Little Liar
by Clare Boyd
Bookouture


General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 Feb 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Little Liar through Bookouture and Netgalley:


From those looking in Gemma Bradley has it all, a husband who doted on her a high flying career and two delightful kids but inside the walls things are different, the renovated home, she is a Mother at her wits end who has given to many last warnings and she's counted to ten way to many times.

A child's scream pierced the night, and Gemma neighbor does what anyone would do she calls the police to make sure her neighbors little girl Rosie is safe.


Gemma hasn't done anything wrong and she knows it but the more she fights for the family she loves the more her flawless life crumbles around her, and a carefully guarded secret is suddenly in danger of coming to light.


When Rosie disappears Gemma blames herself until she realizes her daughter has been keeping dangerous secrets of her own in a pink plastic diary.

Gemma is distraught and terrified and has no idea where to turn to all she does know is her daughter's life is in danger.


I give Little Liar four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Little Liar was intriguing that's for sure, but after a while just seemed a bit tedious. The precocious child, the irritating nosey neighbour and a parent complaining about their charmed life.. all a bit annoying really. I felt like I could have easily put this down and moved on but I persevered and god, once I did I thought I'd at least get some sort of climactic ending. At one point it was so muddled I actually had no idea what had happened, then it was just sort of eh. Oh well.

This book was marketed as a psychological thriller, but the book I read wasn’t very thrilling. The book was mostly about manipulation by the various characters (Rosie, Gemma, and Mira). The focus was on how they could use their actions to change the behaviors of those around them. Rosie would scream and throw tantrums to get her way and often end up getting hurt. She would witness the blame being placed on her mother Gemma. She saw and opportunity to take the blame game to a new level when a concerned neighbor, Mira, calls the police about concerns of child abuse. Now Gemma must find a way to clear her name before her children are taken away from her. Throughout this read, I was frustrated by the lack of parenting. Rosie’s meltdowns were more than just typical childhood tantrums. Her parents should have taken her in for a psych evaluation or requested on from her school. Rosie needed more help than was given to her in the book. The book itself was a bit dragged out for me. Some editing could have been done to weed out the repetition to make it a more engaging read.

I was given an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this read!! It was so easy to get into and I found myself totally empathizing with Rosie’s mother. It was so complex and i was sad to see it end! What a great read!!

Gemma Bradley is a married 'career woman' struggling to find the perfect work-life balance. She seemingly has it all - a loving husband, two children and a fancy upmarket house. Now pregnant with her third child and having been offered a promotion at work, her world begins to spectacularly unravel when 10-year-old daughter Rosie's tantrums get out of hand. Nosey next door neighbour Mira phones the police, convinced that Rosie's screams are the result of child abuse.

Little Liar was in many respects a difficult book to read due its subject matter. A misconception escalates until it's completely out of control to the point where Gemma begins to question her love for her daughter. Rosie is pulling the strings but does she fully understand the consequences?

I thought nosey neighbour Mira and her dull husband Barry were by far the most interesting characters. Mira opens up about her troubled, unhappy childhood and suddenly the reader is able to understand her connection with Rosie. Meanwhile, Gemma is powerless to stop Mira's interference and is now under scrutiny from social workers and the police.

Clare Boyd's writing is excellent. The story takes on a life of its own as the reader experiences feelings of sorrow, heartbreak, anger, relief and astonishment. The ending took an unexpected turn and was handled with a touch of humour, which I really liked. Ooooh how I'd love to say more about that ending but my lips are sealed!

The only criticism I have (and it's a small criticism) is that the book comes across as slightly repetitive. I personally think it could benefit from being a tiny bit shorter in length and the pacing quickening up. That being said, it was a very good read and handled with the sensitivity it deserved.

*thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

3 stars.

While reading this, the story was an easy 4 stars. It got me interested, it got me excited to read what would happen next and it was simply enjoyable. But, I was really disappointed in the ending. Nothing happened! It just ended flat. I was expecting a huge bombshell conclusion but that didn't happen. One other part I found I was not so interested in and found at tines a little boring, was about Mira and Barry. It wasnt that it was badly written or anything, I was just much more interested to find out how the story with Rosie and Gemma ended up and was eager to read about that only. This was ment to be A 'nail bitting psychological thriller' and while at times, I can say yes it is, but for the most part, no. Still 3 stars does mean from me that it was good and that I would consider re-reading it again. It is worth reading, just don't expect a big ending.

