading out letters, that was The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty where friends write an anonymous letter sharing their secrets.
I highly recommend reading both books Friends and Liars by Kaela Coble and The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty.
Pretty amazing how this story starts and all fits together. The ending is extraordinary, it gave me full appreciation for the way the author planned out all the drama.
The big bold words Friends and Liars says it all.
Ten years ago Ruby left her home and built a new life for herself. But when one of her friends Danny commits suicide Ruby has return back to her old hometown.
Danny Deuso is dead and looking down on his friends. They are playing their part in mourning.
From the circle of friends Ruby is invited to go to the private service Danny requested. The thing is Ally and Ruby haven't spoken to each other in ten whole years. Within the ten years that all of the crew of friends haven't seen each other they all seemed to have moved on in their life.
Ruby seems to thinks she knows everything about everyone. But she didn't even pick up the phone in ten years to talk to any of her friends. Which is rather a very long time not to make contact with any of her friends.
Danny leaves an envelope for each of his friends that contain evidence of betrayal. Everyone there has a choice they can either share their letter with each other or keep it to themselves. If they all read their letters out loud secrets, betrayal, would be uncovered about every person in the group. Will the crew of friends want to risk their secrets being exposed. I think it would be quite embarrassing for any of the so called friends telling everyone what secret Danny has exposed about them. Will any of them dare to read their letter out loud what Danny has said about them?
It's clear here if you think you know all your friends think again.
I really enjoyed reading this work of fiction.
I have read a book a bit similar that was the fantastic story with characters, reading out letters, that was The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty where friends write an anonymous letter sharing their secrets.
I highly recommend reading both books Friends and Liars by Kaela Coble and The Fifth Letter by Nicola Moriarty.
May 22, 2017
Not going to beat around the bush here- I inhaled this book!
I’m kind of sitting here, bursting with all the things I want to write about, but there’s just so much that I can’t because spoilers! What I can tell you, is this:
This is a story about a group of friends. ‘The crew’ they called themselves. Ruby, Ally, Murphy, Emmett, Danny. They’re to each other what pants are to arse! (sorry, I’m just paraphrasing a saying from Estonian that goes something like- ‘they’re like pants and arse’, meaning that two people can always be seen together!). They’re all grown up now but back in school they were the bestest of friends. Ruby was the only one who left the small town they lived in and has cut her friends out of her life. But Danny’s suicide is not only a catalyst to get Ruby to go back home, he has decided to seak some hard truths and bring the secrets from dark to back out into the light!
The story is delivered in present and in past. There is the NOW that brings the crew together again under tragic circumstances for Danny’s funeral. And then there is the THEN which serves a purpose to unravel all sorts of juicy details from the past. Danny? Danny opens the book with a prologue from behind the grave and sets the tone for the reading experience…
Friends and Liars is horribly tragic in parts, but beautifully executed. In fact, the suspense and intrigue got me right hooked! It’s not just about being nosey, though, because the way our characters’ lives were entwined in the past was very – very – relatable and the way these past relationships still have an impact on the present- not that far fetched, at all. I loved the THEN paragraphs so much because it brought on an air of nostalgia for me. I felt like going back 15 years to MY crew and do the crazy shit we did all over again. But we all grow up… and we all still have those certain secrets we never shared with even our best friend…
So, all well and good, having some drama, dysfunctional families, tragic deaths and HUGE secrets… but none of these would really matter (in a book, at least, let us be honest) if you didn’t come to care for the characters. You need someone to root for, you need someone to be excited for, someone to dislike…
Our set of characters covers the spectrum of personalities. The dynamics in between them is as much heartwarming and hilarious, as it is heartbreaking, frustrating and most importantly- used as a bag of goodies where clues and bombshells hide. Every chapter is a moment of a silken kimono being opened a little bit more… Another glimpse!
Even though there is a whole 10 years in between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ chapters from 2-3 POVs, not only did I get character development, I also got moments when I thought- hang on, have I been rooting for the wrong person here? I felt betrayed! I felt betrayed by a character as if they had caused me personal insult. But that is the thing with relationships… They’re messy and never straightforward… So, really… where does the misunderstanding begin? Who is to blame for saying the wrong thing or not saying anything at all? And my most favorite pondering from the book: causality… The what ifs…
And to add to that… Danny! I just can’t get past him… thinking back on the book now, it’s just odd how he seems to be standing out the most. It’s not Ruby (even though her story was a motherload), or Murphy, Ally or Emmett… It’s Danny that will linger in my mind even though in the ‘now’ chapters he was a ghost, and in the ‘then’ chapters more of a background operator, but… Oddly, I feel like Ruby, who was always protecting Danny… there’s something about his character that makes me feel regret, as well…
While there was a particular scene that was a bit too telenovela for me, I have to say I was completely addicted to the intrigue. I shamelessly admit- I could not wait to find out about everyone’s secrets! In fact, the minute I read the blurb on Netgalley (thanks NG and Corvus!) I knew damn well I wasn’t going to be able to sleep until I got my mitts on this guilty pleasure! Yes, sure, it’s a book I would class as ‘something for the chicks‘ and I don’t often indulge in this genre, but blimey, did the whole thing get my knickers in a twist!
It is rather chilling to create such dramatic ‘relationship drama’ around a suicide. Things get even darker with some of the themes in the book… drugs, abuse, murder. But that is not the point… I think the point of this book is to show how no one is perfect; about how one decision flicks over one domino piece which flips the whole set to its side; about how everyone will always have a secret!
I’m not normally that big on epilogues… but in this case? The epilogue from Danny��s POV? From behind the grave? Bang. On. The epilogue worked for two reasons… I came the full circle with the characters. That’s it. Closure. Bittersweet. The door is closing… but Danny, the Dark Horse? I think he just about managed to get his foot in the door… Because… I have a feeling Danny is not quite finished yet!
What you’ll get in this book: Drama bombs!
Should you read this book? Oh, hell yes, if you’re into relationship dramas, tragedy and addictive reads.
I’m kind of sitting here, bursting with all the things I want to write about, but there’s just so much that I can’t because spoilers! What I can tell you, is this:
This is a story about a group of friends. ‘The crew’ they called themselves. Ruby, Ally, Murphy, Emmett, Danny. They’re to each other what pants are to arse! (sorry, I’m just paraphrasing a saying from Estonian that goes something like- ‘they’re like pants and arse’, meaning that two people can always be seen together!). They’re all grown up now but back in school they were the bestest of friends. Ruby was the only one who left the small town they lived in and has cut her friends out of her life. But Danny’s suicide is not only a catalyst to get Ruby to go back home, he has decided to seak some hard truths and bring the secrets from dark to back out into the light!
The story is delivered in present and in past. There is the NOW that brings the crew together again under tragic circumstances for Danny’s funeral. And then there is the THEN which serves a purpose to unravel all sorts of juicy details from the past. Danny? Danny opens the book with a prologue from behind the grave and sets the tone for the reading experience…
Friends and Liars is horribly tragic in parts, but beautifully executed. In fact, the suspense and intrigue got me right hooked! It’s not just about being nosey, though, because the way our characters’ lives were entwined in the past was very – very – relatable and the way these past relationships still have an impact on the present- not that far fetched, at all. I loved the THEN paragraphs so much because it brought on an air of nostalgia for me. I felt like going back 15 years to MY crew and do the crazy shit we did all over again. But we all grow up… and we all still have those certain secrets we never shared with even our best friend…
So, all well and good, having some drama, dysfunctional families, tragic deaths and HUGE secrets… but none of these would really matter (in a book, at least, let us be honest) if you didn’t come to care for the characters. You need someone to root for, you need someone to be excited for, someone to dislike…
Our set of characters covers the spectrum of personalities. The dynamics in between them is as much heartwarming and hilarious, as it is heartbreaking, frustrating and most importantly- used as a bag of goodies where clues and bombshells hide. Every chapter is a moment of a silken kimono being opened a little bit more… Another glimpse!
Even though there is a whole 10 years in between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ chapters from 2-3 POVs, not only did I get character development, I also got moments when I thought- hang on, have I been rooting for the wrong person here? I felt betrayed! I felt betrayed by a character as if they had caused me personal insult. But that is the thing with relationships… They’re messy and never straightforward… So, really… where does the misunderstanding begin? Who is to blame for saying the wrong thing or not saying anything at all? And my most favorite pondering from the book: causality… The what ifs…
And to add to that… Danny! I just can’t get past him… thinking back on the book now, it’s just odd how he seems to be standing out the most. It’s not Ruby (even though her story was a motherload), or Murphy, Ally or Emmett… It’s Danny that will linger in my mind even though in the ‘now’ chapters he was a ghost, and in the ‘then’ chapters more of a background operator, but… Oddly, I feel like Ruby, who was always protecting Danny… there’s something about his character that makes me feel regret, as well…
While there was a particular scene that was a bit too telenovela for me, I have to say I was completely addicted to the intrigue. I shamelessly admit- I could not wait to find out about everyone’s secrets! In fact, the minute I read the blurb on Netgalley (thanks NG and Corvus!) I knew damn well I wasn’t going to be able to sleep until I got my mitts on this guilty pleasure! Yes, sure, it’s a book I would class as ‘something for the chicks‘ and I don’t often indulge in this genre, but blimey, did the whole thing get my knickers in a twist!
It is rather chilling to create such dramatic ‘relationship drama’ around a suicide. Things get even darker with some of the themes in the book… drugs, abuse, murder. But that is not the point… I think the point of this book is to show how no one is perfect; about how one decision flicks over one domino piece which flips the whole set to its side; about how everyone will always have a secret!
I’m not normally that big on epilogues… but in this case? The epilogue from Danny��s POV? From behind the grave? Bang. On. The epilogue worked for two reasons… I came the full circle with the characters. That’s it. Closure. Bittersweet. The door is closing… but Danny, the Dark Horse? I think he just about managed to get his foot in the door… Because… I have a feeling Danny is not quite finished yet!
What you’ll get in this book: Drama bombs!
Should you read this book? Oh, hell yes, if you’re into relationship dramas, tragedy and addictive reads.
August 25, 2020
Este livro tem todos os ingredientes para que o leitor não queira parar de ler até acabar.
Neste livro conhecemos cinco amigos. Cinco amigos que prometeram nunca se separarem, nunca traírem e nunca mentirem. Cinco amigos que escondem segredos.
Todos carregam um segredo que não querem revelar ao resto do grupo. Mas quando um dos amigos morre, será que os segredos vão continuar escondidos?
Todos querem manter os seus segredos enterrados. No entanto, com a morte do amigo, os segredos ameaçam vir ao de cima. Cada um vê o seu segredo em risco devido a cartas que o amigo deixou a cada um deles. Cada carta continua o segredo de cada um. Será que vão revelar o seu segredo ao resto do grupo? Ou vão continuar a fazer de tudo para os esconder?
Página após página vamos descobrindo todos os segredos por detrás de cada personagem. Cada segredo pior que outro. Cada dor escondida por detrás de cada segredo.
Se procuram um livro de cortar a respiração este é o livro indicado.
Neste livro conhecemos cinco amigos. Cinco amigos que prometeram nunca se separarem, nunca traírem e nunca mentirem. Cinco amigos que escondem segredos.
Todos carregam um segredo que não querem revelar ao resto do grupo. Mas quando um dos amigos morre, será que os segredos vão continuar escondidos?
Todos querem manter os seus segredos enterrados. No entanto, com a morte do amigo, os segredos ameaçam vir ao de cima. Cada um vê o seu segredo em risco devido a cartas que o amigo deixou a cada um deles. Cada carta continua o segredo de cada um. Será que vão revelar o seu segredo ao resto do grupo? Ou vão continuar a fazer de tudo para os esconder?
Página após página vamos descobrindo todos os segredos por detrás de cada personagem. Cada segredo pior que outro. Cada dor escondida por detrás de cada segredo.
Se procuram um livro de cortar a respiração este é o livro indicado.
February 22, 2018
Giveaway on Carlene Inspired! US and Canada only, closes March 1!
Ruby is returning to her hometown, a place she's avoided for many years, a place people she once called her best friends still live in. Ally, Emmett, and Murphy are still holding down their positions in 'the crew,’ and expanding it with their respective partners. Ruby has made herself an outsider, but she reclaims her spot to say goodbye to Danny, the fifth member. His life lost to suicide, Ruby and her friends navigate the rough waters of grief made worse by the individual letters he has left for each of them. The envelopes hold their secrets, words that could crumble their lifelong friendship. Danny is the key to the friends reconnecting again, but time and age hasn't changed how these individuals are drawn to one another, nor does it stop them from uncovering old wounds in desperation to hide their secrets.
"Each playing their part in mourning-the bereaved, the wilted, the guilty."
Friends and Other Liars is the debut novel of author Kaela Coble and the first novel to secure a spot in my Top 10 of 2018 List. Yes, it is only January 11, 2018 and I am already calling it. I was riveted by this book, unable to pay attention to anything else as I slipped into the various perspectives of the friends that make up the past and present 'crew.' Told in past and present tense, Friends and Other Liars take readers on a tragic journey through the lies we tell our friends. Spanning several years, from childhood to young adult to their twenties, we are treated to the inner thought of each member as the deal with the loss of their longtime friend Danny and the holder of all their deepest secrets. We see them relive moments from high school, times where they questioned the solidness of their friendships and times when they relied on one another so heavily they didn't realize how much they'd shared.
"Talk about secrets turning you into something dark..."
I loved each character and their individuality, each was so complex and goes through vast even further development by the end of the novel. As individuals, they might come across as boring, but they make up a very interesting group of friends. Similar to the movies we see about high school friends, there is the insecure, good looking one, the smart one, the bad kid, the jock, and finally the one that's just been there all along. Set in a small town fueled by gossip and a growing drug problem, it was obvious from the start that Friends and Other Liars was going to be dramatic. For me, the drama felt personal, my hometown very similar to that of the crew's and my experiences with loss as painful. It's a tragic novel, but written in a suspenseful way and with beautiful prose. The chapters set in the past are filled with nostalgia and the present is filled with extensive detail and mature dialogue.
"They're both really good at ignoring problems."
I often struggle with novels about the loss of a friend, I find them painful to read as they bring up personal experiences I have had. With Friends and Other Liars I found that Kaela Coble had really nailed the emotions around loss so perfectly, but she took it all to the next level with the secrets and darkness the friends keep hidden from one another. It's a dramatic book based on a horrifying matter, but it is done so very well. Kaela Coble successfully tears apart all the characters have known about their friends, about their own lives, but she sews it all back up quite perfectly. With a fantastic, well-rounded set of characters, an intriguing storyline, and a powerful epilogue, Friends and Other Liars is a must read.
ARC provided via Netgalley.
Ruby is returning to her hometown, a place she's avoided for many years, a place people she once called her best friends still live in. Ally, Emmett, and Murphy are still holding down their positions in 'the crew,’ and expanding it with their respective partners. Ruby has made herself an outsider, but she reclaims her spot to say goodbye to Danny, the fifth member. His life lost to suicide, Ruby and her friends navigate the rough waters of grief made worse by the individual letters he has left for each of them. The envelopes hold their secrets, words that could crumble their lifelong friendship. Danny is the key to the friends reconnecting again, but time and age hasn't changed how these individuals are drawn to one another, nor does it stop them from uncovering old wounds in desperation to hide their secrets.
"Each playing their part in mourning-the bereaved, the wilted, the guilty."