I found Little Liar more of a family drama than a psychological thriller. If I look at the novel with that expectation, I am not disappointed. The story itself was relateable, the overwrought mother, the precocious child, and a do-good nosey neighbor made for a strong premise. I think that what I appreciated about Little Liar was the excellent scene setting at the start. I feel the characters are a little two dimensional. I wanted to be on the mother's side, but she did not experience the growth I would have liked to have seen. If you like domestic drama, Little Liar was a nice afternoon's diversion. If you are looking for page turning psychological thrills, there just weren't enough for my taste.

This thriller was quite good however some parts were a little confusing. I did like the main characters I found that they were very easy to relate to and the main character Rosie especially was my favourite one. I think that I liked her the most because ever though she was having a hard time she explained why in her secret journal that her mother found. The only thing that I didn't like was how long it took me to read this book I'm not even sure why the plot is usually things I like however it just didn't keep my attention like I expected. The whole thing left me a little confused. My favourite character had to be the daughter Rosie she was very well written and I liked her spunk. The book is all about Mira calling the cops when she hears a problem next door. When everything starts to fall apart main character Mira must confesses a huge secret she's been keeping to the police. Shortly after when Mira's daughter Rosie goes missing and only her journal is left they have to wonder who has Rosie been talking to and what happened does this mysterious person know something about it all? The characters kind of got muddled a bit for me so it made it a little hard while I liked the story I didn't like the way that it was written however I do feel that I will give the author another shot in the future. I really liked this
story and I feel that the journal was a cool way to give more of an insight on what was happening with the characters. Very neat..

I did enjoy this story, but the end felt very rushed and incomplete to me, hence the 3 stars.

A great psychological thriller that hooked me from the first few pages.
Two households separated by the walls of the properties but what will they hear, is Mira acting in the best interests of Rosie or is something else going on.
I was sucked into this book, I loved it and struggled to put it down.

The characters were annoying to me (with all the screaming references and the behavior of the child. I liked the premise of the book and ultimately I was confused. I wasn't able to finish the book, but I would give this author another chance.

This book was a decent thriller--it kind of reminded me a little bit of The Woman in the Window with a different story though. Gemma and Peter, parents to Rosie and Noah. Gemma is also pregnant with their third child. Rosie is a hyperactive, smart but sometimes angry 10 year old who throws tantrums, screams and yells insults, which hurt and anger her mother to the edge of sanity. Literally. As the mother of 5, I can see it from both sides but Gemma has her hands full with Rosie. The next door neighbor is harboring a few dark secrets of her own and decides to stick her nose in the family next door's business under the guise of protecting Rosie from her mother which then snowballs into Gemma being accused of child abuse and being arrested. The story builds gradually and it is interesting enough that it kept me reading, but there is no BIG moment or plot twist that stands out. The outcome wasn't what I thought it was going to be which is always the sign of a good book to me, but I still was not overwhelmed because it was so exciting. It is a good book though, worth reading. Interesting chracaters and story, and I love the British dialect. Makes me want to have a cuppa.

This is a debut novel by Claire Boyd and I look forward to reading more from her. Little Liar is a very compelling and addictive read. Rosie is a highly spirited child and throws plenty of screaming tantrums. So when neighbour Mira hears one of them and informs the authorities she sets off a catastrophic chain of events. Gemma, Rosie’s mother, then faces the questioning of social services and the police and her nightmare begins. Gemma has a terrible secret she has been keeping from Rosie, so when Rosie disappears Gemma thinks she is to blame. Then she finds Rosie’s diary and more secrets and lies are revealed. As the book title suggests most of the characters have something to lie about and these lies make a very gripping plot. A very enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

LITTLE LIAR is a debut gripping domestic thriller by Clare Boyd.

The perfect family... or the perfect lie?

Gemma is married to Peter with two children: ten- year old daughter, Rosie, and six- year old son, Noah, with another one coming. But things are not what they seem…and not really the Perfect family. Gemma and Rosie do not get along, as Rosie is smart, cunning, rebellious, and doesn’t listen or follow her mother’s instructions…always lying to get her own way. And in a fit of rage, screaming Rosie attacked Gemma, who while trying to get away from her out of control daughter, Gemma accidentally left a mark on Rosie’s wrist.

And a nosey neighbor, Mira, a teaching assistant hears a child’s scream…and calls the police…and then social services gets involved. What a mess!

As everything starts falling apart, Gemma must fight to protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.

But why has Rosie lied to the police?

When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie…

I thought it was an interesting read, but could be a little shorter in length, but look forward to her next book.

Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy.

This was a stressful read for me. In the very beginning, it was hard for me to identify with the main character. She seemed like someone who had decided to have children but perhaps wasn't meant to. As the book progresses, I realized that wasn't the case. She's just been pushed to her breaking point by a very unusual little girl. Even when Gemma makes questionable decisions, you feel for her. I felt like I was feeling the stress the poor woman was under. The author does a great job of making you identify with the characters. As is common in books of this type, her family may look picture-perfect, but it's certainly not. I'm not quite sure why the blurb for this book gave away so much, so I'm going to neglect mentioning some plot points it gives away.