Friends and Other Liars is the debut novel of author Kaela Coble and the first novel to secure a spot in my Top 10 of 2018 List. Yes, it is only January 11, 2018 and I am already calling it. I was riveted by this book, unable to pay attention to anything else as I slipped into the various perspectives of the friends that make up the past and present 'crew.' Told in past and present tense, Friends and Other Liars take readers on a tragic journey through the lies we tell our friends. Spanning several years, from childhood to young adult to their twenties, we are treated to the inner thought of each member as the deal with the loss of their longtime friend Danny and the holder of all their deepest secrets. We see them relive moments from high school, times where they questioned the solidness of their friendships and times when they relied on one another so heavily they didn't realize how much they'd shared.
"Talk about secrets turning you into something dark..."
I loved each character and their individuality, each was so complex and goes through vast even further development by the end of the novel. As individuals, they might come across as boring, but they make up a very interesting group of friends. Similar to the movies we see about high school friends, there is the insecure, good looking one, the smart one, the bad kid, the jock, and finally the one that's just been there all along. Set in a small town fueled by gossip and a growing drug problem, it was obvious from the start that Friends and Other Liars was going to be dramatic. For me, the drama felt personal, my hometown very similar to that of the crew's and my experiences with loss as painful. It's a tragic novel, but written in a suspenseful way and with beautiful prose. The chapters set in the past are filled with nostalgia and the present is filled with extensive detail and mature dialogue.
"They're both really good at ignoring problems."
I often struggle with novels about the loss of a friend, I find them painful to read as they bring up personal experiences I have had. With Friends and Other Liars I found that Kaela Coble had really nailed the emotions around loss so perfectly, but she took it all to the next level with the secrets and darkness the friends keep hidden from one another. It's a dramatic book based on a horrifying matter, but it is done so very well. Kaela Coble successfully tears apart all the characters have known about their friends, about their own lives, but she sews it all back up quite perfectly. With a fantastic, well-rounded set of characters, an intriguing storyline, and a powerful epilogue, Friends and Other Liars is a must read.
ARC provided via Netgalley.
February 11, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
To check out my blog tour post go to https://readingbetweenwinessite.wordp...
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First of all, thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me a review copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Friends and Other Liars: A Novel was so different from what I thought it was going to be.
I was very intrigued that this book starts out by being narrated by a dead person. That is definitely something that I haven't seen before; not like this anyway. The prologue and the epilogue are done this way, but the rest of the book bounces between members of the "crew" and between now (after Danny's death) and back then (when they were growing up together and how they got to where they are). The original crew consists of Danny, Ruby, Murphy, Ally, and Emmett who all grew up together; but the POVs switch between Danny (the member that is dead - epilogue and prologue only), Ruby, Steph (Emmett's girlfriend), and Ally. Though to be honest, the majority of this book is written from Ruby's point of view.
Friends and Other Liars: A Novel was just SO much more than the blurb makes you think it is going to be. I thought this was going to be a straight up mystery, but I ran the full gamut of emotions as I was reading it. There is love, secrets, lies, pain, loss, etc.... The list just goes on and on.
I can definitely tell that Kaela Coble is an extremely talented writer. The characters were something to behold, and I had so many reactions as I was reading this book. My mouth dropped open, I gasped, and I laughed (among other things). The only reason I gave this book a 4 instead of a 5 is because I found it a tad slow for my liking in the beginning and maybe a little too wordy. I was so interested as the book went on though, and had to know what all the secrets were (and of course how everything was going to end up).
I was able to foresee some of the things that were coming, but definitely not all of them which I loved. There were also lots of short chapters which made it feel like a breeze to get through. If I would have had more time to read I probably could have finished this book in 1 day even though I actually ended up taking 3. This is a book that I really ended up savoring as it went on. I was really blown away by the fact that this is Coble's first novel.
Final Thought: I would definitely go into this book blind and without reading the blurb since you don't actually get what the book is all about from it. It is just so much more than the blurb gives you, and I think it deserves to be read without judgement. Also, just be aware that this is more than a mystery!! There is so much going on, and the dynamic of these friends is evolving as the book goes on. And just remember, "All things done in the dark have a way of coming to light"... Or so they say.
*This title was published on 06 Feb 2018*
To check out my blog tour post go to https://readingbetweenwinessite.wordp...
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First of all, thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me a review copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Friends and Other Liars: A Novel was so different from what I thought it was going to be.
I was very intrigued that this book starts out by being narrated by a dead person. That is definitely something that I haven't seen before; not like this anyway. The prologue and the epilogue are done this way, but the rest of the book bounces between members of the "crew" and between now (after Danny's death) and back then (when they were growing up together and how they got to where they are). The original crew consists of Danny, Ruby, Murphy, Ally, and Emmett who all grew up together; but the POVs switch between Danny (the member that is dead - epilogue and prologue only), Ruby, Steph (Emmett's girlfriend), and Ally. Though to be honest, the majority of this book is written from Ruby's point of view.
Friends and Other Liars: A Novel was just SO much more than the blurb makes you think it is going to be. I thought this was going to be a straight up mystery, but I ran the full gamut of emotions as I was reading it. There is love, secrets, lies, pain, loss, etc.... The list just goes on and on.
I can definitely tell that Kaela Coble is an extremely talented writer. The characters were something to behold, and I had so many reactions as I was reading this book. My mouth dropped open, I gasped, and I laughed (among other things). The only reason I gave this book a 4 instead of a 5 is because I found it a tad slow for my liking in the beginning and maybe a little too wordy. I was so interested as the book went on though, and had to know what all the secrets were (and of course how everything was going to end up).
I was able to foresee some of the things that were coming, but definitely not all of them which I loved. There were also lots of short chapters which made it feel like a breeze to get through. If I would have had more time to read I probably could have finished this book in 1 day even though I actually ended up taking 3. This is a book that I really ended up savoring as it went on. I was really blown away by the fact that this is Coble's first novel.
Final Thought: I would definitely go into this book blind and without reading the blurb since you don't actually get what the book is all about from it. It is just so much more than the blurb gives you, and I think it deserves to be read without judgement. Also, just be aware that this is more than a mystery!! There is so much going on, and the dynamic of these friends is evolving as the book goes on. And just remember, "All things done in the dark have a way of coming to light"... Or so they say.
*This title was published on 06 Feb 2018*
October 7, 2020
“ALL THINGS DONE IN THE DARK HAVE A WAY OF COMING TO THE LIGHT”‘The Crew,’ made up of Danny, Ruby, Murphy, Ally, and Emmett, have fallen out of touch over the years but are drawn back together for Danny’s funeral. Danny, who had taken the path of drug use to numb the pain brought on by the terrors in his life, commits suicide by overdose. He leaves behind a letter to his mother with a simple explanation for his actions and requests that she assemble ‘The Crew’ together to deliver one final message. Charlene does so by offering a letter Danny has written to the group collectively, as well as individual envelopes for each member containing the darkest secret they hide from one another.
This novel beyond its surface is deep; especially when it comes to relationships. The message was quite clear early on that people often take those in their lives for granted and this is unfortunately often missed until it’s too late. Flipping through the pages I felt constantly reminded that life isn’t perfect and what we show on the surface isn’t what always lies beneath.
The characterization and its growth were very impressive. I feel many readers would find themselves connecting to these characters. Especially since, like these characters, most of our childhoods and beyond weren’t picture perfect either. Each chapter alternates between multiple points of view, from past and present, primarily through the eyes of Ruby St. James. Throughout the novel these characters go to great lengths to keep the truth from being revealed.
On the topic of their secrets, Kaela does a pronominal job of keeping these secrets wrapped up, offering them little by little until the reader reaches the largest reveal in a emotional conclusion. I would not start this expecting deep-seated, juicy, end of relationship type of secrets. While they aren’t cookie cutter, these secrets are not earth shattering either. Reflecting on it, I don’t believe it was ever Danny’s intention through his “game” to tear these relationships apart further, but to reunite them on a foundation of honesty and trust.
I was immersed in this story, fed into the drama, and could not pull myself away until I too knew what was hidden within each envelope. I did not want the story to end. I wanted to continue peering into the lives of these characters and the dynamics of their relationships. While there were no shocking twists, the latter half of this novel had me feeling so many emotions.
I love novels by local writers and adore that Kaela is a true Vermonter. It shows in her use as the setting, and in the humorous small factoids she offers (like mud season), way she expresses how those inhabiting northern New England find maple syrup to be gold. Cause let's be honest, real maple syrup IS gold! While I know this release was a long-awaited process for Kaela Coble, I see so much success in her future.
Happy Publication Day, Kaela! You are an author I'll be keeping an eye out for and cannot wait to see what you come up with next.
“WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER, YOU GUYS BARELY EVEN KNOW EACH OTHER”Many thanks to Kaela Coble and Sourcebook Landmark for inviting me to join this blog tour and an advanced reader’s copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2021
You always talked about "the crew, the crew, the crew, like we were some untouchable entity .
But when it comes to things that really matter, you guys barely even know each other.
Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble
I read this last year so my review maybe a bit vague as I have forgot some details.
This book is about a group of friends who calls themselves "The Crew". When one member dies, he leaves behind a note with one last request.
All the crew members have secrets and they must now come clean about their deepest darkest ones..or face the consequences.
I thought this wold be so good. It had real potential and I couldn't wait to read it. Ultimately it was not for me for a few reasons.
It was not all that dark. And I just did not find the characters all that interesting. Plus I found it to be a bit of a bait and switch. I had thought I was getting a dark twisted mysterious story. This read more like YA romance. Now there isn't anything wrong with YA romance but that was not what I was seeking.
There is a book called "Black Chalk" that is one of my all time faves. I guess I thought it would be more like that. The story was not badly written or anything like that but it was lighter, more YA and way more interested in the romantic aspects then I'd thought it would be. It also moved rather slowly.
The story takes place in Vermont and there are indeed lots of secrets. But as I said....this was not, in my humble opinion anyway really that dark and it just did not FEEL like a mystery. It IS a mystery. But there was so much focus on YA romance. That wasn't what I was seeking when I selected this. Still, isn't that fun when making selections? Your never quite sure what you are going to get!
Still it was a let down. I think if one is in the mood for a character driven YA mystery/romance where the focus is more on the romantic aspects they may actually like this because the writing was good. It just was not at all what I was looking for going in.
But when it comes to things that really matter, you guys barely even know each other.
Friends and Other Liars by Kaela Coble
I read this last year so my review maybe a bit vague as I have forgot some details.
This book is about a group of friends who calls themselves "The Crew". When one member dies, he leaves behind a note with one last request.
All the crew members have secrets and they must now come clean about their deepest darkest ones..or face the consequences.
I thought this wold be so good. It had real potential and I couldn't wait to read it. Ultimately it was not for me for a few reasons.
It was not all that dark. And I just did not find the characters all that interesting. Plus I found it to be a bit of a bait and switch. I had thought I was getting a dark twisted mysterious story. This read more like YA romance. Now there isn't anything wrong with YA romance but that was not what I was seeking.
There is a book called "Black Chalk" that is one of my all time faves. I guess I thought it would be more like that. The story was not badly written or anything like that but it was lighter, more YA and way more interested in the romantic aspects then I'd thought it would be. It also moved rather slowly.
The story takes place in Vermont and there are indeed lots of secrets. But as I said....this was not, in my humble opinion anyway really that dark and it just did not FEEL like a mystery. It IS a mystery. But there was so much focus on YA romance. That wasn't what I was seeking when I selected this. Still, isn't that fun when making selections? Your never quite sure what you are going to get!
Still it was a let down. I think if one is in the mood for a character driven YA mystery/romance where the focus is more on the romantic aspects they may actually like this because the writing was good. It just was not at all what I was looking for going in.
February 15, 2018
**5 Goodreads Stars**
It is a pleasure to review Kaela Coble's debut novel Friends and Other Liars for a blog tour in celebration of the book's publication month. This breakout book is a simmering mystery that explores how long-held secrets can eat away at relationships, even ones built on the strongest of foundations.
The book features richly drawn characters who are multi-dimensional and relatable despite (or due to, I suppose) their human flaws. The story centers on Ruby, who left her down and out hometown of Chatwick to pursue a fancy education at New York University and an exciting life in New York City. When Ruby gets a call that her friend Danny has died, she reluctantly returns to Chatwick and is forced to face her high school clique known as "the crew."
Danny, who died of a heroin overdose, has left envelopes containing the crew's deepest, darkest secrets. Danny requests that the crew reveal their secrets in front of one another. Ruby and the crew either put off Danny's post-mortem request or craft a lie to cover up the true "secret," which leads them all down darker paths. Soon, more notes from "Danny" appear in the crew's mailboxes, cars, and workplaces, leaving the crew unhinged. What does Danny know, and how does he know it? Will their secrets come to light, and if they do, will the crew lose their jobs, their families, and their relationships with one another?
I really enjoyed the relationship between Ruby and Murphy, and it brought me back to the days I was in high school. Murphy was Ruby's best friend growing up. Eventually they developed feelings for each other, which lead to heartbreak and tears when Ruby decided she wanted to leave Chatwick for college. I empathized with Ruby because I, too, left my hometown where I knew everybody in order to start anew in college in a big, bustling city. It meant leaving behind friends and unrequited relationships, and coming back to town is always a bit awkward and uncomfortable because of it. Coble really captured the spirit of what it is like to desire someone who isn't willing to follow you on your adventures after high school, someone who wants to stay put and take pleasure in the normalcy of small-town life.
Thank you to the author, Kaela Coble, the publisher, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Friends and Other Liars. I look forward to seeing what Coble writes next!
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram
It is a pleasure to review Kaela Coble's debut novel Friends and Other Liars for a blog tour in celebration of the book's publication month. This breakout book is a simmering mystery that explores how long-held secrets can eat away at relationships, even ones built on the strongest of foundations.
The book features richly drawn characters who are multi-dimensional and relatable despite (or due to, I suppose) their human flaws. The story centers on Ruby, who left her down and out hometown of Chatwick to pursue a fancy education at New York University and an exciting life in New York City. When Ruby gets a call that her friend Danny has died, she reluctantly returns to Chatwick and is forced to face her high school clique known as "the crew."
Danny, who died of a heroin overdose, has left envelopes containing the crew's deepest, darkest secrets. Danny requests that the crew reveal their secrets in front of one another. Ruby and the crew either put off Danny's post-mortem request or craft a lie to cover up the true "secret," which leads them all down darker paths. Soon, more notes from "Danny" appear in the crew's mailboxes, cars, and workplaces, leaving the crew unhinged. What does Danny know, and how does he know it? Will their secrets come to light, and if they do, will the crew lose their jobs, their families, and their relationships with one another?
I really enjoyed the relationship between Ruby and Murphy, and it brought me back to the days I was in high school. Murphy was Ruby's best friend growing up. Eventually they developed feelings for each other, which lead to heartbreak and tears when Ruby decided she wanted to leave Chatwick for college. I empathized with Ruby because I, too, left my hometown where I knew everybody in order to start anew in college in a big, bustling city. It meant leaving behind friends and unrequited relationships, and coming back to town is always a bit awkward and uncomfortable because of it. Coble really captured the spirit of what it is like to desire someone who isn't willing to follow you on your adventures after high school, someone who wants to stay put and take pleasure in the normalcy of small-town life.
Thank you to the author, Kaela Coble, the publisher, Sourcebooks, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Friends and Other Liars. I look forward to seeing what Coble writes next!