Mira is Gemma's neighbor, who loves kids but doesn't have any of her own to care for. She overhears a tantrum from Rosie, Gemma's little girl, and assumes the worst. She is terrified for the little girl with the long black hair, coming to think she's frightened of her mother and being abused. Doing her duty as a good neighbor, of course she calls the police. It sounds like the poor child needs help, and she can't ignore what she hears from the house next door. It isn't long before child services is involved.

Lives unravel quickly in this story. Everyone has secrets they try desperately not to let out. The characters are all complex and interesting, even (and one might say especially) little Rosie. Both ladies have husbands that feature in the story, but mostly this story is about the women: the mothers, daughters, and protectors, and how their lives have shaped them. It's not a short book, and I think it could have been edited down a little, but it had no problem holding my attention.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I really liked what this book was trying to do but thought the plot wasn’t quite executed.
The book is truly every parents worst nightmare, however the writer has portrayed the challenges faced within a working family well and the guilt the mother feels. It is a very extreme scenario and I found it disturbing and frustrating.
4 stars as It was a little too predictable.

Little Liar by Clare Boyd.

Little Liar by Clare Boyd is a psychological thriller about relationships within families and between neighbours which I thought made it the perfect book to review (although I’d hope most people reading this have a better relationship with their neighbours than they ones in this book do). It’s described as being about “the people we trust and the secrets we choose to keep behind closed doors”

I kept trying to guess what was going to happen in Little Liar as I was reading it. After a while I was convinced I knew how it was going to end, but I was wrong. This was a book that kept me guessing throughout and was full of surprises.
The whole time I was reading I was wanting to keep going because I was really enjoying it, particularly the different characters. Clare Boyd did an excellent job creating realistic characters from the stressed mum and naughty little girl to the busybody neighbour and supportive husband and a setting that felt true to life.

I would recommend Little Liar to anyone who enjoys a book that keeps them guessing. With the skillfully handled ramping up of the tension towards the end and the way it was handled it’s a brilliant book and Clare Boyd could be an author to look out for.

Little Liar by Clare Boyd was published by Bookouture on 1st February 2018 and is available in paperback, ebook and audiobook from online retailers. See Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36566431-little-liar) for more details.

This is a book I started & then put aside for a while as I was finding it hard to connect with any of the characters.

There is Gemma- high powered career woman- she works very long hours to maintain their lifestyle and also because she wants and need the stimulus of work. She is pregnant with their third child. Their eldest, Rosie, knows all the buttons to press to wind up her mother. Gemma expects perfection from her daughter- unrealistically.

Rosie- ten years old going on fourteen- prone to tantrums & screaming at her mother. Her secret diary reveals how mixed up she is.

Mira- kindly lady next door- is convinced Rosie is being abused and reports the family to the police which result in Social Services becoming involved with the family. Mira's attempts to 'help' Rosie are very creepy!

I did begin to feel sorry for Gemma as things got more out of her control. I couldn't help wondering if Rosie's poor behaviour was only evident at home- what was she like in school? Were there no red flags from there?

Altogether a mixed bag & an OK read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Another title with "lie"in it. This book was very veryyy long. This book took me two weeks to finish and that's a big time frame for me. Unfortunately, this one did not live up to my expectations and was disappointed.

This book could have been better with at least 100-150 pages edited. I was bored throughout the entire novel and could not connect with any of the characters nor the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 2/1/18
Published on GR: 2/21/18

Disappointing...

Gemma Bradley tries so hard to be perfect. She has the perfect life, family and career. Or so it seems on the outside. On the inside, she's crumbling.

Her perfect little life all goes spiraling when her neighbor, Myra, overhears an altercation between Gemma and her daughter, Rosie. Gemma's life is turned upside down and secrets of hers as well as Myra's begin to come out of the closet.


The story is told from the perspective of Gemma and Myra and there are pages from Rosie's diary sprinkled in there just to annoy you.

I think the diary pages were a really cool and different idea I just think they could have held much more suspense and relevant information.

On top of that, the twists(of you can really call them that) were not good enough. There was nothing spectacular about this book to me.

I wanted to like this book. I really did but I just can't. I think the fact that I searched all over the book for thrills and never got them, plays a big role in my reason for being as disappointed as I am.

I expected so much more out of this novel. For this to be considered a nail-biting, psychological thriller, it REALLY lacked. It was more of a drama than anything else.