For more of my book reviews visit me here:
Book Review Blog | Twitter | Instagram
April 25, 2017
Friends and Liars is a totally immersive and addictive read about a group of friends and the things that both bring them together and divide them. In the aftermath of the suicide of one of their own, all of them must face up to the truths about themselves and each other.
As we meet them both in the past and in the present, their story is authentically compelling. As a tight knit group of children, “the crew”, none the less they all have wavering loyalties and secrets that they keep – Friends and Liars is a brilliantly insightful look at the group dynamics of friendships formed, those that endure. Danny, in death, forces a kind of reckoning, it is utterly gripping and often very emotional.
The characters, all of them, are layered well, Kaela Coble unravels their lives in an intelligently woven plot that allows you to feel everything right along with them. Much of the focus is on Ruby and her one time best friend Murphy, the rest of the group rippling around them with Danny, the damaged and troubled soul right at the heart of things. The author plays on the readers sympathies, keeping you engaged, in some ways this is like a mini thriller as each secret comes to light slowly over the course of the story. Ultimately there is a kind of redemptive feel to things, sometimes the truth really does set you free…
Really I loved it, I read it in two sittings, the small town vibe, the ebb and flow of family and community, this group of friends who are genuinely tied together by those invisible threads no matter where they are in the world, it all made for quite wonderful and often unpredictable reading.
I’ll miss them all. I feel like I’ve lived it with them.
As we meet them both in the past and in the present, their story is authentically compelling. As a tight knit group of children, “the crew”, none the less they all have wavering loyalties and secrets that they keep – Friends and Liars is a brilliantly insightful look at the group dynamics of friendships formed, those that endure. Danny, in death, forces a kind of reckoning, it is utterly gripping and often very emotional.
The characters, all of them, are layered well, Kaela Coble unravels their lives in an intelligently woven plot that allows you to feel everything right along with them. Much of the focus is on Ruby and her one time best friend Murphy, the rest of the group rippling around them with Danny, the damaged and troubled soul right at the heart of things. The author plays on the readers sympathies, keeping you engaged, in some ways this is like a mini thriller as each secret comes to light slowly over the course of the story. Ultimately there is a kind of redemptive feel to things, sometimes the truth really does set you free…
Really I loved it, I read it in two sittings, the small town vibe, the ebb and flow of family and community, this group of friends who are genuinely tied together by those invisible threads no matter where they are in the world, it all made for quite wonderful and often unpredictable reading.
I’ll miss them all. I feel like I’ve lived it with them.
February 21, 2018
First I'd like to start with Kaela Coble can write and write very well at that. So why the 2 star rating? Because I expected something different than what this book was and that's on me, not the author. I expected a dark, juicy, twisted tale and this is NOT that book. This read very much like a young adult novel to me and I found myself rolling my eyes at all the teen like angst coming off the page. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mind set to read this.
Danny dies of a drug overdose which reconnects the "Crew" for his funeral. Every member of this Crew have secrets that they keep from one another and Danny, beyond the grave, wants to expose each and every one of them. He leaves letters for his mother to find and each one is addressed to each member of the crew. Personally, I think Danny is a huge a-hole for doing this. Some friend you are. I didn't connect to any of the characters Ruby, Murphy, Emmitt, or Ally.
All in all this was a miss for me but I will still seek out future work from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Danny dies of a drug overdose which reconnects the "Crew" for his funeral. Every member of this Crew have secrets that they keep from one another and Danny, beyond the grave, wants to expose each and every one of them. He leaves letters for his mother to find and each one is addressed to each member of the crew. Personally, I think Danny is a huge a-hole for doing this. Some friend you are. I didn't connect to any of the characters Ruby, Murphy, Emmitt, or Ally.
All in all this was a miss for me but I will still seek out future work from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2017
The “Crew “is a story of a group of five friends, Ruby, Emmett, Murphy, Danny and Ally. They form an early friendship in school and decide to be honest and stay together no matter what, but life happens and everybody goes their separate ways. Eventually they are brought together at Danny’s funeral but Danny left a letter for each of them revealing their biggest secret, threatening to expose them beyond the grave if they are not truthful to each other. Will exposing the secrets bring them closer or drive a wedge between their friendships never to be mended again?
The book is divided between different POV’s going back and forth between the past and present. I felt it was a little slow at times and no big suspenseful reveals but interesting dynamics between friends. A good contemporary read about relationships and how they shape us. 3 ½ stars from me
Many thanks to a Sourcebooks Landmark & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
March 17, 2018
This is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. I went into this thinking it was something else. I was expecting something a little more dark and mysterious but I was about 40% into it and it was reading more like a contemporary love story. At that point I was only getting to know Ruby and Murphy, which weren’t exactly making me want to read more about them. The secrets themselves weren’t that mind blowing either. Overall, I was getting bored with the story and couldn’t care less about the characters. It was very bland and I just wanted to be done with the book.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2018
Ruby and her friends are reunited in their hometown after their school friend Danny commits suicide. She hasn't' seen them for years and can't wait to get back to her life in New York. After the funeral Danny has a surprise for them all... letters containing their darkest secrets and telling them to confess to the others otherwise the truth will find another way out.
This was an easy read book, with characters you hated and felt sorry for at the same time. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions.
This was an easy read book, with characters you hated and felt sorry for at the same time. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions.
June 3, 2017
Ruby thinks she last left behind her alcoholic mother and clique of friends in her small Vermont home town.But when Danny, the rebel of the group commits suicide she feels obliged to return 10 years after she left. But Danny left more than his own suicide note. He also left behind letters detailing his friends biggest secrets....and Ruby is terrified hers will be revealed.
God I love this book. Despite a summer cold/flu/zombie virus attacking me I couldn't put this down. It was just not what I was expecting. From the cover and it been branded as a mystery/thriller I was expecting more of a twist in the tale type of affair. And to be fair it does have twists but not of the usual "oh my god I KNEW he was a wrong 'un" variety. No instead it's a story about growing up and letting go of the past. And a very moving story it is. In spite of their foibles (or maybe because of them) the characters are relatable and likeable. I found it easy to recognise my teenage 'crew' from growing up in them. I felt quite bereft when it was over.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this review copy for an honest review.
God I love this book. Despite a summer cold/flu/zombie virus attacking me I couldn't put this down. It was just not what I was expecting. From the cover and it been branded as a mystery/thriller I was expecting more of a twist in the tale type of affair. And to be fair it does have twists but not of the usual "oh my god I KNEW he was a wrong 'un" variety. No instead it's a story about growing up and letting go of the past. And a very moving story it is. In spite of their foibles (or maybe because of them) the characters are relatable and likeable. I found it easy to recognise my teenage 'crew' from growing up in them. I felt quite bereft when it was over.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this review copy for an honest review.
January 6, 2018
Review will be posted during the blog tour.
It is a good book on friends and secrets (just to whet your appetite)
It is a good book on friends and secrets (just to whet your appetite)
October 24, 2017
One negative about this particular novel: it is the author's debut, which means I can't grab all her other work for immediate reading.
It is also difficult to review the book without spoilers, so I will just say this: Coble weaves the story between past and present seamlessly, giving the reader just enough information on the characters' secrets without revealing the whole plotline. The way she decided to intersperse the first person point of view of more minor characters added to the story and gave perspective instead of just being filler or distracting. I flew through this one - major thanks to Netgalley.
It is also difficult to review the book without spoilers, so I will just say this: Coble weaves the story between past and present seamlessly, giving the reader just enough information on the characters' secrets without revealing the whole plotline. The way she decided to intersperse the first person point of view of more minor characters added to the story and gave perspective instead of just being filler or distracting. I flew through this one - major thanks to Netgalley.
October 1, 2017
Friends and Other Liars is nothing short of spectacular! I couldn't get enough of this story and its characters. I simultaneously wanted to continue devouring it while wanting to savor it at the same time. From the moment I learned Danny had kept their secrets and now wanted them to divulge to the group, I couldn't help but wonder and guess at what they all were. And since this is told in both the past and present, it made it a bit easier to envision what they could all be hiding.
I was completely immersed in this story from the very beginning. I absolutely LOVE these tales of childhood friends who grow up and are connected. It's only made better when one (or all) have something to hide.
The main focus of this story isn't necessarily Danny and his death (and what caused it), but Ruby and why she left and hasn't been back since graduation. At one time, they were a close-knit group, The Crew, and even within such a small group there was even closer dynamics between members. I won't get into those details since they play a big role in the bigger picture, but the one I found myself most drawn to was the relationship between Ruby and her best friend, Murphy.
Now, the secrets aspect was brilliantly done. I know I mentioned above that I was trying to guess who was hiding what, but I only succeeded in that with Ruby. The rest, I had absolutely no idea! Some weren't as shocking in nature (and this could be my fault since I found myself zeroed in on Ruby and her story), or maybe I just wasn't as invested in those characters' lives. It sounds crappy, maybe, but I also am drawn to some characters more than others. So, I definitely was more focused on a single aspect of the story, I think. Not to say that the entire story lacks, because it doesn't! At all. I just had to know what happened to make Ruby stay away. So yes, some secrets weren't as exciting and I found myself wanting to skim those reveals and their repercussions to get to what I perceived to be 'The Big One.'
But, I have to admit that the manner in which this story is told is part of what makes it so tantalizing. Seriously, the past and present---little pieces and slivers slowly released. The puzzle begins to come together. And the entire time, the blaring in my face of RUBY AND MURPHY and what they were to each other. It was the one thing I couldn't let go of. And to be 100% honest, theirs were the secrets I wanted to know the most. And with the way things play out, they are, of course, the last to be revealed. I cannot lie, his made me angry. Perhaps irrationally so, but at the same time not really. I expected better from him. Maybe that was my fault. I perhaps romanticized him, too. I spent the majority of the book hoping and wishing that he and Ruby would get together romantically. Which, considering the overall theme, was probably stupid in itself. But I can't help it.
The one thing I need to mention is that I think most people will expect these secrets to be huge, terrifying ones that once exposed will destroy friendships. I think I did, too. But really, they aren't. I don't know if Danny intended to break up the group permanently, but his final wish did the opposite. It brought them back together. To some extent. His prologue and epilogue were strengths. I definitely appreciated the latter in wrapping up the story. I think it did a great job in giving closure once all had been revealed. I may have been disappointed by one thing mentioned, but I won't let my hope die quite yet. And really, I feel that I'm supporting a lost cause considering what had been discussed and how. However, there's a comment made in the epilogue that gives me hope it WILL turn around and that we just might not have seen the last of Danny and The Crew.
I found Coble's debut to be layered, well-written, and gripping. Fans of Lianne Moriarty and Sara Shepard will probably enjoy Friends and Other Liars.
I was completely immersed in this story from the very beginning. I absolutely LOVE these tales of childhood friends who grow up and are connected. It's only made better when one (or all) have something to hide.
The main focus of this story isn't necessarily Danny and his death (and what caused it), but Ruby and why she left and hasn't been back since graduation. At one time, they were a close-knit group, The Crew, and even within such a small group there was even closer dynamics between members. I won't get into those details since they play a big role in the bigger picture, but the one I found myself most drawn to was the relationship between Ruby and her best friend, Murphy.
Now, the secrets aspect was brilliantly done. I know I mentioned above that I was trying to guess who was hiding what, but I only succeeded in that with Ruby. The rest, I had absolutely no idea! Some weren't as shocking in nature (and this could be my fault since I found myself zeroed in on Ruby and her story), or maybe I just wasn't as invested in those characters' lives. It sounds crappy, maybe, but I also am drawn to some characters more than others. So, I definitely was more focused on a single aspect of the story, I think. Not to say that the entire story lacks, because it doesn't! At all. I just had to know what happened to make Ruby stay away. So yes, some secrets weren't as exciting and I found myself wanting to skim those reveals and their repercussions to get to what I perceived to be 'The Big One.'
But, I have to admit that the manner in which this story is told is part of what makes it so tantalizing. Seriously, the past and present---little pieces and slivers slowly released. The puzzle begins to come together. And the entire time, the blaring in my face of RUBY AND MURPHY and what they were to each other. It was the one thing I couldn't let go of. And to be 100% honest, theirs were the secrets I wanted to know the most. And with the way things play out, they are, of course, the last to be revealed. I cannot lie, his made me angry. Perhaps irrationally so, but at the same time not really. I expected better from him. Maybe that was my fault. I perhaps romanticized him, too. I spent the majority of the book hoping and wishing that he and Ruby would get together romantically. Which, considering the overall theme, was probably stupid in itself. But I can't help it.
The one thing I need to mention is that I think most people will expect these secrets to be huge, terrifying ones that once exposed will destroy friendships. I think I did, too. But really, they aren't. I don't know if Danny intended to break up the group permanently, but his final wish did the opposite. It brought them back together. To some extent. His prologue and epilogue were strengths. I definitely appreciated the latter in wrapping up the story. I think it did a great job in giving closure once all had been revealed. I may have been disappointed by one thing mentioned, but I won't let my hope die quite yet. And really, I feel that I'm supporting a lost cause considering what had been discussed and how. However, there's a comment made in the epilogue that gives me hope it WILL turn around and that we just might not have seen the last of Danny and The Crew.
I found Coble's debut to be layered, well-written, and gripping. Fans of Lianne Moriarty and Sara Shepard will probably enjoy Friends and Other Liars.
January 25, 2018
A group of childhood friends gather 10 years after high school at one of their funerals. "The Crew" is Danny, Ruby, Murphy, Ally, and Emmett. They have fallen out of touch over the years, but come together at Danny's funeral. Danny has left a sealed envelope for each of his friends containing their biggest secrets. He wants them to tell their secrets to each other, or they risk a more public outing to occur if they don't come clean on their own.
Told from multiple points of view, but mostly from Ruby's POV. The story is also told with multiple timelines, current day and flashbacks from their younger years.
Friend drama. A light, entertaining read that kept my interest. I was curious what everyone's secrets would be, though they were not hard to guess. I read this on vacation, and it was a good choice for a vacation read.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Told from multiple points of view, but mostly from Ruby's POV. The story is also told with multiple timelines, current day and flashbacks from their younger years.
Friend drama. A light, entertaining read that kept my interest. I was curious what everyone's secrets would be, though they were not hard to guess. I read this on vacation, and it was a good choice for a vacation read.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2017
This is a wonderful first novel, exploring friendships, frenemies, secrets, love and loyalties. Kaela Coble writes fluently and entertainingly, with a strong, distinctive voice. The book is well paced, and is a page turner. I had the great pleasure of working with Kaela on this novel before she found an agent, and I'm amazed by how the story has turned out. Way to go, Kaela!
June 4, 2017
I loved this book and it's fantastic characters and storyline that kept ,e guessing the whole time. Great read.
September 23, 2020
Quarto livro para o #septemberthrills.
Mais um daqueles livros onde temos um grupo de amigos onde todos os seus podres e segredos veem ao de cima da pior maneira e no pior momento. O grupo denominado “A Equipa” composto por Danny, Ruby, Murphy, Ally e Emmett e os seus segredos menos bons pouco a pouco a serem revelados e a agitarem as águas – é basicamente o que este livro é. Tem um pouco de romance cliché que não foi dos meus preferidos, mas tem toda a sua dose de mistério até ao ultimo momento. No epilogo ainda há coisas a serem reveladas, então é mesmo até ao final.
Agora, dando a minha honesta opinião e de forma construtiva – o livro tinha potencial para mais – ou neste caso talvez o final da história pudesse ter sido melhor e mais impactante. Uma coisa são mistérios outra coisa são mistérios arrebatadores. Aqui houve muito mais do primeiro do que do segundo, afinal estamos a falar de um grupo de adolescentes que se reúne 10 anos depois e que em alguns momentos parecem não ter mudado nada com os anos excepto na idade. Eu gostei do livro, da história e da premissa. A escrita também me agradou (assim como a tradução) e acho que a autora consegue envolver e manter o mistério escondido sem ser previsível. Ao contrário de alguns Thrillers, não consegui adivinhar muita coisa nestes mistérios e isso é um ponto bem positivo dado que não me desmotiva - gosto de imaginar teorias e ainda me surpreender no final.
O livro é-nos contado na narrativa de três personagens: Danny – o instigador de toda a confusão no grupo; Ruby – o que senti ser a personagem principal; Ally – aquela que criou o pacto da lealdade na equipa e Steph – a namorada de Emmett que nunca pertenceu ao grupo principal e só começou a relação com ele muito recentemente nos anos. Quanto a esta última personagem, ainda não consegui perceber o que efetivamente contribuiu como narradora – quando poderíamos ouvir o mesmo pelo Emmett. Senti a ausência da narrativa de Murphy – que foi o segundo personagem principal (também na minha opinião).
Resumindo aqui um pouco mais a minha opinião… dos personagens os que mais gostei foram a Ally e o Murphy – não porque não tenham feito nada de errado, porque fizeram – mas porque pareceram-me os que mais mereciam que as coisas corressem bem. A Ruby – não desvalorizando o sofrimento dela – pareceu-me muito mais dramática do que o necessário e depois irritou-me a hipocrisia dela em demasia. Do Danny eu tive imensa pena, sinceramente, e coloquei-me a pensar: o que faria eu por ti se pudesse?
O que me leva a um dos pontos principais deste livro… o quão bem conhecemos os nossos amigos e o que estamos dispostos a fazer por eles, ou por nós mesmos através deles?
Mais um daqueles livros onde temos um grupo de amigos onde todos os seus podres e segredos veem ao de cima da pior maneira e no pior momento. O grupo denominado “A Equipa” composto por Danny, Ruby, Murphy, Ally e Emmett e os seus segredos menos bons pouco a pouco a serem revelados e a agitarem as águas – é basicamente o que este livro é. Tem um pouco de romance cliché que não foi dos meus preferidos, mas tem toda a sua dose de mistério até ao ultimo momento. No epilogo ainda há coisas a serem reveladas, então é mesmo até ao final.
Agora, dando a minha honesta opinião e de forma construtiva – o livro tinha potencial para mais – ou neste caso talvez o final da história pudesse ter sido melhor e mais impactante. Uma coisa são mistérios outra coisa são mistérios arrebatadores. Aqui houve muito mais do primeiro do que do segundo, afinal estamos a falar de um grupo de adolescentes que se reúne 10 anos depois e que em alguns momentos parecem não ter mudado nada com os anos excepto na idade. Eu gostei do livro, da história e da premissa. A escrita também me agradou (assim como a tradução) e acho que a autora consegue envolver e manter o mistério escondido sem ser previsível. Ao contrário de alguns Thrillers, não consegui adivinhar muita coisa nestes mistérios e isso é um ponto bem positivo dado que não me desmotiva - gosto de imaginar teorias e ainda me surpreender no final.
O livro é-nos contado na narrativa de três personagens: Danny – o instigador de toda a confusão no grupo; Ruby – o que senti ser a personagem principal; Ally – aquela que criou o pacto da lealdade na equipa e Steph – a namorada de Emmett que nunca pertenceu ao grupo principal e só começou a relação com ele muito recentemente nos anos. Quanto a esta última personagem, ainda não consegui perceber o que efetivamente contribuiu como narradora – quando poderíamos ouvir o mesmo pelo Emmett. Senti a ausência da narrativa de Murphy – que foi o segundo personagem principal (também na minha opinião).
Resumindo aqui um pouco mais a minha opinião… dos personagens os que mais gostei foram a Ally e o Murphy – não porque não tenham feito nada de errado, porque fizeram – mas porque pareceram-me os que mais mereciam que as coisas corressem bem. A Ruby – não desvalorizando o sofrimento dela – pareceu-me muito mais dramática do que o necessário e depois irritou-me a hipocrisia dela em demasia. Do Danny eu tive imensa pena, sinceramente, e coloquei-me a pensar: o que faria eu por ti se pudesse?
O que me leva a um dos pontos principais deste livro… o quão bem conhecemos os nossos amigos e o que estamos dispostos a fazer por eles, ou por nós mesmos através deles?
August 27, 2020
Este livro foi-me disponibilizado, em versão ebook, pela Editora Quinta Essência, para realizar a leitura e dar a minha opinião sincera sobre o mesmo.
Normalmente quando peço um livro a uma editora, fico sempre com receio de não gostar e de não saber muito bem o que dizer depois na opinião. Neste caso é o contrário, ao ter gostado tanto deste livro fico mesmo sem saber o que dizer sobre ele.
Mas talvez começando por falar um pouco sobre a história, depois se torne mais fácil dar a minha opinião.
"Mentiras entre Amigos" conta a história de 6 amigos, Ruby, Murphy, Emmett, Ally, Aaron e Danny, que durante o seu 9º ano prometeram que seriam amigos para sempre e que nunca iriam esconder nada uns dos outros.
Mas será que foi mesmo assim? Não!!!
Depois de 10 anos sem estarem todos juntos e até sem terem notícias de Ruby, os amigos juntam-se todos para o funeral de Danny. Este decide deixar cartas a cada um deles com os seus segredos mais profundos e desafia-os para contarem toda a verdade uns aos outros.
Todos os segredos são fortes e nenhum dos membros da "Equipa" quer que estes se conheçam. Mas de todos os segredos o mais explusivo e mais difícil de contar é o de Ruby e ela tenta até ao último momento mantê-lo em segredo, mas como todos os segredos, o seu também irá ser desvendado.
Este é um livro cheio de mistério, de intrigas e mais importante cheio de mentiras.
Desde a página que percebemos que existem muitas mentiras entre estes amigos e que todas elas são díficeis de acreditar.
Em nenhum momento este livro é previsivel, nunca sabemos o que esperar das personagens.
Durante a história vamos encontrando alguns saltos temporais, para além de conhecermos a história atual das personagens, vamos conhecendo também como tudo aconteceu durante a sua infância e adolescência. Isto torna o livro ainda mais interessante.
Relativamente às personagens, gostei de uma forma geral de todas, mas tenho os meus favoritos, Ruby e Murphy, acho que estas duas personagens são únicas, desde a forma como lidam um com o outro, à falta de compreensão dos seus sentimentos, tudo o que lêmos sobre eles é por um lado divertido e por outro irritante, o que eu adorei. Acho que os dois juntos são muito fofos, fiquei com pena daquele final, queria saber como ficaram as coisas depois de terem revelado os seus segredos.
O Danny que é a personagem que vai desencadear a loucura entre os amigos, mesmo depois de morto, conseguiu que a história fosse ainda melhor.
Adorei a intriga e termos de esperar até, literalmente, ao final do livro para conhecer os segredos de cada um deles e o porquê de Danny ter feito isto.
A minha classificação é de 5 estrelas
E acredito que este será um dos melhors livros do mês senão o melhor.
Quero também agradecer à editora Quinta Essência por ter disponibilizado este livro para review, realmente gostei muito.
Normalmente quando peço um livro a uma editora, fico sempre com receio de não gostar e de não saber muito bem o que dizer depois na opinião. Neste caso é o contrário, ao ter gostado tanto deste livro fico mesmo sem saber o que dizer sobre ele.
Mas talvez começando por falar um pouco sobre a história, depois se torne mais fácil dar a minha opinião.
"Mentiras entre Amigos" conta a história de 6 amigos, Ruby, Murphy, Emmett, Ally, Aaron e Danny, que durante o seu 9º ano prometeram que seriam amigos para sempre e que nunca iriam esconder nada uns dos outros.
Mas será que foi mesmo assim? Não!!!
Depois de 10 anos sem estarem todos juntos e até sem terem notícias de Ruby, os amigos juntam-se todos para o funeral de Danny. Este decide deixar cartas a cada um deles com os seus segredos mais profundos e desafia-os para contarem toda a verdade uns aos outros.
Todos os segredos são fortes e nenhum dos membros da "Equipa" quer que estes se conheçam. Mas de todos os segredos o mais explusivo e mais difícil de contar é o de Ruby e ela tenta até ao último momento mantê-lo em segredo, mas como todos os segredos, o seu também irá ser desvendado.
Este é um livro cheio de mistério, de intrigas e mais importante cheio de mentiras.
Desde a página que percebemos que existem muitas mentiras entre estes amigos e que todas elas são díficeis de acreditar.
Em nenhum momento este livro é previsivel, nunca sabemos o que esperar das personagens.
Durante a história vamos encontrando alguns saltos temporais, para além de conhecermos a história atual das personagens, vamos conhecendo também como tudo aconteceu durante a sua infância e adolescência. Isto torna o livro ainda mais interessante.
Relativamente às personagens, gostei de uma forma geral de todas, mas tenho os meus favoritos, Ruby e Murphy, acho que estas duas personagens são únicas, desde a forma como lidam um com o outro, à falta de compreensão dos seus sentimentos, tudo o que lêmos sobre eles é por um lado divertido e por outro irritante, o que eu adorei. Acho que os dois juntos são muito fofos, fiquei com pena daquele final, queria saber como ficaram as coisas depois de terem revelado os seus segredos.
O Danny que é a personagem que vai desencadear a loucura entre os amigos, mesmo depois de morto, conseguiu que a história fosse ainda melhor.
Adorei a intriga e termos de esperar até, literalmente, ao final do livro para conhecer os segredos de cada um deles e o porquê de Danny ter feito isto.
A minha classificação é de 5 estrelas
E acredito que este será um dos melhors livros do mês senão o melhor.
Quero também agradecer à editora Quinta Essência por ter disponibilizado este livro para review, realmente gostei muito.
June 19, 2018
I bought this book thinking it was a thriller, but it's actually a mystery novel with a lot of romance. And even though that was not what I was expecting, I still had a great time with this book!
The story starts with Ruby going back to her hometown to attend one of her former friend's funeral. She has not been in the town for years, and had lost contact, purposely, with everybody there. However, during Danny's funeral, she find out he left a series of envelopes addressed to his former friends, and inside each envelope is a secret about every person in the group. *insert suspenseful song here*
Honestly some of the characters annoyed the hell out of me - *cof cof* Murphy - but this is one of those stories that keep you at the edge of your seat wanting to figure out what the hell happened in the past. It's also completely character-driven, with some very interesting characters I must say.
Overall this was a very quick and entertaining read!
The story starts with Ruby going back to her hometown to attend one of her former friend's funeral. She has not been in the town for years, and had lost contact, purposely, with everybody there. However, during Danny's funeral, she find out he left a series of envelopes addressed to his former friends, and inside each envelope is a secret about every person in the group. *insert suspenseful song here*
Honestly some of the characters annoyed the hell out of me - *cof cof* Murphy - but this is one of those stories that keep you at the edge of your seat wanting to figure out what the hell happened in the past. It's also completely character-driven, with some very interesting characters I must say.
Overall this was a very quick and entertaining read!
November 13, 2017
*3.5 stars*
When Danny commits suicide, childhood friend Ruby heads home for his funeral. She expects to leave as soon as she possibly can, wanting to put miles and miles between herself and her hometown. But Danny has left each of his old friends envelopes full of secrets, leaving them entangled in old memories and startling revelations.
I loved that this debut novel was a character study. We learn a lot about each of the friends, especially Ruby. Everyone felt very three-dimensional and fleshed out, which is a giant thumbs up for readers like me!
My only complaint was that sometimes the writing itself was very dry. It took me a long time to get through the novel because of this.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an ARC.
When Danny commits suicide, childhood friend Ruby heads home for his funeral. She expects to leave as soon as she possibly can, wanting to put miles and miles between herself and her hometown. But Danny has left each of his old friends envelopes full of secrets, leaving them entangled in old memories and startling revelations.
I loved that this debut novel was a character study. We learn a lot about each of the friends, especially Ruby. Everyone felt very three-dimensional and fleshed out, which is a giant thumbs up for readers like me!
My only complaint was that sometimes the writing itself was very dry. It took me a long time to get through the novel because of this.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an ARC.
September 16, 2019
I received this book free from the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Please see my full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com. Please note that reviews are scheduled to appear close to release date if novels are review items. Subscribe to my blog to be updated when they are published.
For requesting arcs and books to review, please visit www.netgalley.com.
Please see my full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com. Please note that reviews are scheduled to appear close to release date if novels are review items. Subscribe to my blog to be updated when they are published.
For requesting arcs and books to review, please visit www.netgalley.com.
April 29, 2018
This centers around “The Crew”. A group of friends who promise to all be honest with each other but none of them are. A bit slow at times but overall a great read!
June 19, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
The premise for this book sounded really interesting, so I jumped at the chance at getting a review copy from Readers First (thank you) and was not disappointed!
I really enjoyed this mysterious, fun read which is filled with deceit, secrets and surprises. There are various elements to the plot, as everyone has their own secrets they're keeping from eachother - and which Danny may have been alluding to in his notes to each friend - and I enjoyed reading the characters try to work out what each might be.
The book is laid out quite interestingly, as we read from the perspective of quite a few of the group but not all, and it mainly sticks to Ruby's narrative. Therefore, we get to know her the best and find out more about her teenage years, where the secrets really began. I like her as a character; in fact I warmed to most of her friends as the novel went on too, but some have their irritating habits and there are definitely some who are less likable than others! I am also pleased that no one was portrayed as perfect; they each have their faults and positive points without needing to be too clear cut.
Though the 'main' storyline - the group dealing with their friend Danny's suicide - sounds a little macabre and upsetting, the story revolves a lot around the earlier years, as I mentioned, and the element of mystery keeps things intriguing and stops the story from being all about death (though obviously that is a theme too). The secrets each person had aren't too ridiculous or over-dramatic... without giving too much away, Kaela Coble keeps things believable and it's a fairly easy, enjoyabe read.
Many thanks to Readers First for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
The premise for this book sounded really interesting, so I jumped at the chance at getting a review copy from Readers First (thank you) and was not disappointed!
I really enjoyed this mysterious, fun read which is filled with deceit, secrets and surprises. There are various elements to the plot, as everyone has their own secrets they're keeping from eachother - and which Danny may have been alluding to in his notes to each friend - and I enjoyed reading the characters try to work out what each might be.
The book is laid out quite interestingly, as we read from the perspective of quite a few of the group but not all, and it mainly sticks to Ruby's narrative. Therefore, we get to know her the best and find out more about her teenage years, where the secrets really began. I like her as a character; in fact I warmed to most of her friends as the novel went on too, but some have their irritating habits and there are definitely some who are less likable than others! I am also pleased that no one was portrayed as perfect; they each have their faults and positive points without needing to be too clear cut.
Though the 'main' storyline - the group dealing with their friend Danny's suicide - sounds a little macabre and upsetting, the story revolves a lot around the earlier years, as I mentioned, and the element of mystery keeps things intriguing and stops the story from being all about death (though obviously that is a theme too). The secrets each person had aren't too ridiculous or over-dramatic... without giving too much away, Kaela Coble keeps things believable and it's a fairly easy, enjoyabe read.
Many thanks to Readers First for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
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